Jock itch refers to a common fungal skin infection that leads to an itchy rash in warm, moist areas of the body, particularly in the groin and inner thighs. This rash can sometimes look like a ring and is also known as tinea cruris.
The condition gets its name from its prevalence among athletes, but anyone who sweats a lot can get it. While it can vary in severity ranging from mild to serious, jock itch often clears up with between one and three weeks of treatment with over the counter antifungal creams.
Symptoms of Jock Itch
The most common symptom of this fungal infection is a rash with the following characteristics:
- It spreads, beginning in the crease of the groin and moving down the buttocks and upper thigh
- Its center clears as its spreads
- It may be partially or fully ring shaped
- It is bordered with small blisters
- It may be gray, brown, purple, or red depending on your skin color
Additional symptoms include:
- Itchiness
- Scaly skin
Jock itch may require medical care if the rash becomes painful, a fever develops, it does not improve after one week of treatment with over the counter antifungal products, or it has not fully healed after three weeks of treatment.
Considerations for Sex
Jock itch is not a sexually transmitted infection, however, it is an infection that can be passed from one person to another during sexual contact.
“It's a good idea to avoid having intercourse until you have the all clear” says Vicki Lyons, Sexual Wellness Expert & Chief Editor at Bodyjoys.
In addition to the risk of passing the rash onto a partner, Lyons warns that sexual activity might actually make jock itch worse. “The kind of friction and moist atmosphere created through sex can exacerbate the symptoms for the person who has the condition too, meaning it can become more painful, itchy and take longer to recover from.”
Talking to your partner about it
When it comes to passing the condition on to a partner, it’s not just skin to skin contact or fluid sharing you need to think about.
“Jock itch is a fungal infection,” says Lyons “so it can even be spread through second hand contact with shared clothing or towels, depending on the severity... It's important to be honest and open and discuss the treatment with your partner, setting expectations on how long the treatment is likely to last. Be open to questions.”
For some, communicating with partners about something like jock itch might be embarrassing or uncomfortable. Try to remember that jock itch is a very common, very treatable condition, and there's nothing to be embarrassed about!
