JOCK ITCH
Report #6975; 12/12/96
Men get jock itch, women rarely do.
Jock itch means that you have scaling and itching in the crease where your legs meet your body. It can be caused by a rubbing of your thighs when you walk, a skin condition such as psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis or an infection with a bacteria or fungus. If you have this condition, your doctor will usually scrape some cells from the rash and look for a fungus and probably do a bacterial culture also. If you have a fungus, you can be cured with a special cream and if that doesn't work, with pills such as griseofulvin or the newer itraconazole and allylamine. The culture may tell your doctor if you have a bacterial infection, the name of the bacteria and what antibiotics to use.
If you have dandruff, thick toenails and possibly thick plaques on your elbows or knees, you probably have psoriasis and will have to take cortisone creams and sometimes more powerful medications.
Otherwise, your doctor may make a diagnosis of intertrigo, which means that the skin on your legs is rubbing against the skin on your groin. The major causes are obesity and wetness. If you are overweight, it's time for a weight loss. Since wetness causes your skin to stick and become abraded, try powdering your groin every morning to help adsorb the sweat. Keep your skin clean by showering every night.
By Gabe Mirkin, M.D., for CBS Radio News
Checked 10/30/07