Jock itch is a very painful and rather embarrassing rash that develops in the groin area. This article will tell you a little something more about this rash and the kind of jock itch medication that you can use for the same.
Jock itch is the itchy rash that develops in the groin area and leads to a lot of pain, itching, and discomfort. This happens because the skin there is often prone to friction, sweating, heat, and trapped moisture. These are the ideal conditions for jock itch (Intertrigo or Tinea Cruris) to develop.
A jock itch also develops in the thigh region (due to the friction caused by the thighs rubbing against each other), along the rectum, folds of fats for obese people, and the scrotum in males. Along with being itchy, it is also a very embarrassing rash due to its areas of development, and therefore, it is necessary that proper and immediate medication be administered.
Jock Itch Remedy – Home Care
Before administering the medication for this condition, try to see if any of these methods remedy the jock itch at home itself. Jock itch in both, males and females manifests in the same manner. Here’s how you can prevent it.
- First, determine the cause of the problem.
- Do not confine the area in tight and very fitting clothes. Instead, wear loose clothes that do not cling to the body.
- Be careful about the material that you choose to wear. Wool, nylon, and other synthetic materials can cause a lot of abrasion of the skin and lead to the worsening of the situation.
- Keep the area dry and air it often. This will prevent the accumulation of moisture.
- Make sure that you change into fresh clothes after a bath, post a workout. The sweat can cause havoc if you have jock itch.
- Make sure to wear clean inner clothes and change them if one is prone to sweating.
- Use an antifungal powder to dry the area.
Medication for Jock Itch
If none of these methods prove successful and the jock itch does not show any signs of reducing, then it is imperative to take help of certain medication. These are some of the best to choose from.
Antifungal Medication
Creams and lotions are usually the first in order when one wants to treat a jock itch. These might even foray into gels, sprays, and powders. Some of the more popular jock itch medication include―Tolnaftate (Aftate, Ting, Tinactin), Terbinafine (Lamisil), Clotrimazole (Lotrimin, Mycelex) and Miconazole (Micatin, Monistat Derm).
Over-the-counter prescriptions are a preferred choice because they do not lead to any major side effects. Though some people might be allergic to some of these creams and therefore, if a rash worsens, the application should be stopped immediately. If a person is suffering from Athlete’s foot, then it is imperative that this condition be treated before handling the jock itch. Athlete’s foot causes the jock itch to aggravate.
Oral Medication
The reason that oral medications are not as commonly prescribed as topical creams is because they have a greater risk of developing certain side effects. Yet, if the condition has aggravated, then the best option is that of oral medication. One will require the prescription of a doctor for the same.
The most effective oral medication are Terbinafine (Lamisil),Itraconazole (Sporanox) and Fluconazole (Diflucan). Fluconazole is seen to be prescribed for people who are allergic to the other forms of medication, or for those who have certain other conditions like heart and liver problems, and diabetes.
Steroids
If the condition is really bad and blisters have developed, then a topical steroid like hydrocortisone can be applied. Steroids are very strong, and therefore, they should never be applied without consulting a doctor first. If the wrong type of steroid is applied or there is a mistake in the quantity, then it can cause the jock itch to branch out into blisters as well.
This medication should be applied regularly, as per the doctor’s orders. The amount and frequency of the application will change as per the results. But all in all, if one uses certain precautions (like the ones mentioned in home care) then there really should be no need for the condition to develop in the first place.
Disclaimer – This HealthHearty article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.
