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Medical Author:

Gary W. Cole, MD, FAAD

Gary W. Cole, MD, FAAD

Dr. Cole is board certified in dermatology. He obtained his BA degree in bacteriology, his MA degree in microbiology, and his MD at the University of California, Los Angeles. He trained in dermatology at the University of Oregon, where he completed his residency.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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In this Article

• Jock itch facts
• What is jock itch? What does jock itch look like?
• What causes jock itch?
• Who gets jock itch?
• What are jock itch symptoms and signs?
• Does jock itch affect the entire body?
• How is jock itch diagnosed?
• Is jock itch curable? Is jock itch contagious?
• What are possible complications of jock itch?
• What is the treatment for jock itch?
• What home remedy can I use for jock itch?
• What holistic jock itch treatments are available?
• How do I treat fungal jock itch?
• How do I treat bacterial jock itch?
• How is itching from jock itch treated?
• Why is my groin still discolored?
• What is the best drug for jock itch?
• What is the prognosis with jock itch?
• When should I call my doctor about jock itch?
• How do I prevent jock itch?
• Patient Comments: Jock Itch - Treatments
• Find a local Dermatologist in your town
• Jock Itch Index

Most cases of jock itch are easily and fully curable. There are very uncommon, long-standing cases of jock itch that may not be curable. Often these more resistant cases may be controlled with proper treatment and medication. Jock itch sometimes clears completely by itself without treatment.

Although most cases of jock itch are not contagious, cases caused by an infection may be transmitted through skin or sexual contact, sharing of swimwear, or towels. It is possible to transmit fungal jock itch to someone else through close skin contact.

Some people are simply more prone to developing jock itch because of their overall health, activity, anatomy, possible altered immune status, exposure history, and other predisposing skin conditions like eczema. People with athlete's foot (tinea pedis) are more prone to developing jock itch.

Complications are infrequent since jock itch is usually a self-limited skin condition. Rarely, the rash may spread past the groin onto the thighs and genitals. Secondary skin infections from scratching or rubbing can uncommonly deepen, causing cellulitis or abscess formation.

Another potential complication includes temporary skin discoloration called post-inflammatory hypopigmentation (lighter than the regular skin color) or hyperpigmentation (darker then the regular skin color). This altered skin color may occur after the rash has improved or after a temporary flare. Permanent scarring is uncommon.

There are many treatment options and skin-care recipes for treating jock itch. Since the two primary causes of jock itch are excess moisture and fungal infections, treatment depends on the exact cause of the jock itch. Treatment of jock itch associated with skin irritation and excess moisture should address general measures to keep the groin clean and dry. Treatment of fungal jock itch should include antifungal creams used continuously for two to four weeks.

It is important to keep in mind that no therapy is uniformly effective in all people. Your doctor may need to help evaluate the cause of your jock itch.