Tinea Cruris or Crotch Itch: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Prevention, Diagnosis

Tinea Cruris is a pathological skin condition caused due to a fungal infection. It is also known by the names of Itchy Crotch. Tinea Cruris is more often than not caused in the groin region of an individual. It is more prevalent is males than in females. It causes severe itching and a burning sensation around the groin region. This may spread from the groin to the thigh skin folds all the way to the anal region. Tinea Cruris may also involve the genital areas as well. Tinea Cruris may not cause itching always, but will cause a burning sensation. It projects itself in the form of a circle with a normal looking skin in the middle and infection spread around the circumference where the skin will be raised and there will be visible redness and scaliness of the skin. There will also be discoloration of the affected area with it becoming tanned, red, or brown. The skin around the affected area becomes flaked, rippled, peeled, or even cracked. Tinea Cruris or Crotch Itch begins in the groin folds of one or both thighs. The rashes caused due to Tinea Cruris have defined borders, which may have blisters.

Some of The Symptoms of Tinea Cruris Are:

• Inflammation of the groin, upper thigh, and anal region
• Development of a red patch around the affected area can be a symptom of tinea cruris or crotch itch.
• Rashes with sharp borders
• Tinea cruris infection spreads in the form of a circle with rashes at the circumference and clear skin in the middle
• Presence of dry scaly blisters
• Skin discoloration
• Skin inflammation
• Skin becomes erythematous
• Worsening pain and irritation with exercise or something rubbing on the rash like a cloth
• Flaking and peeling of the skin can also be symptom of tinea cruris or crotch itch
• Burning sensation in the affected area
• Persistent itching in the affected region
• The itching and burning sensation may spread to involve the genital areas as the disease spreads

Tinea Cruris or Crotch Itch is caused due to a group of fungi called dermatophytes. The fungi is present in the skin of the body but does not cause any harm, but this fungi thrives and multiplies in wet and damp conditions and hence if an individual wears wet clothes for a long period of time, especially inner wears then this fungi may start acting up resulting in Tinea Cruris or Crotch Itch. The Dermatophytes starts to multiple in the groin area first, as it is perhaps the wettest area especially in sportsmen and other people who move out in wet weather and when the clothes rub against the skin, this acts as a catalyst and further aggravates the condition. Fungus causing Tinea Cruris is highly contagious and may affect an individual, who is in close contact with an affected individual or shares clothes with that individual. Obese and overweight people are more at risk for Tinea Cruris or Crotch Itch as the fungi thrives most around the skin folds of obese people.

Diagnosis of Tinea Cruris is quite easy and the rashes caused by this condition are pretty visible and just by a close inspection a physician can diagnose Tinea Cruris. In some cases, scrapings of the skin cells may be taken to definitively confirm the diagnosis of Tinea Cruris or Crotch Itch.

Antifungal creams are the most effective way of treating Tinea Cruris, but it can also be treated at home if one follows certain natural ways to treat Crotch Itch. Some of the methods of treating Tinea Cruris are:

• Application of over-the-counter antifungal cream, powder, or spray is quite effective in treating Tinea Cruris or Crotch Itch.
• The area affected with Crotch Itch should be washed thoroughly with warm water and soap.
• The affected area should be dried thoroughly after bathing or even exercising, so that there is no dampness around the affected region to allow it to spread.
• It is imperative to change clothes and undergarments on an everyday basis so that the fungi causing Tinea Cruris or Crotch Itch does not get activated.
• It is advisable to wear loose cotton clothing to stay away from Tinea Cruris.

Practicing good hygiene is the best way to prevent Tinea Cruris or Crotch Itch. Washing your hands with a sanitizer can greatly reduce the chances of getting infected with Tinea Cruris from someone else who might have been affected by this condition. Try and keep the skin dry as much as possible as damp and wet skin makes the fungi causing Tinea Cruris to multiply resulting in infection. Since Tinea Cruris begins in the groin region, special attention should be given to it to keep it as much drier as possible. Baby powder can also be applied around the groin, which can help prevent excess moisture. After an exercise in the gym or after any sporting physical activity, it is essential to have a shower to prevent Crotch Itch from acting up. Avoid tight fitting clothes especially in the summer season so that sweat the clothes do not rub against the skin and cause irritation of the skin. It is also imperative if you work in a factory setting that you wash your work clothes every time you use it, so as to prevent yourself from getting infected by Tinea Cruris or Crotch Itch.

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