Jock Itch (Tinea Cruris): Treatment and Prevention

What is Jock itch (Tinea Cruris)?

How does jock itch spread?

Jock itch commonly spreads through skin-to-skin contact or contact with an infected surface. You can get jock itch through sexual contact with an infected person. You can also get jock itch by sharing towels or clothing with an infected person. In some cases, you can get jock itch if you have athlete’s foot (tinea pedis). You can spread the fungus by touching your groin after touching your infected foot. You can also spread the fungus from your feet to your groin through your clothing. When getting dressed, it’s a good idea to put on your socks before your underwear to prevent spreading the fungus from your feet to your groin.

Risk factors for jock itch

If the following factors apply to you, you might have a higher risk of jock itch:

• You’re male
• You’re a teenager
• having diabetes
• You have overweight or live with obesity, which increases how many skin folds you have. The fungi that cause jock itch thrive in sweaty skin folds.
• You have a tendency to sweat, which increases the moisture of the skin and encourages dermatophytes to multiply.
• Your immune system doesn’t function as it should due to an underlying health condition or treatment for a condition. People who are immunocompromised have a higher risk of fungal infections like jock itch.
• You wear a lot of tight clothes. Or Wear tight underwear
• Wear a wet bathing suit for a long time
• Have close contact with someone who has jock itch

What are the symptoms of jock itch?

• itchy skin in the groin area; and persistent itching
• a rash that appears as clearly-defined red, scaly areas, often in a ring shape
• burning sensation
• occasional blisters at the border of the rash
• flaky skin
• skin discolouration

The rash usually affects the area at the top of the thigh, the inner thighs, and sometimes the skin of the buttocks. The skin of the genitals is rarely affected.

Symptoms can be aggravated by

• exercise
• walking
• wearing tight clothes or underwear

What are the complications of jock itch?

• Maceration and secondary infection with bacteria or candida
• Secondary excoriation, lichenification and pigmentation
• Tinea incognita due to use of topical steroids

Will jock itch go away on its own?

Although the itching may ease on its own at first in some cases, most cases of jock itch will not clear up on their own, because the fungus remains on the skin. Without antifungal medication, the infection can spread to the thighs, the gluteal cleft, the genitals, the feet, or the nails, and it can easily come back. Starting treatment early therefore helps it clear up faster and lowers the chance of scarring or a secondary infection. If it’s left untreated, the infection can spread to other parts of your body, including your:

• Nails: Fungal nail infections can be more difficult to treat. They’re often more resistant to many treatments.
• Hands: A similar fungal infection can spread to your hands. This happens when you scratch your infected groin with your hands or use the same towel to dry off both areas.
• Feet: The same fungus that causes jock itch can also spread to your feet. It’s a condition called athlete’s foot. The fungus typically spreads from your groin to your feet through your underwear. It can also spread by using the same towel to dry off both areas.

When to see a doctor

See your doctor if your rash is painful or you develop a fever. And see your doctor if the rash hasn’t improved after a week of treatment or if it hasn’t cleared up completely after three weeks of treatment.

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How is jock itch diagnosed?

Your doctor will likely be able to diagnose jock itch by performing a physical exam and inspecting the affected area of skin. In some cases, your doctor may take some scrapings of skin cells from the area to help diagnose the condition. This may also help rule out other skin disorders, such as psoriasis.

How is jock itch treated?

Antifungal medicine that is applied directly (topical antifungal) to the groin rash is the usual treatment for jock itch. Antifungals come in a variety of preparations, including:

• cream
• gel
• solution
• powder
• spray

Topical antifungals are usually available from your pharmacist. The pharmacist will be able to advise you which product is best for you. If you have jock itch and athlete’s foot, it’s important to treat both infected areas at the same time to prevent re-infection. In some circumstances, such as tinea that is severe or not responding to topical treatment, oral antifungal medicine is needed to treat jock itch. Examples of oral antifungals include:

• Terbinafine (brand names Lamisil, Tinasil)
• Fluconazole (brand names Diflucan, Dizole)
• Griseofulvin (brand name Grisovin)

Side effects

Common side effects of oral antifungal medicines include:

• nausea
• diarrhea
• headache
• indigestion

Some oral antifungal medicines are not suitable for use in certain people. Your doctor will be able to advise you on the most appropriate treatment.

Self-help

The following self-help measures are also important when treating jock itch.

• Wash and thoroughly dry the skin in your groin area daily.
• Change your underwear daily (or more frequently if you sweat a lot).
• Wear loose-fitting underwear and avoid clothing that irritates the area.

How to prevent jock itch

There are several things you can do to prevent jock itch from recurring.

• Wash your groin area daily and dry the skin thoroughly.
• Stay dry. Keep your groin area dry. Dry your genital area and inner thighs thoroughly with a clean towel after showering or exercising. Dry your feet last to avoid spreading athlete’s foot fungus to the groin area.
• Find the correct fit. Make sure your clothes fit correctly, especially underwear, athletic supporters and sports uniforms. Avoid tight-fitting clothes, which can rub and chafe your skin and put you at increased risk of jockitch. Try wearing boxer shorts rather than briefs.
• Wear cotton underwear and try to avoid synthetic clothing to reduce the chance of infection.
• Frequently wash clothes, towels, bed linen and groin supports.
• Wear clean clothes. Change your underwear at least once a day or more often if you sweat a lot. It helps to wear underwear made of cotton or other fabric that breathes and keeps the skin drier. Wash workout clothes after each use.
• Change out of damp sports gear as soon as possible.
• Don’t share personal items. Don’t let others use your clothing, towels or other personal items. Don’t borrow such items from others.
• Avoid scratching your infected areas. If you must scratch an infected area, thoroughly wash your hands with antibacterial soap before touching any other parts of your body.
• Avoid sexual contact with anyone who has jockitch until it’s gone.

If you have athlete’s foot, make sure it is treated to prevent the spread of fungal infection to the groin area. When getting dressed, put your socks on before your underwear so that you don’t transfer the infection from your feet to your groin.

Where can you buy topical medication for jock itch?

Topical medications for treating jock itch are available at most pharmacies, and a pharmacist can recommend the product best suited to your rash. Commonly used medications include Terbinafine, Clotrimazole, Ketoconazole, Miconazole, and Sertaconazole. Most are applied once or twice a day for at least 2 to 4 weeks. Even after your symptoms improve, you should keep using the medication for about another week as directed, to prevent the infection from coming back.

Is jock itch transmitted through sex?

It can be passed on through direct skin-to-skin contact during sex, but it is not considered a sexually transmitted infection as such.

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Which topical medication is best for jock itch?

Commonly used medications include Terbinafine, Clotrimazole, Ketoconazole, and Miconazole. You should keep using them until the infection clears, even after the itching has improved.

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How many days does jock itch take to clear up?

It usually starts to improve within 1 to 2 weeks and clears up within 2 to 4 weeks with proper treatment.

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Can jock itch come back?

Yes. It can recur if there is still dampness, heavy sweating, or tight clothing, or if a fungal infection on the feet or nails is not treated at the same time.

Jock itch (tinea cruris) is a fungal infection of the groin and inner thighs. Other causes—including friction, yeast, psoriasis, contact dermatitis, and STIs—can look similar.

Care and reasons to seek an examination

Keep the area dry, change damp clothing, avoid sharing towels, and treat athlete’s foot at the same time. Seek care for severe pain, pus, fever, rapid spread, unusual scrotal or genital involvement, pregnancy, diabetes, immunosuppression, or lack of improvement after correct treatment.

Frequently asked questions

Is jock itch an STI?

It is not classified as an STI, although fungal infection can spread through skin contact and shared items, and friction during sex can worsen symptoms.

Can I use steroid cream alone?

Steroids do not eliminate fungus and can mask or worsen infection. Use an appropriate antifungal or seek a diagnosis.

Why does jock itch keep returning?

Common contributors include moisture, incomplete treatment, athlete’s foot, shared items, or an incorrect original diagnosis.

Primary sources reviewed: NHS: Ringworm · Love2Test clinic directory

Verified references

Links and relevance to the article’s main topic were reviewed on 13 August 2026. Each source supports only the scope stated in the original document and does not replace personalised medical, legal, or service advice.

1. CDC: About Ringworm Accessed 13 August 2026