Groin fungus: recognizing and treating fungal infections

Quick overview: Frequently asked questions and answers

How do I get rid of groin fungus? Groin thrush is treated with antifungals in the form of creams or ointments. In severe cases, oral antifungals may also be necessary.

How do you recognize groin fungus? Groin fungus can be recognized by a red, flat rash in the groin area, which often burns.

Can groin fungus go away on its own? If left untreated, groin fungus will not go away on its own; it can even get worse. Treatment is therefore advisable.

How often should you shower if you have skin fungus? If you have skin fungus, you can shower daily. It is important to dry the affected area thoroughly afterwards to minimize moisture and promote healing.

Article contents at a glance

What is a jock itch?

A tinea inguinalis is a fungal skin infection that

• in the groin crease,
• the pubic area,
• on the genitals and
• especially on the adjacent inner thighs

The infection causes a red, flat rash that can itch and burn.

Adults are mainly affected, although the fungal infection is more common in men than in women. The disease is also called inguinal lichen.

Symptoms: What does a groin fungus look like?

The infection often begins in the folds of the genital area and then spreads to other areas of the skin. It then affects the inner thighs and can extend to the buttocks.

In men, the scrotum can also be affected, and in women, the vulva.

Typical symptoms include:

• round, red or red-brown rash on the skin, often with scaly edges
• burning sensation in the affected area
• Itching in the groin area
• in some cases: blisters or pustules

The fungal infection can also be asymptomatic and only be characterized by a few round spots. During the warm season, the infection can worsen due to heavy sweating.

Groin fungus or ringworm?

However, if redness and circular spots appear on other parts of the body, such as the stomach, back, arms or legs, it is more likely to be ringworm (tinea corporis), which is also a fungal infection of the skin.

Causes: How do you get a groin fungus?

The disease is caused by so-called filamentous fungi, which belong to the dermatophyte family. Typical pathogens are the fungal species

• Trichophyton rubrum,
• Trichophyton mentagrophytes und
• Epidermophyton floccosum.

They attack the skin, hair and nails and feed on keratin, a protein.

Infection occurs through contact with fungal skin flakes, for example when towels or clothing are shared with infected people.

Since some of the fungal species also occur in animals, infection through pets is also possible.

The fungus can also be transmitted through sexual intercourse with an infected person. However, the most common way is the transmission of an existing nail or foot fungus to the groin area.

These risk factors increase infection

Tinea inguinalis is only moderately contagious. Contact with fungal skin flakes does not necessarily cause an infection.

However, certain risk factors can promote fungal infection. These include:

• humidity: Sweating and moisture in the groin area create a favorable environment for the growth of fungi.

• tight clothes: Tight-fitting pants or underwear can increase sweating and moisture.

• Hygiene: Lack of or excessive personal hygiene weakens the skin barrier and promotes the entry of pathogens.

• sedentary activities: Jobs that require long periods of sitting can increase the risk of infection. Especially in the warm summer months, heat build-up and heavy sweating in the groin area can occur.

• immune system: A weakened immune system, for example due to illness or medication, makes the body more susceptible to infections.

• Obesity: Being severely overweight can lead to increased accumulation of sweat in skin folds, which provide an ideal environment for fungi.

• Diabetes mellitusIn people with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, high blood sugar levels can promote the spread of fungi. The reduced immune system also increases the risk.

• public spaces: Skin fungi feel particularly at home in swimming pools, communal changing rooms, communal showers and other heavily frequented, damp rooms. There is an increased risk of infection in these places.

Examinations and diagnosis of inguinal lichen

Due to its typical appearance, the doctor can usually recognize the groin fungus at first glance.

To confirm the diagnosis and to rule out other possible skin conditions, a skin sample is often taken and examined under a microscope.

If the results are unclear, a fungal culture can be created or an examination can be carried out using a Wood lamp. This is a tool that allows various skin changes to be observed thanks to the light spectrum.

Treatment: What helps against groin fungus?

The fungal infection does not heal on its own, but must be treated. Antifungal drugs, so-called antimycotics, are mainly used for treatment. They contain active ingredients such as clotrimazole, amorolfine, bifonazole or terbinafine.

Those affected apply the active ingredients in the form of creams or lotions to the affected skin areas. This inhibits the growth of the fungal pathogens and destroys them.

If the infection spreads over a large area or is severe, the antimycotic can also be prescribed in the form of tablets, which are taken daily for several weeks. An accompanying nail or foot fungus infection must also be treated in parallel.

To support the success of the treatment, the following measures should also be taken into account:

• Regularly wash your body with a gentle cleanser and dry the affected area thoroughly. If possible, use an extra towel for this.

• Wear loose clothing and underwear made of breathable materials such as cotton to avoid moisture in the groin area.

• Wash underwear and clothing at 60 degrees Celsius to kill fungal spores.

Are there home remedies for groin fungus?

Home remedies such as dabbing with tea tree oil or apple cider vinegar are sometimes recommended to treat skin fungus. However, there are currently no studies confirming their effectiveness.

In order to ensure that skin fungi are actually killed and do not recur, they should be treated with antimycotic agents according to medical recommendations.

Preventing groin fungus: What you can do

A groin fungus can be prevented. The following measures will help:

• right clothing: Prefer loose-fitting clothing and underwear made of breathable materials to avoid moisture and friction.

• good hygiene: Change underwear and socks daily and wash them at 60 degrees Celsius if possible. Personal items such as towels or clothing should not be shared with other people to prevent transmission. After exercise or heavy sweating, clothes should be changed quickly and the body washed.

• Reduce the risk of infection: Avoid close skin contact with people or animals that may be infected. Infected pets should also be treated with appropriate antifungal medication.

• Be careful in public spaces: Bathing shoes should be worn in swimming pools, saunas and communal showers to avoid infection with athlete’s foot.

• early therapy: Treat existing nail or foot fungus infections early to prevent spread to the groin area.