"The rashes of psoriasis, certain bacterial infections, and yeast look similar, and the treatments are quite different," Dr. Jock itch can sometimes be confused for other conditions (see 8 more reasons your crotch might be itchy), which is why it's important to see a board-certified dermatologist.
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If you're not seeing an improvement in a few weeks, or if the redness is spreading or is characterized by painful, cracked skin, it's a good idea to check in with a doctor. Avoid ointments: They tend to be greasy and promote moisture retention, which will only make your jock itch worse.Īnother option: "Terbinafine, the active ingredient in athlete's foot medication, can also be safely and effectively used in the genital area," says Dr. Mikailov recommends staying away from these (such as Benadryl creams), as they’re specifically for allergic reactions.
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"You can try over-the-counter clotrimazole 1% or tolnaftate 1% creams," he says. 11 How to choose (and use) the best anti-itch cream Avoid anti-histamines: Dr. Radusky recommends a powder such as Zeasorb.
You can, however, pair it with antifungal creams or drying powders.
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Be careful not to get the cream into broken skin or cuts. Use the cream on all the irritated skin, not just the worst areas. Carefully smooth it into your skin in the direction the hair grows until it disappears. I also prefer it to the drying powders, because the wash is able to get into all the tiny crevices and hard-to-reach areas," she says. Spread the cream or ointment in a thin layer over the area of irritated skin. As the wash is rinsed off after 10 minutes, it does not add moisture to the area (unlike the topical antifungal creams). Antihistamines : The creams which come under this category generally have the compound diphenhydramine as a major ingredient that helps giving a soothing effect against bites, rashes, and allergies. Let us see what they are and how they prove to be useful.
"I recommend it because the moisture in the groin area is a main reason that fungal organisms thrive there. In medical terminology, anti-itch creams are broadly classified under 3 categories. Rodney, MD, founding director of Eternal Dermatology + Aesthetics in Fulton, MD, says a better first-line treatment is a prescription antifungal wash, which you lather up, wash with, leave on for 10 minutes, and then rinse off and dry the area thoroughly. It's tempting to want to just grab an OTC relief product and slap it on. Best anti itch cream bug bites: The Complete List. If left untreated, the rash will continue to spread onto your groin, resulting in cracked skin and occasionally a foul odor. "While it can start on the scrotum or the base of the penis, and work its way outward, the thighs and buttocks are the common areas affected." Unsurprisingly, the first sign of jock itch is usually an itch, "accompanied by a light pink or red rash with scaly flakes, usually on the outer edge of the rash," Dr.