Can’t get to sleep or wake up throughout the night with the guy itch? You know, jock itch, gym itch, crotch rot, nuts of fire, crack smack or burning thighs? Well you are not alone as jock itch, medically called tinea cruris, is an infection of your groin caused by a fungus that afflicts athletes and couch potatoes alike.

The fungi called dermatophytes is the culprit. Jock itch, as the name implies, is freakin’ itchy and can also be painful. The rash can be reddish, brown or tan colored and the leading edge may be scaly or have bumps that may look like blisters.

Jock itch can infect the folds of your skin of your thighs, groin or buttocks. Not often, but it can crawl up and visit your scrotum but One Eyed Willy should be o.k.

Sometimes a person with jock itch can also have athlete’s foot as it’s the same fungus that’s just found a different home. The fungus likes moist, warm areas and can be enticed by prolonged sweating from exercise or excessive heat or friction from your clothes.

Although not fatal, jock itch is really annoying and may resist many different attempts to kill it. If your jock itch returns frequently or you have had it for longer than a few weeks, then you should see your doctor as prescription grade medication may be required.

Some guys have had jock itch for years as it has resisted every effort to get rid of it. I had industrial strength jock itch and I have seen my doctor and used many of the over the counter creams, lotions and potions to no avail.

How Not to Get Jock Itch in the First Place

The most important thing you can do to prevent jock itch is to stop sweating. Be the master of your pores and have a knave stand by fanning you with a large feather. If you can’t work this into your daily routine, then try some or better, all of the following suggestions:

• if your have athlete’s foot then treat it immediately so it doesn’t spread to your groin
• shower every day, especially after exercising
• hang up your exercise clothes so they can dry and wash them after every use
• change your underwear daily
• switch from briefs to boxers
• wear moisture wicking exercise clothes
• towel off thoroughly and help keep your groin area dry by using a talc
• try not to scratch the infected area
• don’t share towels, underwear, flip-flops or other personal items
• lose the excess pounds
• wear loose fitting, cotton clothing
• stop drinking alcohol

Natural Home Cures for Jock Itch

Here is a list of some of the treatments guys have tried. Some work right off, sometimes several different treatments have been used. Whatever home treatment for jock itch you decide on, give it a good two weeks and reevaluate the situation. Don’t give up after only a few days and maybe, cooler nuts will prevail.

Some of the following can be dangerous if you are reckless. I know you want relief but having itchy nuts is better than chemically burning them off. Be near your shower and if anything doesn’t seem right then wash it off immediately.

Home Remedies for Jock Itch:

• OTC antifungals that contain tolnaftate (Tinactin), clotrimazole (Lotrimin), and miconazole (Micatin) – the cool spray versions have alcohol in them and if you spray it on after a night of scratching you’ll hit those high notes and your eyes will bulge out of their sockets
• try a women’s anti-fungal cream like Monistat (miconazole nitrate) or Vagistat-1 (tioconazole)
• Gold Bond Powder (zinc oxide)
• soak in a salt water bath for 15 minutes
• use a hair dryer to eliminate moisture after a shower
• wash your groin with an anti-dandruff shampoo like Selsun Blue or Head & Shoulders
• tea tree oil – painful if applied on a scratched area
• rubbing alcohol – see above
• make a garlic compress with garlic and olive oil and apply
• wash the area with mouthwash like Listerine
• coconut oil
• 10 % chlorine bleach or vinegar – apply for 5 minutes then wash off
• zinc Oxide (diaper rash cream)
• Lamisil – oral or cream
• Aloe Vera gel
• turmeric capsules
• Calamine lotion
• Polysporin for itch relief
• antibacterial soap
• lavender oil
• hydrogen Peroxide – use 35% diluted 1:10 with water; spray on morning and eve
• Ajax – on a sponge then apply for 5 minutes and wash off
• hand sanitizer
• Witchhazel
• apple cider vinegar
• baby powder
• Echinacea
• cornstarch
• camphor
• deodorant like Arid Extra Dry or 24/7 Speedstck Gel
• Oil of Oregano
• avoid starchy foods, white flour, sugar and beer
• try a different laundry detergent or fabric softener

If you have tried every suggestion to get rid your you jock itch and have failed, then you are destined to have jock itch the rest of your life, you poor bastard. Or you can get a referral from your doctor to see a dermatologist as they are skin specialists and maybe you have some other bat crazy infection.

Update: I saw two doctors and they gave me creams for jock itch. They day after I stopped using them the itch was back. A third doctor said it wasn’t jock itch and prescribed Micronazole 2% + Betameth .1% cream and the infection was gone in two days.

Ever had jock itch? What worked for you? Leave a comment below.

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