An itchy rash in the groin: tinea cruris and the steroid cream mistake

Groin dermatophytosis, or tinea cruris, is a fungal infection of warm, moist and sweaty areas. I have seen the question "Help, I have this too, what should I do?" so often in comments that I decided to answer it separately.

What it looks like

• An itchy red rash in the groin fold and on the inner thigh
• A ring with a more raised, scaly edge and a relatively pale centre
• Burning, and itching that gets worse with sweating
• Without treatment it spreads, sometimes to the buttocks

Who gets it more often

People who sweat a lot, athletes, people who wear tight and synthetic clothing, and people with excess weight or diabetes. Often the source is the person’s own athlete’s foot: the fungus moves from the feet to the groin via a towel or underwear. That is why I also look at the feet during the examination.

The most dangerous mistake: steroid cream

Steroid or steroid-combination creams bought "for itching" quickly ease the itch, which makes them tempting. But they do not kill the fungus; instead they can make the infection spread further and turn into a chronic form that is hard to treat. Such cases have become one of dermatologists’ biggest concerns in recent years.

How treatment works

• Diagnosis first: groin redness can also be eczema, psoriasis or yeast infection
• Antifungal cream, usually for 2-4 weeks and continued for a while after the rash clears
• Tablets for widespread or recurrent cases
• Treating athlete’s foot at the same time

To stop it coming back

• Dry the groin well after showering, and use a separate towel for your feet
• Wear loose cotton underwear and change right after exercise
• Do not share towels and clothes
• In the morning, put on your socks first and then your underwear