Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Jock Itch?How Does Jock Itch Spread?How Long Is Jock Itch Contagious?How Is Jock Itch Treated?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Jock Itch?
How Does Jock Itch Spread?
How Long Is Jock Itch Contagious?
How Is Jock Itch Treated?
Also called tinea cruris or ringworm of the groin, jock itch remains contagious for as long as you have the infection on your skin, which is typically for a few weeks.
This article discusses how jock itch spreads, how long it lasts, and how you can treat it.
Verywell / Sydney Saporito
Some things can trigger jock itch or make someone more susceptible to developing it, including:
Can You Get Jock Itch From Surfaces?You can get jock itch from soft surfaces, such as bedding and towels, as well as hard surfaces, such as exercise equipment or shower floors.
Can You Get Jock Itch From Surfaces?
You can get jock itch from soft surfaces, such as bedding and towels, as well as hard surfaces, such as exercise equipment or shower floors.
Can Females Get Jock Itch?
Jock itch occurs mostly in males, but females can still develop jock itch. For example, a male can pass the infection to a female through intercourse. Females can also develop jock itch if they come into contact with contaminated clothing. If a female has athlete’s foot, the infection can also spread to the groin area through touching or contact with clothing that touched their feet.
Can You Get Jock Itch During Sex?Yes. Because the infection is spread from skin-to-skin contact, you are at risk of developing jock itch if you have sexual intercourse with someone who has it.
Can You Get Jock Itch During Sex?
Yes. Because the infection is spread from skin-to-skin contact, you are at risk of developing jock itch if you have sexual intercourse with someone who has it.
Jock itch spreads easily from person to person, and from one body part to another.
You can also get jock itch from an infected towel, article of clothing, or other item. In some cases, the spores of the fungus causing the infection can live on bedding, towels, or other soft surfaces for up to a year if they are not washed properly. Because of this, jock itch can be spread for quite some time even after you have treated the infection.
What Causes a Genital Rash and How Is It Treated?
Slowing the Spread
To avoid spreading jock itch, you can:
It’s possible for children to spread jock itch to one another through sharing clothes and hanging out together in common areas, such as locker rooms at school.
Jock itch is contagious for as long as the infection lives on your skin. Jock itch can be contagious even during treatment, so it’s important to avoid letting others touch your clothes during this time.
Symptoms of jock itch go away in a few weeks with treatment. However, if it isn’t treated promptly, the infection can last for weeks or even months.In some cases, using the wrong treatment or participating in activities that worsen the infection can lead to more severe or long-lasting symptoms.
The things that can make jock itch worse include:
Can You Exercise With Jock Itch?You don’t have to give up exercise altogether if you have jock itch. However, to make sure the condition doesn’t get worse, you should shower immediately after working out, dry off completely with a clean towel, and wear clean, loosely fitted clothing afterward.
Can You Exercise With Jock Itch?
You don’t have to give up exercise altogether if you have jock itch. However, to make sure the condition doesn’t get worse, you should shower immediately after working out, dry off completely with a clean towel, and wear clean, loosely fitted clothing afterward.
The first-line treatment for jock itch is an antifungal cream.These can be purchased over-the-counter, but sometimes a prescription-strength cream may be required.
In some cases, an oral antifungal medication and antifungal creams are both needed. Antifungal treatment typically lasts two to four weeks.
Other possible remedies for jock itch include:
The 9 Best Athlete’s Foot Treatments to Soothe Your Feet
Summary
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Jock itch.Leung AK, Lam JM, Leong KF, Hon KL.Tinea corporis: an updated review.Drugs Context.2020;9:2020-5-6. doi:10.7573/dic.2020-5-6Sahoo AK, Mahajan R.Management of tinea corporis, tinea cruris, and tinea pedis: A comprehensive review.Indian Dermatol Online J.2016;7(2):77-86. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.178099American Academy of Family Physicians.Jock itch.Kids Health.Jock itch (for parents).The Center for Food Security and Public Health.Dermatophytosis.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Jock itch.Leung AK, Lam JM, Leong KF, Hon KL.Tinea corporis: an updated review.Drugs Context.2020;9:2020-5-6. doi:10.7573/dic.2020-5-6Sahoo AK, Mahajan R.Management of tinea corporis, tinea cruris, and tinea pedis: A comprehensive review.Indian Dermatol Online J.2016;7(2):77-86. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.178099American Academy of Family Physicians.Jock itch.Kids Health.Jock itch (for parents).The Center for Food Security and Public Health.Dermatophytosis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Jock itch.Leung AK, Lam JM, Leong KF, Hon KL.Tinea corporis: an updated review.Drugs Context.2020;9:2020-5-6. doi:10.7573/dic.2020-5-6Sahoo AK, Mahajan R.Management of tinea corporis, tinea cruris, and tinea pedis: A comprehensive review.Indian Dermatol Online J.2016;7(2):77-86. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.178099American Academy of Family Physicians.Jock itch.Kids Health.Jock itch (for parents).The Center for Food Security and Public Health.Dermatophytosis.
MedlinePlus.Jock itch.
Leung AK, Lam JM, Leong KF, Hon KL.Tinea corporis: an updated review.Drugs Context.2020;9:2020-5-6. doi:10.7573/dic.2020-5-6
Sahoo AK, Mahajan R.Management of tinea corporis, tinea cruris, and tinea pedis: A comprehensive review.Indian Dermatol Online J.2016;7(2):77-86. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.178099
American Academy of Family Physicians.Jock itch.
Kids Health.Jock itch (for parents).
The Center for Food Security and Public Health.Dermatophytosis.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
