Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEczemaChafingContact DermatitisHeat RashHidradenitis SuppurativaJock ItchRazor BurnSwimmer’s ItchSTIsPityriasis RoseaStress RashDiagnosing an Inner Thigh Rash
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Eczema
Chafing
Contact Dermatitis
Heat Rash
Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Jock Itch
Razor Burn
Swimmer’s Itch
STIs
Pityriasis Rosea
Stress Rash
Diagnosing an Inner Thigh Rash
Arashon the inner thigh or near the groin is common. Females may be more prone to certain types of rashes due to close-fitting clothing, leg shaving, or situations that result in little airflow and sweat that can trigger a rash
However, common skin disorders or infections can cause anyone to develop an inner-thigh rash.
Rashes on the thigh are often very treatable at home, but if they recur or persist after treatment, you should talk to your healthcare provider.
Elena Noviello/ Getty Images
Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic condition that causes red, itchy skin. It affects about 1 in 10 Americans; it’s very common in children but affects adults (male and female) as well.
Possible symptoms of eczema include:
Avoiding triggers can prevent these rashes. Treatments for existing rashes include home treatment and medication:
Possible symptoms of chafing include:
Topical treatments usually relieve the rash and can also prevent chafing. These include:
Possible symptoms of contact dermatitis include:
The best way to deal with contact dermatitis is to avoid the irritant causing the reaction. If you already have a rash,treatment options for contact dermatitisinclude:
Heat rashoccurs when the body is overheated and the sweat ducts become blocked or inflamed. This may happen on the inner thighs in hot weather or following a strenuous workout.
The types of heat rash include:
Heat rash will usually resolve on its own, but you can use the following strategies andtreatmentsto manage the discomfort:
Hidradenitis suppurativa(inversa) is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the skin. It is not believed to be contagious and usually first appears in females around the time of puberty. Both smoking and obesity raise the risk of developing hidradenitis suppurativa.
Possible symptoms associated with this type of rash include:
The boils and rash may appear in the armpit, on the breast, or around the anus as well as in the groin area.
Treatment options include:
Althoughjock itch(tinea cruris) is often associated with men, women may also develop it.
As a form ofringworm, jock itch is actually a common fungal infection. The fungus that causes jock itch thrives in warm, moist places. Therefore, tight-fitting clothing increases the risk of developing jock itch.
Possible symptoms of jock itch in women include:
You need to treat jock itch; it won’t clear up on its own. Options for topical treatments include:
Possible symptoms of razor burn include:
To avoid razor burn, take the following precautions when shaving the skin on your inner thighs:
When swimming in infected water, the parasites burrow into the skin, causing inflammation and an itchy rash. The itching may last up to one week but gradually disappears.
Possible symptoms of swimmer’s itch include:
If you develop a rash, you can treat it with the following approaches:
Sexually transmitted infections(STIs) are spread through vaginal, oral, or anal sex. It’s estimated that more than 9 million women in the United States are diagnosed with one each year. In addition, women tend to have more serious health problems than men, including risk of infertility.
STI rashes on the thigh can result from the following infections:
Pityriasis roseais a rash that usually affects healthy adolescents and young adults. It starts with a single “herald” patch, usually on the trunk of the body. Small lesions then spread to other parts of the body.
Before a rash develops, you may have symptoms of an infection such as fever, headache, and sore throat.
On lighter skin types, lesions from pityriasis rosea will appear salmon-colored; on darker skin, they will be more hyperpigmented (darker or patchy in color).
It’s not exactly clear why stress causes a rash, but it seems that the nervous system and immune system both play a role, resulting in a physical reaction to stress.
Avoiding stress is the best way to prevent related rashes.
You can often manage symptoms of a stress rash with at-home remedies, but over-the-counter and prescription medications may also be helpful. These include:
See your healthcare provider to determine the cause of your inner thigh rash. It can be challenging to differentiate between the several infections or conditions that could be causing your discomfort.
Summary
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20 Sources
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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.
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American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Pityriasis rosea.
Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan.Pityriasis rosea.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 ways to get relief from chronic hives.
Konstantinou GN, Konstantinou GN.Psychological stress and chronic urticaria: a neuro-immuno-cutaneous crosstalk. A systematic review of the existing evidence.Clinical Therapeutics. 2020;42(5):771-782. doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2020.03.010
Schaefer P.Acute and chronic urticaria: Evaluation and treatment.AFP. 2017;95(11):717-724.
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