It is called tinea cruris and can be confused with other dermatological problems, but once recognized it can be defeated with a simple topical treatment. Here’s how.
Inguinal mycosis is a problem favored by the humid environment that can be created in the groin especially when wearing synthetic clothing or attending public showers, such as those of swimming pools and gyms.
Precisely for this reason, athletes are often affected, especially cyclists who spend many hours riding their bicycles, but also those who have the bad habit of not changing their swimsuit when it is damp.
A typically male problem
The most affected by inguinal mycosis are mainly men.
To cause it is the fungus Trichophyton rubrum and its appearance is that of a redness that starts from the inguinal fold and extends to the inner thigh, sometimes even involving the buttocks and abdomen, but generally sparing the scrotum and penis. Precisely this last characteristic makes it possible to distinguish inguinal mycosis from other infections, in particular candidiasis.
Another problem that might be confused with tinea cruris is erythrasma, a bacterial infection that causes skin irritation similar to that associated with inguinal mycosis.
In this case the two pathologies can be distinguished by the appearance of the rash, which in the case of tinea cruris has raised, clean and scaly edges and a reddish color, while in the case of erythrasma it is flat, brown and without scales or blisters.
Still different is intertrigo, a problem caused by rubbing the thighs that leads to the breakage of the skin, with the formation of wounds that only in a second phase can be infected.
The definitive confirmation of having to do with inguinal mycosis, however, comes from the laboratory. A microscopic examination of the cells scraped from the skin allows to visualize the fungus, eliminating any doubt about the origin of the problem.
Treatment
Once recognized, in most cases inguinal mycosis can be effectively treated with topical products, such as creams or lotions, based on clotrimazole or bifonazole.
To use them there is no need for a doctor’s prescription: it is enough to go to the pharmacy and apply the product on the affected area and the surrounding one for 3-4 weeks.
More complicated cases, very inflamed and associated with severe itching or blisters, may require the application of topical products based on antifungals and corticosteroids, but treatments of this type should be carried out only on the recommendation of the doctor.
On the other hand, it is much rarer the case in which to defeat tinea cruris it is necessary to prescribe antifungals to be taken orally.
Combating recurrence
Once the treatment is finished, to prevent the inguinal mycosis from reappearing, it is important to maintain correct habits, such as preferring cotton clothing, always dry the groin area well after showering and, if you are particularly exposed to the risk of infection, apply an antifungal-based cream whenever you could be exposed to the fungus.
Only in this way can tinea cruris remain a memory confined to the past.
The different types of mycosis
In addition to tines cruris, there are other types of skin mycosis. Let’s see the main features.
| Mycosis | Affected areas | Features of lesions | Symptoms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tinea cruris | Skin folds, especially inguinal folds | Large annular patches, with raised edge, reddened and flaky, sometimes with vesicles, and paler and smoother central part, which progressively widen. Cockade appearance | Often, associated with itching; Sometimes, mild burning |
| Tinea corporis | Face, neck, trunk, arms and legs, in hairless areas | Circular patches, with raised edge, reddened and flaky, sometimes with vesicles, and a lighter and smoother central part, which progressively widen. Cockade appearance | Typically, asymptomatic; sometimes mild burning or itching |
| Onychomycosis | Toenails and fingernails | Alterations of different parts of the nail, which becomes whitish-yellowish, soft, brittle, with a tendency to crumble and / or rise from the nail bed | Typically, asymptomatic; sometimes mild burning or pain if the supporting tissues of the nail become inflamed |
| Cutaneous candidiasis | Skin folds of various parts of the body (submammary, inguinal, abdominal in obese people) and spaces between fingers | Bright red spots, sometimes eroded and shiny covered with a whitish dusty patina or with whitish border macerated at the edges. Vesicles or pustules may also be present near the main patch. Tend to be scaly | Always, associated with itching; often, mild swelling, burning or pain |
| Pityriasis versicolor | Shoulders, neck, upper arms, back, abdomen | Circular-ovoid patches of contrasting color with that of healthy skin (pink on tanned skin; coffee-milk on light skin) with a tendency to converge, forming larger asymmetrical “map” patches | Typically, asymptomatic; sometimes itching of varying intensity |
Joycelyn Elders is the author and creator of EmpowerEssence, a health and wellness blog. Elders is a respected public health advocate and pediatrician dedicated to promoting general health and well-being.
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