Jock itch

Dear ANB readers,
Hope you're all doing great. Today, I'm going to be talking about a condition that I believe many in this part of the world have ignored due to the wrong counsel received on the matter.In my time as a Community Pharmacist, I met with a great deal of people. Once I met a woman who needed me to examine her breasts because she felt one looked bigger than the other, I was reluctant but she begged and I gave in. I barely spent a minute with her.I eventually asked her to go to the primary health center in Sangotedo (somewhere along the Lekki-Epe Express-way in Lagos to get it checked.

Now to Today's topic; I also met a man once who had been itching in his groin area since he was a teen. He told me he saw Doctor about thirteen years ago but the Doctor dismissed it as no big deal. Now, almost 13 years after, he was apparently bothered by it because the grey skin to have spread along with the flaking and itching. He said his wife complained he'd been scratching all the time and was disgusted by it. (I totally feel her… lol)
Immediately, I suspected that he had Jock itch. I googled jock itch and showed him the photo he affirmed that what he had looked like that and was itchy and could be a bit raised and each time he scratched it, the skin would fall off in flakes.

What is Jock itch?Jock itch: (Tinea cruris) is a form of ringworm mainly caused by fungi and affects mostly men but also women. It causes greying or darkening of the affected area in dark skinned people and may cause reddening in light-skinned individuals. It is caused by the same fungus that causes athletes foot. In the process of putting on underwear, the fungus "gets a ride to the groin" and … Voila La Tinea cruris, itching in the groin and all other associated symptoms. With all this information, it was evident that Mr. X was suffering from Jock itch. I gave him a brand of Miconazole cream (which is an OTC medication) and gave the following tips from Web MD.
 How is jock itch treated? Most ringworm infections of the skin, such as jock itch, can be treated at home with anti-fungal creams and powders you can buy without a prescription. But if possible have your doctor look at any infection that does not go away, is severe, or comes back.

Photo credits: www.soap.com

To treat jock itch, follow these steps:·    

1. Wash the rash with soap and water.
2. Spread an antifungal cream over the rash.
3. Apply the cream beyond the edge of the rash.     
4. Use an antifungal cream or powder that contains terbinafine, miconazole, or clotrimazole. You can buy these products without a prescription. Brand names include Lamisil, Lotrimin, Micatin, and Monistat.

Follow the directions on the package, and don't stop using the medicine just because your symptoms go away. Use the medicine exactly as the label says, in most cases its usually at least for a period of 4 weeks.· 

In rare cases, ringworm of the skin causes large areas of blisters. If your ringworm forms blisters, you can use compresses (such as Burow's compress, which you can buy without a prescription) to soothe and dry out the blisters. After the skin is dried out, use anti-fungal creams that you can buy without a prescription.·        If you have jock itch and athlete's foot, you should treat both to prevent re-infecting your groin when you put on your underwear. (Put on your socks before putting on your boxers/panties because it's the same fungus that causes both infections)
 Prevention
1. Keep your groin area dry. After swimming, change into dry clothing as soon as possible.
2. Don't share towels, shorts etc.
3. Avoid tight underwear
4. If you have athletes foot. Treat it and put socks on before your underwear while you are getting dressed to avoid giving the fungus a free ride to you groin
.And that would be it for today.
Please share this with all your scratching friends and family members, male and female alike (lol). Have a lovely week ahead.

Signed,
Aunty Nurse