Jock Itch: Symptoms, Treatment & How to Get Rid of It

Jock itch usually starts as an itch that won't settle in the crease where your thigh meets your groin, followed by a red or brownish patch with a raised, scaly border. Its medical name is tinea cruris, and it's a fungal infection. The same family of fungi behind athlete's foot settles into skin that stays warm, damp and rubbed.364

Most of what clears it is in your hands. Dry skin, breathable clothing, clean towels and treating your feet at the same time take away what the fungus needs. Antifungal creams have a long trial record, and among natural options, tea tree oil has the most human trials behind it.1112

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What is jock itch?

The name ringworm comes from the rash's shape, a ring with a scaly, raised border that spreads outward while the center often looks clearer, and no worm is involved.4 The same fungi cause ringworm elsewhere on the body, including athlete's foot on the feet and tinea capitis, ringworm of the scalp.4

Fungal skin infections are common. A Cochrane review estimates that 10% to 20% of people worldwide have one.11 Jock itch mostly affects adult men and teenage boys.3 In a CDC study of about 6.8 million U.S. Medicaid patients followed from 2016 to 2023, new cases were most common between ages 45 and 64.13

Jock itch symptoms: what does it look like?

Jock itch symptoms at a glance

A rash that covers the scrotum or penis, a rash that's evenly red with small separate spots around it, or blisters and sores that come and go point to something else. The next section shows how to tell.

Jock itch vs. yeast infection (and other look-alikes)

Telling them apart matters, because each one responds to different care.

Jock itch and its look-alikes

Yeast turns up often in groin cultures. When CDC researchers analyzed 2,026 U.S. skin cultures ordered for suspected jock itch between 2019 and 2023, 529 of them (26.1%) grew a fungus, and among those, yeasts, mostly Candida, outnumbered the dermatophytes that cause jock itch, 43.9% to 36.9%.1 The researchers note that cultures miss many infections and that yeast found on the skin may be living there harmlessly rather than causing the rash.1

That's one reason a rash that isn't improving with treatment deserves a closer look, as When to get care explains.4

I explain when yeast on the skin becomes a problem in my Candida Cleanse Protocol:

If your groin rash turns out to be yeast, the foods you eat are part of the answer, and our guide to the candida diet lays out what to eat and what to cut.

What causes jock itch?

Jock itch starts when a dermatophyte fungus reaches the skin of your groin, often from your own feet, and settles in because the skin stays warm, damp and rubbed.314 Sweat, tight clothing, extra weight with deep skin folds, diabetes and a weakened immune system all raise the odds.614313 Here's how an infection takes hold:

As I've explained on my show, fungus and yeast like to grow in a damp environment, which is why traditional Chinese medicine focuses on drying up dampness.20 For jock itch, that starts with the skin itself, kept dry, breathable and free of rubbing. Excessive sweating is a named risk for the same reason.6

Blood sugar matters too. In the Medicaid study, people with diabetes developed jock itch at nearly double the rate of people without it (1.9 times the rate, after accounting for other differences between the groups), and people with any of the immunocompromising conditions the study tracked, which included diabetes, HIV and cancer, had the same 1.9-fold rate.13 On my show, I've called sugar one of the most damp-forming foods, and my Candida Cleanse Protocol explains that Candida yeast ferments glucose and fructose for energy.2021 If you have diabetes, keeping your blood sugar steady is part of caring for your skin, and our guide to normal blood sugar explains what steady looks like.

Is jock itch contagious?

Yes. Jock itch spreads through skin-to-skin contact with an infected person or animal, through shared towels and bedsheets, from locker-room and public bathroom floors, and from your own feet to your groin.63

The CDC advises avoiding skin-to-skin contact, including sexual contact, with someone who has ringworm, and taking an infected pet to the veterinarian.22 A related fungus, Trichophyton mentagrophytes genotype VII, can spread through sexual contact and shows up on the genitals, buttocks or face; it isn't drug-resistant.23 Ringworm fungi can also survive on objects for a long time, which is why towels, washcloths and workout clothes matter so much.9 The prevention section below covers laundry and gear.

How to get rid of jock itch at home

These steps take away the warm, damp conditions the fungus needs while a treatment works on the fungus itself:

• Wash and pat dry. Wash the rash with soap and water, shower daily and after exercise, and pat the area completely dry before you dress.824

• Dry your feet last. If you have athlete's foot, towel off your groin before your feet so you don't carry the fungus up.8

• Socks on before underwear. While you're treating athlete's foot, put your socks on first so your waistband doesn't pick up fungus from your feet.83

• Loose and breathable. Wear loose cotton or moisture-wicking underwear and clothes, and skip tight underwear, pants and tights until it heals.248

• Fresh every day. Change your underwear and socks at least once a day.22

• Cool the itch. Lay a cool, wet washcloth on the rash for 20 to 30 minutes, 2 to 6 times a day, with a clean cloth each time that you use only on the rash.9

• Hands off. Try not to scratch, and wash your hands after touching or treating the rash.8

Jock itch treatment: what works and how long it takes

The home steps above stay in place while any treatment works. For the fungus itself, antifungal creams have a deep trial record. A Cochrane review included 129 randomized trials with 18,086 people who had jock itch or ringworm of the body. Most courses ran 2 to 4 weeks, side effects were minimal, mainly irritation and burning, and every treatment examined appeared to work, though most comparisons rested on single trials and the evidence was rated low to very low in quality.11 People using terbinafine cream were about 4.5 times as likely as people using a placebo to see the rash clear, across 5 trials.11

Antifungal creams for jock itch, by type

At the end of treatment, the two types clear the fungus about equally, and the Cochrane review found no difference between the azoles and the butenafine group.1127 The difference shows up afterward. An analysis that pooled 65 trials in dermatophyte skin infections, the ringworm family that includes athlete's foot and jock itch, found that butenafine and terbinafine kept people clear more often than clotrimazole and two other azoles, and the authors named butenafine, naftifine and terbinafine as possibly the best choices for staying clear.27

For a rash that's widespread, involves hair follicles, doesn't respond to creams, or affects someone with a weakened immune system, a doctor may prescribe antifungal pills.4

Jock itch cream: which ingredients work best?

The active ingredient is what sets these creams apart. A 2025 review by CDC and NYU authors notes that butenafine and terbinafine work better than clotrimazole or miconazole, in line with the 65-trial analysis above.274 Whatever you use, spread it over the whole rash and around its entire edge, follow the package directions, and keep the area dry while it works.8

Don't judge a short course by the day you stop. In the butenafine trial, the share of people cleared of the fungus kept rising after the 2-week course ended, up to 81% four weeks later.5

Why steroid creams can make jock itch worse

Steroid creams calm inflammation, which is why they're a common reach for any itchy rash, but on a fungal rash they can backfire. The CDC states that steroid creams can make ringworm infections worse.6 A steroid suppresses the immune reaction that clears the fungus, so the rash can lose its typical look and spread while the right diagnosis is delayed, a pattern called tinea incognito.1917

Combination creams that pair an antifungal with a steroid are common: 10.1% of the Medicaid patients with jock itch received one.13 In the Cochrane review, combination creams cleared the visible rash slightly more often by the end of treatment but cleared the fungus no more often, and that evidence was rated very low in quality.11 The 2025 review advises against them, because their steroid is often high- or medium-potency and can thin the skin or cause effects elsewhere in the body, and because they may help drug-resistant strains emerge.4 In one report of 6 children with ringworm treated with a combination cream for 2 to 12 months, the infection persisted or came back, and it cleared once their diagnosis was confirmed and they were treated with an antifungal alone.28

Keep steroid creams, including over-the-counter hydrocortisone, off a rash you think is jock itch. If a doctor prescribed a steroid or combination cream and the rash spread or keeps coming back, go back and ask about testing for a fungus, as When to get care explains.46

Drug-resistant ringworm (Trichophyton indotineae)

A newer ringworm fungus has made the steroid problem more serious. Trichophyton indotineae is widespread in South Asia and increasingly reported elsewhere; it often resists terbinafine and often causes severe rashes that cover large areas of the body, including the groin.2329 The epidemic there has likely been driven by misuse and overuse of antifungal and steroid creams.29

The first U.S. cases were reported from New York City in 2023: two women whose widespread rashes didn't improve on terbinafine pills, one of whom hadn't traveled, which suggests it may have spread locally.29 A follow-up of 11 New York City patients found that all of them had widespread rashes that hadn't cleared on antifungal creams, their diagnoses had been delayed by 3 to 42 months, terbinafine failed in 7, and 5 of the 7 treated with itraconazole cleared or improved.30 From 2022 to 2024, New York's state lab identified 135 cases in New York City and nearby counties, and 57% of the samples it tested needed unusually high levels of terbinafine to stop them in lab tests.31

Standard lab cultures often mislabel this fungus, so identifying it takes genetic testing.29 A rash that's widespread, hasn't cleared with treatment, or started after travel to South Asia or after steroid creams belongs on the list in When to get care.2329

Natural remedies for jock itch: what the research shows

Three natural options have been tested in people with this kind of infection, ranked here by the strength of the research behind them. The tea tree oil trials were in athlete's foot, which the same group of fungi causes; the other two included people with jock itch.21

My mom used tea tree oil, together with oregano oil, on a stubborn fungus of her own:

Oregano oil is much hotter on the skin than tea tree. My guideline for it is 1% at most, never undiluted, away from mucous membranes and out of pregnancy, so save it for the feet and toenails and keep it off the groin.35

Jock itch in women

Yes, women get jock itch, though less often than men: in the CDC's Medicaid study, new cases ran 7.0 per 10,000 person-years in women (that is, per 10,000 women followed for a year), against 18.6 in men.13 In women, the rash shows up in the same places, the creases of the inner thighs, the groin and the buttocks, and it responds to the same care.143

The main look-alike for women is a yeast infection. Itching inside the vagina, burning and a thick discharge point to a vaginal yeast infection rather than jock itch, and the American Academy of Dermatology advises seeing a gynecologist for those symptoms.14 A groin rash that's evenly red with small spots around it also points to yeast, as the look-alikes table above shows.4

How to keep jock itch from coming back

• Treat your feet too: The American Academy of Dermatology notes that to clear ringworm, you have to treat it everywhere on your body at the same time.9 In a survey of 2,761 people with toenail fungus, 33.8% also had athlete's foot and 4.2% had jock itch, and the researchers suggest infected toenails may seed infections elsewhere on the skin.41 For the feet, my tea tree foot soak is 10 drops mixed into salts first, since oils don't dissolve in water.35 For a fuller blend, our DIY foot soak pairs Epsom salt and baking soda with tea tree and other oils.
• Wash hot, and keep worn clothes apart: In lab laundry tests, T. rubrum survived an 86°F (30°C) wash, but a 140°F (60°C) wash eliminated it, and about 10% of the fungus moved from contaminated to clean fabric stored together in a laundry basket.2 Wash underwear, socks, towels and workout clothes after each use, in hot water where the fabric allows, and keep sweaty clothes out of the basket with clean ones.82
• Your own towel and washcloth: Don't share clothing, towels, sheets or sports gear, and keep gear like uniforms and pads clean.22
• After a workout: Shower right after practice or a game, dry completely before you dress, and wear shower shoes in locker rooms and public showers.22824
• A dry dusting: Once the rash has cleared, a light dusting of cornstarch on dry, intact skin can cut friction. In tests on volunteers' skin, cornstarch reduced friction injury and didn't increase the growth of Candida yeast.42 Choose cornstarch over talcum powder, which our guide covers separately.
• Weight: Jock itch is more common in people carrying extra weight with deep, moist skin folds, and losing weight may help keep it from coming back.3

A simple plan for jock itch

Five steps cover it: dry it out, treat the whole rash, treat your feet, wash hot, and check your progress at 2 weeks.

When to get care

See a doctor soon if:

• It isn't improving: The rash isn't clearly better after 2 weeks of home care and treatment, or it keeps coming back.34
• It's widespread or stubborn: It covers large areas, it spread after you used a steroid or combination cream, or it started after travel to South Asia; ask about testing for a resistant strain.232930
• You have diabetes or a weakened immune system: Your risk is higher, and treatment may need to go beyond creams.134
• The skin is broken, raw or oozing: Breaks in the skin let bacteria in, and skin conditions like athlete's foot raise the risk of cellulitis, a deeper skin infection.43
• The rash is on the scrotum, penis or vulva, or has small spots around it: These point to yeast, which needs different care.4
• You have blisters or sores that come and go: These can be genital herpes.16

Medications. If a doctor prescribes an antifungal cream or pills, use it exactly as directed.8

The bottom line

Jock itch: frequently asked questions

References

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2. Hammer TR, Mucha H, Hoefer D. Infection risk by dermatophytes during storage and after domestic laundry and their temperature-dependent inactivation. Mycopathologia. 2011;171(1):43-9. doi:10.1007/s11046-010-9347-9. PMID:20652833
3. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Jock itch. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Reviewed April 1, 2025. Accessed October 20, 2026.
4. Caplan AS, Gold JAW, Smith DJ, Ely JW. Diagnosis and Management of Tinea Infections. Am Fam Physician. 2025;112(4):382-392. PMID:41118183
5. Lesher JL Jr, Babel DE, Stewart DM, Jones TM, Kaminester L, Goldman M, et al. Butenafine 1% cream in the treatment of tinea cruris: a multicenter, vehicle-controlled, double-blind trial. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1997;36(2 Pt 1):S20-4. doi:10.1016/s0190-9622(97)70318-9. PMID:9039201
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ringworm Basics. Published May 15, 2024; updated October 13, 2026. Accessed October 20, 2026.
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8. WebMD Ignite Staff (Healthwise). Jock Itch: Care Instructions. Kaiser Permanente Health Encyclopedia. Current as of February 27, 2026. Accessed October 20, 2026.
9. American Academy of Dermatology. Ringworm: Diagnosis and treatment. Accessed October 20, 2026.
10. Kalra MG, Higgins KE, Kinney BS. Intertrigo and secondary skin infections. Am Fam Physician. 2014;89(7):569-73. PMID:24695603
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14. American Academy of Dermatology. 8 reasons your groin itches and how to get relief. Accessed October 20, 2026.
15. Radhakrishnan S, Logamoorthy R, Karthikeyan K, Mohan R, Mary J JF. Erythrasma: a systematic review of interventions. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2025;50(11):2139-2146. doi:10.1093/ced/llaf307. PMID:40635638
16. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Genital Herpes. February 20, 2024. Accessed October 20, 2026.
17. Dahl MV. Dermatophytosis and the immune response. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1994;31(3 Pt 2):S34-41. doi:10.1016/s0190-9622(08)81265-0. PMID:8077506
18. Martinez-Rossi NM, Persinoti GF, Peres NT, Rossi A. Role of pH in the pathogenesis of dermatophytoses. Mycoses. 2012;55(5):381-7. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0507.2011.02162.x. PMID:22211778
19. Zacharopoulou A, Tsiogka A, Tsimpidakis A, Lamia A, Koumaki D, Gregoriou S. Tinea Incognito: Challenges in Diagnosis and Management. J Clin Med. 2024;13(11):3267. doi:10.3390/jcm13113267. PMID:38892976
20. Axe J. Black Mold Symptoms & 16 Natural Remedies. The Dr. Axe Show. 2017 (fungus, yeast and dampness in Chinese medicine, and sugar, 08:40 to 09:06; tea tree oil and his mother's toenail fungus, 10:42 to 11:01; YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G-T0bNLUss&t=650s).
21. Axe J. The Candida Cleanse Protocol: The 30-Day Healing Protocol. DrAxe.com protocol; 2026 (p. 4, The Silent Epidemic; p. 12, The Sugar Problem).
22. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ringworm Prevention. February 9, 2026. Accessed October 20, 2026.
23. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Clinician Brief: Emerging Ringworm. Published February 10, 2026; updated October 13, 2026. Accessed October 20, 2026.
24. 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. PMID:27057486
25. Parish LC, Parish JL, Routh HB, Avakian E, Olayinka B, Pappert EJ, et al. A double-blind, randomized, vehicle-controlled study evaluating the efficacy and safety of naftifine 2% cream in tinea cruris. J Drugs Dermatol. 2011;10(10):1142-7. PMID:21968664
26. Jones TM, Jarratt MT, Mendez-Moguel I, Paz N, Grekin SK, Cognata Smith C, et al. A randomized, multicenter, double-blind, vehicle-controlled study evaluating the efficacy and safety of luliconazole cream 1% once daily for 7 days in patients aged ≥ 12 years with tinea cruris. J Drugs Dermatol. 2014;13(1):32-8. PMID:24385117
27. Rotta I, Ziegelmann PK, Otuki MF, Riveros BS, Bernardo NL, Correr CJ. Efficacy of topical antifungals in the treatment of dermatophytosis: a mixed-treatment comparison meta-analysis involving 14 treatments. JAMA Dermatol. 2013;149(3):341-9. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2013.1721. PMID:23553036
28. Alston SJ, Cohen BA, Braun M. Persistent and recurrent tinea corporis in children treated with combination antifungal/ corticosteroid agents. Pediatrics. 2003;111(1):201-3. doi:10.1542/peds.111.1.201. PMID:12509578
29. Caplan AS, Chaturvedi S, Zhu Y, Todd GC, Yin L, Lopez A, et al. Notes from the Field: First Reported U.S. Cases of Tinea Caused by Trichophyton indotineae - New York City, December 2021-March 2023. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2023;72(19):536-537. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7219a4. PMID:37167192
30. Caplan AS, Todd GC, Zhu Y, Sikora M, Akoh CC, Jakus J, et al. Clinical Course, Antifungal Susceptibility, and Genomic Sequencing of Trichophyton indotineae. JAMA Dermatol. 2024;160(7):701-709. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2024.1126. PMID:38748419
31. Todd GC, Vaida V, O'Brien B, Chaturvedi S. The emergence of superficial dermatophytosis due to Trichophyton indotineae and Trichophyton mentagrophytes genotypes VII and II* in New York: a need for comprehensive testing approaches. J Clin Microbiol. 2026;64(5):e0015626. doi:10.1128/jcm.00156-26. PMID:41960917
32. Ledezma E, López JC, Marin P, Romero H, Ferrara G, De Sousa L, et al. Ajoene in the topical short-term treatment of tinea cruris and tinea corporis in humans. Randomized comparative study with terbinafine. Arzneimittelforschung. 1999;49(6):544-7. doi:10.1055/s-0031-1300459. PMID:10417874
33. Al-Waili NS. An alternative treatment for pityriasis versicolor, tinea cruris, tinea corporis and tinea faciei with topical application of honey, olive oil and beeswax mixture: an open pilot study. Complement Ther Med. 2004;12(1):45-7. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2004.01.002. PMID:15130571
34. Axe J. Ancient Remedies: Secrets to Healing with Herbs, Essential Oils, CBD, and the Most Powerful Natural Medicine in History. Little, Brown Spark; 2021 ("The Power of Essential Oils": tea tree).
35. Axe J. Top 50 Healing Herbs & Essential Oils: A Field Guide to God's Pharmacy. DrAxe.com protocol; 2026 ("Essential oil safety & dilution," p. 39; Oil 05, Tea Tree, p. 42; Oil 07, Oregano, p. 43).
36. Tong MM, Altman PM, Barnetson RS. Tea tree oil in the treatment of tinea pedis. Australas J Dermatol. 1992;33(3):145-9. doi:10.1111/j.1440-0960.1992.tb00103.x. PMID:1303075
37. Axe J. Mold Toxicity: Symptoms, Testing, and Full Detox Protocol. The Dr. Josh Axe Show. 2024 (garlic's antifungal compounds, ajoene and allicin, at 33:12).
38. Ledezma E, Marcano K, Jorquera A, De Sousa L, Padilla M, Pulgar M, et al. Efficacy of ajoene in the treatment of tinea pedis: a double-blind and comparative study with terbinafine. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2000;43(5 Pt 1):829-32. doi:10.1067/mjd.2000.107243. PMID:11050588
39. Bunstine R, Lloyd CM. Blistering Bulbs: The Hidden Dangers of Garlic as a Home Remedy. Cureus. 2025;17(12):e100429. doi:10.7759/cureus.100429. PMID:41625932
40. Guttentag A, Krishnakumar K, Cokcetin N, Hainsworth S, Harry E, Carter D. Inhibition of Dermatophyte Fungi by Australian Jarrah Honey. Pathogens. 2021;10(2):194. doi:10.3390/pathogens10020194. PMID:33670403
41. Szepietowski JC, Reich A, Garlowska E, Kulig M, Baran E. Factors influencing coexistence of toenail onychomycosis with tinea pedis and other dermatomycoses: a survey of 2761 patients. Arch Dermatol. 2006;142(10):1279-84. doi:10.1001/archderm.142.10.1279. PMID:17043182
42. Leyden JJ. Corn starch, Candida albicans, and diaper rash. Pediatr Dermatol. 1984;1(4):322-5. doi:10.1111/j.1525-1470.1984.tb01138.x. PMID:6387672
43. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Cellulitis. August 5, 2025. Accessed October 20, 2026.
44. Korkmaz A, Sahiner U, Yurdakök M. Chemical burn caused by topical vinegar application in a newborn infant. Pediatr Dermatol. 2000;17(1):34-6. doi:10.1046/j.1525-1470.2000.01707.x. PMID:10720985

Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DNM, CNS

Doctor of Natural Medicine · Founder, DrAxe.com

Dr. Axe is a certified doctor of natural medicine, clinical nutritionist, and multiple New York Times bestselling author. He has spent 20+ years in clinical practice helping people heal at the root cause and founded one of the most-visited natural-health platforms in the world.

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