Slightly red rash on groin and scrotum

Hi, I'm a 26 year old male. I went for a vacation to Ko Samui about 3 weeks back where I was swimming at beaches and in pools all the time. Since then, I've had a slight redness in the right groin and scrotum along with dry and flaky skin on the same groin. There is moderate itchiness which is a bit annoying, especially at night, but nothing intense. The redness is not well demarcated and the skin is not raised. There seems to be a slight odor. The skin is also sticky. The redness and itchiness is persistent since 3 weeks without much change for better or for worse. I've tried general creams etc. since I thought it might be dryness but that hasn't helped. There's nothing on the left groin or scrotum.

Could it be jock itch, eczema, or some fungal infection? I've read several posts here but nothing matches my condition closely.

Thanks for your help.

[jim214]

I seem to have(had) the same thing you described. I am also a water person and noticed mine after diving. Dr. Bhupinder thought it sounded like tinea cruris(jock itch) or a fungal infection. He recommended an 'over-the-counter' that contained either miconazole,tolnaftate,terbinafine,ketaconazole or clotrimazole. My pharmicist recommended clotrimazole as the best of those five and it IS working. The red rash has faded to practically clear,no itching at all. It's inexpensive and has taken only about two weeks to this point. It may work in your case as well.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
The symptoms are suggestive of fungal infection of the groin. Wash your groin daily and then dry thoroughly by pat drying,not rubbing. A hairdryer is useful if you have hairy groins.The damp groin is an ideal site for fungi to multiply.Also wear cotton underwears and change them twice a day. and do not share other people’s towels.Application of local antifungal cream(terbinafine, clotrimazole, econazole, ketoconazole, miconazole) and oral antifungal drugs are the mainstay of treatment.

I hope it helps. Take care and regards.