jock itch coming back

I have had a red rash on my groin.  None of the over the counter jock itch medicines worked.  I went to the doctor and he said it did not look like jock itch, but seemed to behave like it...it gets worse when I exercise/sweat.  I took fluconazole 150 mg one pill per week.  It almost went away completely...after I finished the course of treatment it has now started to come back.  Should I go back on fluconazole?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
For recurrent jock itch, oral antifungals are needed which you have to get prescribed. 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 underwear and change them twice a day and do not share other people’s towels.

Most cases of fungal infections respond to over-the-counter products, which contain any of several basic ingredients: miconazole, tolnaftate, terbinafine, ketaconazole and clotrimazole. You can consult a pharmacist and get any cream or lotion containing these ingredients. Some of them are Lamisil, Monistat derm, Mycelex, and Nizoral. If the symptoms persist then please consult a dermatologist.

I hope it helps. Take care and please do keep me posted in case you have any additional doubts. Kind regards.