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Persistent jock itch
I have been itching in the crease by my groin for a few months now, but there was no redness or similar so I dismissed it as unimportant. I had been wearing quite tight underwear (calvin klein style) and have since switched to boxers, but I think that may have triggered it.
A few weeks ago I noticed red patches on both inner thighs around the groin and the itching intensified. It is also in the perineum and anus.
I started using a topical clotrimazole cream (1%) and that seemed to help at first. The thighs are no longer red although they are discoloured. So I saw my doctor and he prescribed Daktacort (2% miconazole nitrate and 1% hydrocortisone (this was 5 days ago).
Nothing much seems to have changed since I started using it and now my scrotum and the base my penis are itching (scrotum is very red), so I have just started applying the cream there.
Am I fighting a losing battle? It feels like it is spreading. I now feel like I am itching at the bottom of my buttocks/much lower down my inner thighs but it is hard to tell if there is any physical sign of infection there.
My hands/wrists are red/raw from washing too.
Will I end up needing oral medication? This would require me to stop taking statins.
A few weeks ago I noticed red patches on both inner thighs around the groin and the itching intensified. It is also in the perineum and anus.
I started using a topical clotrimazole cream (1%) and that seemed to help at first. The thighs are no longer red although they are discoloured. So I saw my doctor and he prescribed Daktacort (2% miconazole nitrate and 1% hydrocortisone (this was 5 days ago).
Nothing much seems to have changed since I started using it and now my scrotum and the base my penis are itching (scrotum is very red), so I have just started applying the cream there.
Am I fighting a losing battle? It feels like it is spreading. I now feel like I am itching at the bottom of my buttocks/much lower down my inner thighs but it is hard to tell if there is any physical sign of infection there.
My hands/wrists are red/raw from washing too.
Will I end up needing oral medication? This would require me to stop taking statins.
I'm not sure why you'd have to stop your statins. There is some research that shows statins work well with anti-fungal medication to combat fungal infections, particularly the medications that end in -azole.
I do wonder, though, if you're not having an allergic reaction to something, like your soap or detergent. Even if you haven't switched anything to a new brand, brands often change formulas without letting us know, and you can develop allergies at any time in your life. Sometimes a brand you've used forever will suddenly have a "new and improved" label on it, meaning they've changed formulas, and that new formula might have something you're allergic to.
Try a new soap and/or detergent, one that's scent and dye free. Make sure it's labeled for sensitive skin. You can even try a gentle non-soap cleanser for your body.
Why are your hands and wrists so raw from washing? Why are you washing them so much? You should only be applying the cream a couple of times a day, and you just need to wash your hands with regular soap and water after - you don't need to scrub hard or anything. Maybe get some latex gloves and apply the cream using gloves if you're struggling?
If you use gloves, here's how to safely remove gloves so you don't get anything on your hands - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTYioOo__6U&t=6s
Then you just normally wash hands with regular soap and water. You don't need antibacterial soap or boiling hot water or anything. Lots of studies have shown that regular soap kills as much bacteria and viruses as antibacterial soap does.
If things aren't getting better, see your doctor or a dermatologist.
I do wonder, though, if you're not having an allergic reaction to something, like your soap or detergent. Even if you haven't switched anything to a new brand, brands often change formulas without letting us know, and you can develop allergies at any time in your life. Sometimes a brand you've used forever will suddenly have a "new and improved" label on it, meaning they've changed formulas, and that new formula might have something you're allergic to.
Try a new soap and/or detergent, one that's scent and dye free. Make sure it's labeled for sensitive skin. You can even try a gentle non-soap cleanser for your body.
Why are your hands and wrists so raw from washing? Why are you washing them so much? You should only be applying the cream a couple of times a day, and you just need to wash your hands with regular soap and water after - you don't need to scrub hard or anything. Maybe get some latex gloves and apply the cream using gloves if you're struggling?
If you use gloves, here's how to safely remove gloves so you don't get anything on your hands - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTYioOo__6U&t=6s
Then you just normally wash hands with regular soap and water. You don't need antibacterial soap or boiling hot water or anything. Lots of studies have shown that regular soap kills as much bacteria and viruses as antibacterial soap does.
If things aren't getting better, see your doctor or a dermatologist.
Soooo, the saga continues, turns out that itraconazole isn't compatible with carbamazepine, which I take, so I decided to discontinue when I discovered this after two days (doc should really have noticed this). Saw a different doc yesterday and I have now been prescribed oral terbinafine for 4 weeks, which is safer.
I keep reading conflicting information about contagion...some sources say you stop being contagious 48 hours after treatment begins, while others say you are contagious until you are cured, wish there was a definitive answer to that, would be comforting to think I am not posing a threat to my wife/dog.
I keep reading conflicting information about contagion...some sources say you stop being contagious 48 hours after treatment begins, while others say you are contagious until you are cured, wish there was a definitive answer to that, would be comforting to think I am not posing a threat to my wife/dog.
3 Comments
Have they definitely identified the type of fungus you have? Is it jock itch/ringworm?
Everything I've ever read says 48 hrs after starting treatment.
I'm sorry this has been so stressful for you. :(
Everything I've ever read says 48 hrs after starting treatment.
I'm sorry this has been so stressful for you. :(
They have diagnosed tinea cruris, although if this treatment doesn't work I'm not sure where they can take it next.
I read the same as you but I'm not sure that the science holds up, and elsewhere it says all of the spores have to be eliminated from your skin (i.e. you have to be fully cured).
E.g. https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-is-ringworm-contagious.
I read the same as you but I'm not sure that the science holds up, and elsewhere it says all of the spores have to be eliminated from your skin (i.e. you have to be fully cured).
E.g. https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-is-ringworm-contagious.
I don't know if it matters, but the only source from the Healthline article that mentions transmission is from 2013, and it only discusses how it's transmitted - through spores. It doesn't discuss what happens to the spores after treatment is initiated.
It might not make any difference, or the the 48 hours thing might have been something they discovered after 2013. I'm not sure on that.
It might not make any difference, or the the 48 hours thing might have been something they discovered after 2013. I'm not sure on that.
As you asked for an update the doctor (who was perplexed at the lack of success) has prescribed 2 x 200mg of itraconazole capsules for 7 days, statins suspended in the meantime.
I was going to have a drink or two tonight but what I've read has scared me off the idea, seems like a very hardcore drug, so better safe than sorry.
Fingers crossed this will fix it.
I was going to have a drink or two tonight but what I've read has scared me off the idea, seems like a very hardcore drug, so better safe than sorry.
Fingers crossed this will fix it.
1 Comments
Good luck, man. Hope this does the trick. And agree about better safe than sorry. Let us know what happens after 7 days
Just to update that I won't be able to see a doc until Friday now, so just have to keep on treating it.
It's definitely slowly getting worse (spreading along groin/bucket creases, becoming itchier).
I am hoping against hope that this is because the diagnosis was wrong.
However, if it is indeed tinea cruris, how do I make sure that I don't infect my wife (or my dog, if that's possible)?
What's the deal with surfaces/laundry/bedding/carpets/surfaces that have been in contact with clothing once removed/toilet seats?
Any advice here would be gratefully received, I just want to make sure that when it's gone, it's gone for good.
It's definitely slowly getting worse (spreading along groin/bucket creases, becoming itchier).
I am hoping against hope that this is because the diagnosis was wrong.
However, if it is indeed tinea cruris, how do I make sure that I don't infect my wife (or my dog, if that's possible)?
What's the deal with surfaces/laundry/bedding/carpets/surfaces that have been in contact with clothing once removed/toilet seats?
Any advice here would be gratefully received, I just want to make sure that when it's gone, it's gone for good.
Thank you, it's just metally draining but it will pass, just want it gone really!
He was just a GP but the literature for my statins says to avoid with anti-fungals.
I have asked for another appointment because it has started to get worse again despite using prescription-strength cream. Perhaps the diagnosis is wrong or I need oral medication.
He was just a GP but the literature for my statins says to avoid with anti-fungals.
I have asked for another appointment because it has started to get worse again despite using prescription-strength cream. Perhaps the diagnosis is wrong or I need oral medication.
1 Comments
I think it's good to get a follow up, and if your doctor and the literature for your statins says to stop them while taking an anti-fungal, then stop them.
I don't know why you're taking the statin, but you can ask to get this rash cultured to make sure it's jock itch if you want to confirm the diagnosis before stopping your statin.
Good luck! I hope you find relief. Let us know what happens.
I don't know why you're taking the statin, but you can ask to get this rash cultured to make sure it's jock itch if you want to confirm the diagnosis before stopping your statin.
Good luck! I hope you find relief. Let us know what happens.
There's an increased risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis, my doctor said that it was best to suspend statins while I take them as the overall effect on my heart health would be negligible over a short period.
RE the washing, I am just worried about passing it to my wife so I have probably gone a bit far, just feel extremely unclean while I have this, never had it before.
It's definitely jock itch, doc saw it, it's nothing to do with allergies.
RE the washing, I am just worried about passing it to my wife so I have probably gone a bit far, just feel extremely unclean while I have this, never had it before.
It's definitely jock itch, doc saw it, it's nothing to do with allergies.
1 Comments
Is the doctor who said that a cardiologist? Talk to your cardiologist before stopping a statin.
If it's definitely fungal, it has nothing to do with cleanliness, though I understand the inclination to feel that way. You didn't get it because you aren't clean. Normal hand washing will help prevent spread to your wife.
Hang in there, okay? I know it's frustrating.
If it's definitely fungal, it has nothing to do with cleanliness, though I understand the inclination to feel that way. You didn't get it because you aren't clean. Normal hand washing will help prevent spread to your wife.
Hang in there, okay? I know it's frustrating.
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