Ayurvedic Treatment for Jock Itch addresses the root cause of the disease and design the line of treatment on the basis of individuals affected. Jock itch(Tinea cruris) is an itchy skin rash in the groin, found mostly in men. It causes severe itching and sometimes inflamed skin rashes in the groin. Starting in the groin, it can spread to inner thighs, genitals (including penis, scrotum, labia, and vaginal opening), and anus. Jock itch causes reddish discoloration on the skin on the sides of the groin folds. It can cause dry skin rash with definite margins or a collection of small, pinpoint red bumps in hair follicles. This form of eruption is often called ring worm because of its well-defined red edge with central clearing. Although it is not a fatal/serious disease, it is very much uncomfortable and irritating. Recurrent and unyielding cases of Jock itch can cause immense stress and it can lead to depression.
When Jock itch is frequently noted in otherwise healthy people, there are chances of diabetes and/or obesity present. Possible causes include irritation from tight-fitting or abrasive underwear, excess moisture& sweating, skin rubbing or friction, fungal, Candida (yeast) or bacterial infection.
Signs & symptoms
Mild and frequent itching in the groin, unbearable itching in some cases.
Pain and foul smell in the groin in some cases.
Pink or red, dry and scaly skin rashes with well-marked margins in the folds of groin.Sometimes, inflamed pustules with oozing.
In chronic cases, the infection may spread to inner thighs, genitals and anus.
White or thick vaginal discharge in women.
Causes
- Warmth, moisture, skin friction & irritation.
- Tight undergarments and clothes that do not allow enough air circulation. Sweat facilitates bacterial growth.
- Infections caused by fungus and yeasts: Candida (yeast), Trichophyton, and Epidermophyton (fungal)
- Infections by certain types of bacteria
Pathophysiology
The most common etiologic agents for jock itch (tinea cruris) are, Trichophyton rubrum and Epidermophyton floccosum. At times, T. mentagrophytes and T. verrucosum also cause the problem. These causative agents reach the patients, body from unhygienic towels or undergarments and they produce keratinases, which allow invasion of the cornified layer of epidermis. It causes large patches of erythema with central clearing, with oozing in the early stages. Chronic infection makes the area scaly and dry. Severe itching present.
Diagnosis
Jock itch is diagnosed mostly by a direct physical examination.
Microscopic examination of skin scrapings is done in the lab to check for causative organisms of infection. Also, skin swab or culture will be needed in infectious jock itch. A fungal or bacterial culture may be useful to detect the causative organism.
Very rarely, a skin biopsy is performed.
Other medical conditions can mimic jock itch. Some possible mimics include
- ring worm, also called tinea,
- contact dermatitis,
- erythema,
- impetigo,
- diaper rash,
- heat rash,
- pemphigus.
Treatments
Jock itch due to excess moisture:
General measures to keep the groin clean and dry along with the use of zinc oxide ointment.
Fungal/Yeast:
Mild:
- washing the groin twice daily with an antifungal shampoo like Ketoconazole (Nizoral shampoo) or selenium sulphide (Selsun blue shampoo).
Moderate:
- washing the groin twice daily with an antifungal shampoo like ketoconazole or selenium sulphide; and
- using a topical antifungal cream like Miconazole (Monistat, Micatin), clotrimazole (Lotrimin, Mycelex), or terbinafine (Lamisil).
Severe:
- washing groin twice daily with an antifungal shampoo like ketoconazole or selenium sulphide;
- using a topical antifungal cream like miconazole, clotrimazole, or terbinafine; and
- taking an antifungal pill like fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (sporanox), or terbinafine
Bacterial:
Mild:
- antibacterial skin washes like Lever 2000 soap and a neomycin -containing ointment.
Moderate:
- antibacterial skin washes like chlorhexidine soap twice daily; and
- twice-daily application of a topical antibiotic like erythromycin lotion or metronidazolelotion.
Severe:
- antibacterial skin washes like chlorhexidine soap twice daily and
- a 5- to 14-day course of an oral antibiotic like cephalexin, dicloxacillin, doxycycline, minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin), or erythromycin.
Management of itching:
If the condition is not caused by an infectious agent,
- Use a short five- to seven-day course of a mild to medium potency, topical steroid cream like prescription triamcinolone 0.025% once or twice a day for inflamed or itchy areas.
- Use a short five- to seven-day course of a mild over-the-counter topical steroid cream like 1% hydrocortisone (Cortaid) one to three times a day for itching.
Prevention
- Wash groin and buttocks with soap and water after exercise and sweating.
- Wash workout clothes, underwear, and swimwear after each use.
- Minimize groin moisture by using white cotton underwear.
- Change underwear frequently and especially after sweating.
- It may be useful to apply petroleum jelly or zinc oxide ointment liberally to the groin creases prior to physical exercise to minimize friction skin damage.
- Wash clothes, undergarments, and towels in hot soapy water.
- Use loose-fitting cotton underwear and clothing.
- Avoid undergarments with polyesters, nylon, or synthetic fibres.
- Use an antifungal powder to keep the groin dry.
- Avoid perfumed creams, powders, sprays, or lotions on the groin.
- Do not go barefoot, especially at gyms, schools, and public pools.
- Treat athlete’s foot if you have it.
- Cover your feet with socks before you put on your underwear and pants.
Prognosis
Jock itch has an excellent prognosis. It is a mild, benign, usually noncontagious, and self-limited skin condition. In most cases, it can be cured easily.
Complications are rare since jock itch is usually a mild and self-limited skin condition. Residual skin discoloration is present in many of the cases.
But widespread, atypical cases of jock itch may be embarrassing, chronically disfiguring, and psychologically distressing.
Severe cases may be very uncomfortable and develop secondary complications such as breaks in the skin, open sores, ulcers, and rarely cellulitis.
Rarely, the rash may spread past the groin onto the thighs and genitals. Secondary skin infections from scratching or rubbing can uncommonly deepen, causing cellulitis or abscess formation.
Another potential complication includes temporary skin discoloration called post-inflammatory hypo or hyperpigmentation. This altered skin colour may occur after the rash has improved or after a temporary flare. Permanent scarring is uncommon.
Disease & Ayurveda
Jock itch – Mandalakushtha
Nidana
Unwholesome diet with opposite potency
Improper routine and behaviour
Teasing and humiliating other good people
Theft
Bad deeds which cause emotional stress factors like repentance/fear/anxiety
Kaphadoshakopanidana – causes for vitiation of all the kapha dosha
Purvaaroopa
Absence of sweating
Loss of tactile sensation
Samprapti
Due to the causative factors, vitiated doshas (mainly kapha) vitiate rasadhatu and reaches skin. It settles near groin area and develop into itchy rashes.
Lakshana
Chronic moist & heavy lesions of skin, continuous to each other.
Severe itching
Painless skin rashes with redness or whitish discolouration
Divisions
Not mentioned
Prognosis
Sukhasadhya if not inflamed
Kricchrasaadhya if inflamed
Chikithsa
Samana
kshalana – washing with kashayas like aragwadhadikwatha or triphalakwatha
lepana – applying external medicines like vilwadi gulika, rasothamadi lepa, thulaseepatrakalka, etc.
Sodhana
Virechana with erandatailam, avipathi choornam etc
Commonly used medicines
Aragwadhadi kwatham
Amrutavrishapatoladi kwatham
Panchathiktakam Kashayam
Mahathikthakam ghrutham
Avipathi choornam
Nimbamruthadi erandam
Gandhak Rasayan
Triphala Guggulu
Kaisore Guggulu
Rasothamadi Lepam
Thudhamalaharam
Brands available
AVS Kottakal
SNA Oushadhasala
Vaidyaratnam oushadhasala
AVP Coimbatore
Home remedies
Home remedy for mild jock itch includes the following:
- Wash the groin skin two to three times a day.
- Keep the groin area dry.
- Avoid excess groin skin irritation by wearing 100% cotton underwear.
- Avoid fabric softeners, bleaches, or harsh laundry detergents.
- Apply a mix of over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream and clotrimazole (Lotrimin, Mycelex) cream one to two times a day to the affected area and covering this liberally with zinc oxide ointment.
Holistic (nonmedicated) home remedy options for jock itch include
- soaking the affected area daily with a washcloth dipped in dilute white vinegar (1part of vinegar to 4 parts of water) and drying the skin; and
- soaking in a bathtub daily or every other day with very dilute Clorox bleach (1 quarter cup of Clorox bleach in a bathtub full of water) and drying the skin.
Diet
Do’s
Light meals and easily digestible foods
Green gram, soups, buttermilk boiled with ginger, turmeric, curry leaves etc.
Freshly cooked and warm food processed with cumin seeds, ginger, ajwain etc
Maintain a regular food and sleep schedule.
Don’ts
Heavy meals and difficult to digest foods – cause indigestion.
Junk foods- cause disturbance in digestion and reduces the bioavailability of the medicine
Carbonated drinks – makes the stomach more acidic and disturbed digestion
Refrigerated and frozen foods – causes weak and sluggish digestion by weakening Agni (digestive fire)
Milk and milk products other than buttermilk- Cause indigestion, increase Kaphadosha, can lead to obstruction in channels and respiratory problems.
Curd – causes vidaaha and thereby many other diseases
Red chilli and other pungent, hot and spicy food items.
Better to avoid exposure to excessive sunlight wind rain or dust.
Avoid stress.
Avoid sedentary lifestyle as it is one of the main causes of rheumatoid arthritis.
Avoid holding or forcing the urges like urine, faeces, cough, sneeze etc.
Yoga
Salabhasana
vajrasana
Nadisudhi pranayama
Bhujangasana
All the exercises and physical exertions must be decided and done under the supervision of a medical expert only.
Research articles
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554602/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25090020/
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, United States. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please consult your GP before the intake.
Please consult Dr. Rajesh Nair for Jock Itch here-
https://www.ayurvedaforall.com/online-consultation.html
Writer:
Dr. Rajesh Nair, the co-founder and chief consultant of Ayurvedaforall.Com, is a graduate of prestigious Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda College (affiliated with the University of Calicut), Kerala, India. Additionally, he holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Yoga Therapy from Annamalai University.
Dr. Nair offers consultation at two busy clinics in and around Haripad, Alleppey, Kerala, the southern state famous worldwide for authentic ayurvedic treatment and physicians. While offering consultation on all aspects of ayurvedic treatments Dr. Nair has a special interest in Panchkarma, Yoga, and Massage.
Through Ayurvedaforall, Dr. Nair offers online consultation to patients worldwide and has served hundreds of patients over the last 20 years. In addition to his Ayurvedic practice, he is the chief editor of ayurveda-amai.org, the online portal of Ayurveda Medical Association of India, and the state committee member of Ayurveda Medical Association of India.
Dr. Nair is a regular speaker at Ayurveda-related conferences and has visited Germany to propagate Ayurveda. You can write directly to him-rajesh@ayurvedaforall.com
Whatsapp – +91 9446918019, +91 8075810816
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