On this page
Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
- Treated online: Yes, usually. The rash is recognised by its look and edge, and a doctor can prescribe creams or tablets when pharmacy treatment has not worked.
- What it is: a fungal skin infection of the groin, pubic area and inner thighs; it is a type of ringworm, and it is usually itchy.
- How it spreads: often from athlete’s foot or fungal nails, through scratching or shared towels and bedsheets.
- Treatment: antifungal cream every day, usually for 2 to 4 weeks, carrying on after the rash has gone.
- Emergency: jock itch is not an emergency, but call 112 for red, hot, spreading skin with a high temperature and feeling very unwell or confused.
Jock itch is not urgent. Red, hot, painful skin that is spreading, with a high temperature or feeling very unwell, needs prompt care, and 112 if you feel confused, faint or very unwell. Sores, blisters or a discharge on the genitals are not jock itch: see a doctor or sexual health service.
Can an online doctor treat jock itch?
Yes. Jock itch is usually diagnosed from how the rash looks, so a doctor by video can recognise it, tell it apart from yeast infections, psoriasis and other groin rashes, and treat it. When pharmacy creams have not worked, or the rash is widespread, the doctor can prescribe a different cream or antifungal tablets. You choose what you show on camera, and photos can help.
How an online consultation helps with jock itch
- The right diagnosis: Fungal infection, yeast, psoriasis or eczema: they need different treatments, and the doctor tells them apart.
- Treatment that clears it: Which antifungal to use, how often, and why to keep going after the rash fades.
- Stronger options: A prescription cream or tablets when pharmacy treatment has not worked or the rash is widespread.
- No more repeats: Treating athlete’s foot at the same time, and habits that stop it coming back.
What the doctor checks in an online consultation
The doctor asks about:
- The rash: where it started, whether it has spread to the thighs, bottom or tummy, and whether it has a raised, scaly edge.
- The genitals: whether the scrotum, penis or vulva is affected, which points away from jock itch.
- Your feet and nails: itchy, peeling skin between the toes, or thick, discoloured nails.
- What you have used: antifungal creams, steroid creams and powders, and for how long.
- Your health: diabetes, a weakened immune system, weight and heavy sweating.
- Other people: a partner or people you live with who have a similar rash.
Before the call, find good light and a private space. Do not apply cream just before, so the doctor can see the edge of the rash.
What does jock itch look like?
Jock itch usually starts in one groin fold and spreads outwards, often more on one side than the other:
- an itchy, sometimes burning or stinging rash in the groin crease and on the inner thigh
- a raised, scaly edge that is more obvious than the middle of the rash, which often clears, so the rash can look ring-shaped
- small bumps or blisters along the edge
- red, pink, brown, purple or grey patches, depending on your skin colour
- spread to the pubic area, lower tummy, bottom or the area between the legs
The penis, scrotum and vulva are usually not affected. A rash that involves them is more likely to be something else. On brown and black skin the redness can be hard to see, and jock itch often leaves darker patches that can stay after the fungus has cleared.
Jock itch or something else?
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Condition | What points to it |
|---|---|
| Jock itch (tinea cruris) | An itchy rash with a raised, scaly edge spreading from the groin fold onto the thigh |
| Intertrigo and yeast infection | Red, moist, sore skin deep in the fold, often without a scaly edge |
| Psoriasis in the folds | Smooth, well-defined red patches, often with psoriasis elsewhere |
| Seborrhoeic dermatitis | Red, greasy, flaky patches, often with flaking on the scalp and face |
| Thrush | Itching and soreness of the vulva or the head of the penis, sometimes with a discharge |
| Erythrasma | Well-defined pink or brown patches with fine scale in the groin, armpits or between the toes, caused by bacteria; they glow coral pink under a special ultraviolet lamp |
What causes jock itch?
Jock itch is caused by the same group of fungi that cause ringworm and athlete’s foot, most often Trichophyton rubrum and Epidermophyton floccosum. It often spreads from the feet or toenails, by scratching or through towels and bedsheets, and it also spreads by close skin contact, including sex, and through shared clothing. It is about three times more common in men than in women, and most common in teenage boys and young men. It is more likely with:
- heavy sweating, and hot, humid weather
- excess weight, with deep, moist skin folds
- diabetes or a weakened immune system
- tight, non-breathable clothing
- long-standing athlete’s foot or fungal nail infection
- a previous episode of jock itch
- using steroid creams on the groin
How long does jock itch last, and will it go away on its own?
Jock itch does not usually go away on its own. Left untreated, it can spread to the nails, hands and feet. With an antifungal cream used every day, it usually clears in 1 to 3 weeks, and treatment clears it in 80 to 90% of cases. The itch can settle before the fungus has gone, which is why the cream is used for the full course.
See a doctor if:
- the rash has not improved after 2 weeks of a pharmacy antifungal, or has not cleared after 3 weeks
- it is painful, or you have a high temperature
- it keeps coming back
- you have diabetes or a weakened immune system, or you are pregnant
Complications
Scratching can let bacteria in, and a yeast infection can settle in moist, broken skin. Jock itch can also leave patches darker or lighter than the surrounding skin, sometimes for good, especially on brown and black skin.
How to treat jock itch
A pharmacist can recommend an antifungal cream, gel or spray. To clear it:
- Use the antifungal every day, as the leaflet says, usually for 2 to 4 weeks.
- Keep the groin clean, dry and cool, and wear loose underwear.
- Keep using it for the full time, even if the rash has gone away, or it is likely to come back.
- Treat athlete’s foot or fungal nails at the same time.
- Dry the groin carefully after washing, and dry your feet last, so the fungus is not carried up from the feet.
- Wash towels and bedsheets regularly, and do not share them.
- Do not scratch, as this can spread it.
See a doctor if the rash has not improved after using the treatment a pharmacist recommended, if it is spreading, or if you have diabetes or a weakened immune system.
Which jock itch treatment might the doctor recommend?
Treatment depends on how widespread the rash is and what you have already tried. This is the framework the doctors use, in line with NHS and dermatology guidance.
Swipe sideways to compare →
| What you have | Likely first step | Suitable for online care? | When in-person care is needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| A typical rash, first time | An antifungal cream for up to 4 weeks | Yes | Not usually needed |
| Not better after a pharmacy cream | A check of the diagnosis and a different antifungal | Yes | If the diagnosis is unclear |
| Very itchy, inflamed rash | An antifungal cream, sometimes briefly with a mild steroid | Yes | Not usually needed |
| Widespread, or keeps coming back | Antifungal tablets | Yes | If it does not respond |
| Diagnosis unclear | Skin scrapings to look for fungus | Yes, to assess | For the scrapings |
Groin rash not clearing with cream? A doctor can check what it is and what will clear it in one consultation.
See available times →Treatment options for jock itch
What you can do yourself
- Use an antifungal cream for the full course, and treat your feet too.
- Wear loose-fitting underwear and clothes, and change out of sweaty clothes promptly.
- Use an antifungal powder after bathing if you sweat heavily.
Prescription treatment
A prescription is never issued without a consultation. When a pharmacy cream has not worked, the doctor may prescribe a different antifungal cream, such as terbinafine or an imidazole, or antifungal tablets for a widespread or stubborn rash. A mild steroid is sometimes added for a few days to calm a very itchy rash, but only together with an antifungal. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
What does not help
A steroid cream on its own makes jock itch worse: it hides the edge of the rash and lets the fungus spread, which is called tinea incognito. Stopping the antifungal as soon as the itch settles lets the fungus come back. Home remedies such as tea tree oil or garlic may not clear the fungus, and rubbing alcohol can dry and irritate the skin.
How to stop jock itch coming back
- Dry the groin carefully after washing, and dry your feet last.
- Put on your socks before your underwear, so the fungus is not carried from your feet to your groin.
- Treat athlete’s foot and fungal nails, the usual source.
- Wear loose-fitting clothing, boxer shorts rather than briefs, and breathable fabrics such as cotton.
- Change your underwear at least once a day, or more often if you sweat a lot, and wash sports clothes after each use.
- Wear flip-flops or pool shoes in shared showers, pools and changing rooms.
- Wash towels and bedsheets regularly, and do not share them, or clothing.
- Ask about treatment for heavy sweating, and about weight, if they keep bringing it back.
Special situations
Diabetes or a weakened immune system
Fungal infections can be more widespread and harder to clear, so see a doctor rather than relying on pharmacy treatment alone.
Heavy sweating
Sweating keeps the groin damp and lets the fungus thrive. Treating heavy sweating can help stop jock itch coming back.
Women
Women can get jock itch, but it is less common. It affects the groin, inner thighs and the area between the buttocks, and rarely the vulva. Itching and soreness of the vulva, with or without a discharge, points to something else, such as thrush.
Pregnancy
If you are pregnant, speak to a doctor before using an antifungal, rather than relying on pharmacy treatment alone.
Sex and partners
Jock itch is not a sexually transmitted infection, but close contact and shared towels can spread fungal infections, so avoid sex until the rash has cleared. Sores, blisters or a discharge are not jock itch and need a sexual health check.
While travelling in Europe
Heat, humidity and long days in damp swimwear help the fungus grow. Change out of wet swimwear and sweaty clothes promptly, dry the groin well, wear flip-flops in pool showers, and take your antifungal cream with you to finish the course.
Children
Mobi Doctor consultations are for adults aged 18 and over. A child who is unwell needs a paediatrician or a local doctor in person, and emergency signs in a child mean 112.
When jock itch is treated online, and when you need in-person care
Treated online: typical jock itch, rashes that have not cleared with pharmacy treatment, prescription creams and antifungal tablets, athlete’s foot at the same time, and advice on stopping it coming back.
In-person care: skin scrapings when the diagnosis is unclear, rashes that do not respond to treatment, and red, hot, spreading skin with a fever.
When to get in-person care
Call 112 or go to an emergency department now for:
- red, hot, spreading skin with a high temperature and feeling very unwell, faint or confused
Get medical advice the same day for:
- red, hot, painful, swollen skin that is spreading from the rash
- a rash that is weeping pus or crusting, with a high temperature
How Mobi Doctor works
- Book a time that suits you: daily 7am–11pm CEST. You can see a doctor over video, usually within 15 minutes. No subscription, and the exact price is shown before you pay.
- Speak to a licensed doctor about the rash: show it on camera in good light or share photos, check your feet too, and list the creams you have used.
- Leave with a plan: what to do, what to use and for how long, and which signs mean you should be seen in person. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
No sign-up needed
Not sure it’s jock itch? Tick every symptom you have to see each condition page that mentions it. It finds the right page, not a diagnosis: a doctor gives you that on a video call.
Tap the body — an area or a point — to browse symptoms anywhere
Similar symptoms, different condition? Intertrigo can start the same way. Compare them, or look up any other symptom in the full symptom checker.
Frequently asked questions about jock itch
What is jock itch?
Jock itch, or tinea cruris, is an itchy fungal infection of the groin, pubic area and inner thighs. It is a type of ringworm, and it is more common in men.
What does jock itch look like?
An itchy rash spreading from the groin fold onto the inner thigh, with a raised, scaly edge and a clearer middle. The penis, scrotum and vulva are usually not affected.
Is it jock itch or something else?
Jock itch is an itchy rash with a raised, scaly, well-defined edge that spreads outwards and often spares the scrotum. Intertrigo is a sore, moist red rash in the fold itself with no scaly edge; candida adds small satellite spots and often affects the scrotum; inverse psoriasis is a smooth, shiny red plaque without scale; and erythrasma is a brown, finely wrinkled patch that does not itch much. A doctor can usually tell them apart on camera.
How long does jock itch take to clear?
With an antifungal cream used every day, jock itch usually clears in 1 to 3 weeks. Keep using it for the full course, usually 2 to 4 weeks, even after the rash has gone, or it is likely to come back.
Will jock itch go away on its own?
Not usually. Without treatment jock itch tends to persist and can spread to the nails, hands and feet. An antifungal cream from a pharmacy clears most cases.
What kills jock itch fastest?
An antifungal cream, gel or spray used every day, with the groin kept clean, dry and cool. There is no shortcut: stopping as soon as the itch settles lets the fungus come back. See a doctor if it has not improved after 2 weeks.
What can I do at home for jock itch?
Wash the groin daily, dry it thoroughly with its own towel, apply the antifungal cream a little beyond the edge of the rash, wear loose cotton underwear and change it daily, avoid tight synthetic sportswear, wash gym kit hot, use an antifungal powder if you sweat heavily, treat athlete’s foot at the same time, and put socks on before underwear so the fungus is not carried up from the feet. Jock itch cleared this way rarely returns.
Can I use hydrocortisone cream on jock itch?
Not on its own. A steroid cream alone hides jock itch and lets the fungus spread. A doctor sometimes adds a mild steroid for a few days, always together with an antifungal.
Why does my jock itch keep coming back?
Jock itch usually returns because treatment stopped too early, or because athlete’s foot or fungal nails keep reinfecting the groin. Sweating and tight clothing also help it return.
Is jock itch contagious?
Yes. Jock itch can spread to other parts of your body, especially the feet and nails, and to other people through close skin contact, including sex, and through shared towels, bedsheets and clothing; the fungus also survives in damp gym kit. Washing and drying the groin well, using your own towel and treating athlete’s foot at the same time stop it spreading.
Can women get jock itch?
Yes, but it is less common than in men. It affects the groin, inner thighs and the area between the buttocks, and rarely the vulva. Vulval itching and soreness points to something else, such as thrush.
Is jock itch an STI?
No. Jock itch is a fungal skin infection, not a sexually transmitted infection, and it says nothing about your partner; close skin contact, including sex, can pass the fungus on, as can shared towels, so it is sensible to treat it before the rash clears and not to share towels. A rash in the groin with blisters, ulcers or discharge is a reason to be checked for an STI instead.
Do I need tablets for jock itch?
Usually not. Antifungal creams clear most jock itch within 2 to 4 weeks. Antifungal tablets such as terbinafine or itraconazole are used when the rash is widespread, keeps coming back, has spread to the nails or has not cleared with creams, and they need a consultation because they can interact with other medicines and, rarely, affect the liver.
Can an online doctor treat jock itch?
Yes, usually. A doctor can recognise jock itch on camera or from photos, rule out look-alikes, and prescribe creams or tablets when pharmacy treatment has not worked.
- Tinea cruris, DermNet, New Zealand, updated June 2021.
- Ringworm, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 3 August 2023.
- Ringworm, HSE, Health Service Executive (Ireland), reviewed 1 July 2024.
- Jock itch, MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine, reviewed 1 April 2025.
- Jock itch: symptoms and causes, Mayo Clinic, 21 March 2025.
- Jock itch (tinea cruris), Cleveland Clinic, updated 1 December 2021.
- Erythrasma, DermNet, New Zealand, updated July 2016.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Guideline links are provided for transparency; treatment decisions are made with your doctor.
Related conditions
Related reading from the Mobi Doctor blog
Speak to a doctor about jock itch over video, usually within 15 minutes
Licensed doctors · open daily 7am–11pm CEST · exact price before payment
See available times →