An itchy, red, ring-shaped rash with borders of small, raised blisters or papules on the skin covering the groin, inner thighs, and lower buttocks is indicative of a skin fungal infection called as Tinea Crusis. It usually affects adult men and if not treated properly on time, can also cause serious skin tissue damage.
Also known as Ringworm of the Groin (due to its circular appearance on the affected groin skin ) it can be present unilaterally or bilaterally on perineal & perianal area. Often referred to as Jock Itch, it begins with a reddened area of skin that breaks out from the crease in the groin into a half-moon or crescent shape moving onto the upper thigh. The rash is quite itchy causing the skin look flaky or scaly, typically sparing the genital area (penis and scrotum)
Symptoms of Tinea Crusis (Ringworm)
The most common symptoms of Tinea Cruris are itchiness, redness, and pain in the groin area. Other than these symptoms, some of the other indications of this fungal infection are
- Inflammation of the groin, anal and upper thigh area.
- Abnormally light or dark skin.
- Dry, scaly, oozing or crusting blisters.
- Red rash in the form of a ring.
- Raised skin patch at the affected area.
- Spreading out of the infection in a circle, with normal-looking skin in the centre.
Causes of Tinea Crusis (Ringworm)
Dermatophytes are the fungi that cause this kind of superficial skin infection. This type of fungus thrives in warm & moist areas of the body such as the groin area and the toes; invading and multiplying within these keratinized tissues, spreading through direct skin-to-skin contact or indirect contact via shared use of contaminated towels or clothing. Based upon the affected site, Dermatophytes can be classified clinically into tinea capitis (head), tinea faciei (face), tinea barbae (beard), tinea corporis (body), tinea manus (hand), tinea pedis (foot), and tinea unguium (nail), wherein Tinea Cruris is the name given when groin is involved.
Diagnosis of Tinea Crusis (Ringworm)
The condition can be diagnosed through
- Clinical Evaluation
- Sometimes Potassium Hydroxide Wet Mount
Risk Factors
There are many factors which predispose to such an infection, some of which are underlying body conditions like
- Diabetes Mellitus.
- Lymphomas.
- Immunocompromised Status
- Cushing’s Syndrome
- Older Age
The organisms that cause jock itch develop in damp and close environments such as intertriginous body areas where excessive sweating, maceration, and alkaline pH favor the growth of the fungus. Therefore posing a greater risk of the infection in following conditions:
- Wearing Tight Underwear.
- Being Overweight
- Heavy Sweating
Treatment with Antifungal Topicals
A variety of medicinal agents such as antifungal topical creams, lotions, paints, ointments and powders are available as Over-the-counter drugs in the market which can be used to improve and manage the symptoms of the condition within 2-4 weeks of application. However, the efficacy of these preparations is not well quantified and a majority of them are without specific antimicrobial function. Also, scarcity of data on the frequency of relapse once topical monotherapy is discontinued is making it very difficult to manage such conditions.
Effective Ayurvedic Holistic Treatment
In Ayurveda, ‘Tinea’ is called ‘Dadru’, which is a painful and/or itchy condition caused due to an imbalance of the body’s ‘Pitta’ and ‘Kapha’ doshas. The science of Ayurvedic holistic healing focuses on balancing the doshas in order to cure the ailment from the root, improving the symptoms and produce no side effects on the body. So, Effective Ayurvedic treatment for Tinea Cruris is the best treatment. Gandhak, Neem, Nirgundi and Guggul are few of the various herbs which have proven efficacy to cure Tinea Crusis. Planet Ayurveda under the expertise of its gold medalist faculty have prepared excellent herbal formulations with such efficacious herbs which are 100% pure, vegetarian, free from chemicals, preservatives or additives in the most pure form:
1. Gandhak Rasayan
Gandhaka Rasayana is a herbo-mineral compound, prepared with suddha Gandhaka ( Sulphur Purified) It possesses excellent antimicrobial and anti-bacterial broad spectrum activity and provides holistic treatment for all kinds of skin infections.
Key Ingredients : Pure and Concentrated Gandhak rasayan
Benefits:
- Fights Fungal Infections
- Rejuvenates Skin
- Supplement and Promote Healthy Skin
Dosage : 2 tablets with plain water, 2-3 times a day, after meals.
2. Kaishore Guggul
A herbal formulation with numerous potent herbs balances the Pitta Dosha and reduces redness, pain, and inflammation.
Key Ingredients: Guggul resin (Commiphora Mukul), Guduchi (Tinospora Cordifolia), Ginger root (Zingiber Officinale), Black pepper (Piper Nigrum), Long pepper (Piper Longrum), Amalaki fruit rind (Emblica Officinalis), Haritaki fruit rind (Terminalia Chebula), Bibhitaki fruit rind (Terminalia Belerica), Nishoth Root (Operculia Turpethum), Danti Root (Baliospermum Montanum), and Vidanga (Embelia Ribes).
Benefits :
- Black Pepper Effectively Reduces Inflammation
- Guggul, Amalaki, Vidang Improves Blood Circulation
- Danti Root Provides Relief From Itching and Flaky Skin
Dosage: 2-3 tablets two times a day, with plain water, after meals.
3. Neem Capsules
Pure extract of ‘Neem’ herb (Azadirachta Indica), effective herb for alleviating the disorders associated with ‘Vata,’ ‘Pitta,’ and ‘Kapha’ doshas.
Key Ingredients : Neem Extract
Benefits :
- Clears The Skin
- Cures Acne, Ringworm, Psoriasis, Eczema, Scabies
- Fiber And Carbohydrates Support The Overall Health
- Active Constituents Nimbolide, Nimbinene, Nimbin, Nimbandial, Desacetylnimbinase, and Quercentin Provide Antimicrobial &Anti Inflammatory Action.
Dosage : 1-2 Neem capsules should be taken with plain water, 2-3 times a day, after meals.
4. Nirgundi Oil
Herbal formulation with excellent antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory action prepared from extract of herb Vitex negundo
Key Ingredients : Tila oil ( Sesamum Indicum), Manjistha ( Rusia Cordifolia), Haridra ( Curcuma Longa ), Nirgundi ( Vitex Negundo), Kalihari (Gloriosa Superba)
Benefits :
- Chief Constituents Of Nirgundi I.E. Phenol, Alkaloid- Vitricine, B-Sitosterol, Camphene, Orientin, Dulcitol, Arteemetin, Onoterpens, Aucubin, Anguside, and Eurostoside Fight Microbial Activity.
- Chysoplenol D And Flavonoids Such As Vitexin, Casticin, And Chryso-Splenol Reduce Inflammation.
Dosage : External application 2 times a day on the affected area.
Conclusion
Herbal formulations by Planet Ayurveda can provide effective treatment and management for Tinea Crusis. However, it is essential to understand the cause so as to prevent it to relapse again.
Risk of jock itch can be reduced by taking following preventive steps:
- Keeping groin area and inner thighs thoroughly clean and dry. Prevent excess moisture with the use of powder.
- Changing underwear at least once a day or more often if excessive sweating is observed.
- Avoiding tight fitting clothes.
- Refrain from sharing clothing, towels and personal items with others.