What Is Tinea Cruris?
Article Sources
- 1. Mayo Clinic Staff. (2020, March 4). Jock Itch. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/jock-itch/symptoms-causes/syc-20353807
- 2. DermNet NZ. (2003). Tinea Cruris. https://dermnetnz.org/topics/tinea-cruris/
- 3. Pippin, M. M., Madden, M. L. (2020, June 25). Tinea Cruris. StatPearls [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554602/
1. Causes
The rash is caused by a dermatophyte fungus, which is a type of ringworm.2DermNet NZ. (2003). Tinea Cruris. https://dermnetnz.org/topics/tinea-cruris/ Trichophyton and epidermophyton are the most common causes of tinea cruris, but there are several fungi that can produce jock itch. This is the same type of fungus that causes athlete’s foot.
Like most fungi, dermatophyte species thrive in moist, warm places. This makes the groin area particularly vulnerable to jock itch. The greater number of risk factors you have, the more likely you are to contract tinea cruris.
