Like many other types of fungal infections, jock itch thrives in moist, dark areas. And given all the sweating athletes do, there’s little wonder as to why they’re often prime candidates for this condition. While many athletes have come to regard jock itch as an inescapable part of life, this doesn’t have to be the case for you.
A willingness to learn and a little bit of forward thinking can help you keep jock itch at bay and save yourself a tremendous amount of discomfort.
Shower After Workouts
In the interest of avoiding sweat and bacteria buildup – both of which are conducive to jock itch – make a point of promptly showering after every workout. This will help ensure that sweat and bacteria are washed away in an expedient fashion, thus limiting your body’s exposure to them.
Additionally, when scrubbing yourself in the shower, take care to pay special attention to the areas where jock itch is most likely to form – i.e., the groin and inner thighs. Furthermore, once you’ve finished showering, dry yourself as thoroughly as possible to remove any residual moisture before putting on clothes.
Even outside of workouts, you should shower at least once a day. This will effectively keep sweat and bacteria buildup in check, thereby reducing your chances of developing fungal infections and body odor issues.
Don’t Wear Sweaty Clothing for Long Periods
Sweat buildup is a major contributor to jock itch, as well as various other fungal infections. The longer you wear sweaty clothing, the longer your body will be in contact with large amounts of sweat. This is particularly true in the case of activewear, which is typically worn during strenuous physical activity. Incidentally, athletes who are serious about personal hygiene should consider making the switch to antimicrobial activewear.
So, whether you’ve just finished working out, walking around in hot weather or engaging in other sweat-producing activities, make sure to promptly change out of sweaty clothing at your earliest convenience. Even if you’re unable to shower, you should still change into fresh clothes in a timely manner.
By extension, you should avoid wearing clothing that hasn’t been properly washed. Even if the clothing in question has been given plenty of time to air out, this should never be regarded as a substitute for laundering. Furthermore, wearing unwashed clothes is liable to draw the ire of the people around you, who are unlikely to appreciate the way said clothes are likely to smell.
Never Share Personal Items
In addition to being downright unsanitary, sharing such personal items as towels, washcloths and clothing can contribute to the spread of fungal infections. So, regardless of how accommodating you want to be, abstain from sharing these items with other people – and from asking others to share them with you.
Additionally, since jock itch can be spread through skin-to-skin contact, people suffering from this condition should make their respective sexual partners aware of its presence or simply avoid sexual activity until such time as said condition has been properly treated.
Jock itch can also be spread to other parts of your body if you touch them after touching the affected area, so you’d do well to exercise caution when using the bathroom and showering.
Immediately Treat Existing Infections
Seeing as jock itch generally won’t go away on its own, it’s in your best interest to promptly treat the condition before it spreads. Luckily, treating jock itch is unlikely to place a strain on your time or resources, as most drugstores have a plethora of over-the-counter treatments designed to get rid of the condition in a timely, hassle-free manner.
Between various creams, ointments and sprays, you’re unlikely to find a shortage of OTC remedies at your local pharmacy. If these treatments fail to fix the problem, talk to a pharmacist and/or schedule a consultation with your physician.
It’s easy to see why so many athletes find themselves afflicted with jock itch. Since sweatiness is highly conducive to the formation of this condition, it’s only natural that jock itch would be common among physically active individuals.
Fortunately, while jock itch is all-too-easy to develop, it’s also fairly easy to treat and avoid. So, if you’re tired of all the itchiness, burning and embarrassment that are synonymous with this condition, put the measures outlined above to good use.
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