Generality
Tinea cruris (or “jockey's itch”) is a "fungal infection that affects the superficial layer of the skin of the inguino-crural region.
This condition is supported by dermatophyte fungi, which mostly belong to the genus Trichophyton.
See Photo Tinea Cruris
Tinea cruris is more common in men than in women and often appears during the summer season, after an episode of profuse sweating. Infection is in fact favored by the establishment of a warm-humid microenvironment in the groin and in the crural region, which predisposes to the proliferation of pathogens.
The main risk factors for tinea cruris are the "habit of wearing tight and not very breathable clothes, sporting activity and the presence of concomitant dermatophytosis (often, the infection is contemporary with tinea pedis). Other predisposing conditions are" obesity (responsible for the constant apposition of skin folds), diabetes and states of immunodeficiency.
Tinea cruris presents with a "skin rash, often bilateral, consisting of small round patches, reddened at the edges, which tend to peel; spreading peripherally, these lesions take on a characteristic ring-like appearance.
Another common symptom is itching, while pain can occur when complications occur, such as maceration, intertrigo from Candida and bacterial superinfections caused by scratching.
The tinea cruris initially extends from the crural fold (ie near the root of the leg); from this site, the rash can spread to the inner surface of the thigh, the groin, the perineum and the perianal region.
The diagnosis is made on the basis of dermatological evaluation and microscopic, histological or cultural examination. In men, the eruption of tinea cruris is well localized and does not tend to involve the scrotum and / or penis; these aspects are important for consider when distinguishing this infection from candidiasis.
The treatment of tinea cruris involves the use of antifungal drugs, to be applied locally on the skin or to be taken orally. To avoid relapses, the therapy must be continued for a few weeks even after the disappearance of all signs of the disease.
Causes
Tinea cruris is an "infection of the superficial skin (dermatophytosis), localized in the inguino-crural region, usually due to fungi of the genus Trichophyton and Epidermophyton.
These microorganisms, called dermatophytes, are able to parasitize the stratum corneum of the epidermis and the skin appendages (hair, hair and nails), both rich in keratin material, which they feed on.
The dermatophytes responsible for tinea cruris find the best situation for their development especially in the summer period, when the combination of high humidity and heat favors sweating and the stagnation of sebaceous secretions in the groin-crural area.
Normally, these fungi do not pose any problem, as the skin barrier and the immune system exert a "natural defense and control action against their excessive proliferation. However, in the presence of some favorable conditions, these microorganisms behave like opportunists. , that is, they are able to “exploit” situations of immune weakness and overcome the resistance of the human body's barriers, settling in the skin.
The species of fungi most commonly responsible for the onset of tinea cruris are:
- Trichophyton rubrum;
- Trichophyton mentagrophytes;
- Epidermophyton floccosum.
Men are more affected by tinea cruris than women, due to the placement of the scrotum on the thigh.
