8 Causes of itching in the groin and effective ways to overcome them

Itching in the groin is natural for everyone to experience as well as itching in other parts of the body. It's just that itching in the groin is often more troublesome than itching in other parts of the body. The reason is we have to be sensitive to the surrounding environment if we want to scratch it because it is inappropriate to scratch the groin in public places. So what causes itchy groin? Check out the following explanation.

Various causes of itching in the groin

Here are some things that can cause itching in the groin.

1. Not keeping the genitals clean

The groin is one of the areas of the body that is always closed. Often the groin is covered by more than one layer of clothing, which makes the air in the groin area much warmer than the rest of the body.

If you do not regularly keep the genital area clean, it will make the area sweaty and moist. In addition, the presence of pubic hair makes sweat, dead skin cells, and germs prone to develop. This is what triggers people to experience itching in the groin.

2. Irritation

The rubbing of the skin between your thighs and groin when you run or walk can cause the skin on your thighs to become sensitive and inflamed. If you rub or scratch an itchy area, it will cause inflammation of the outer layer of the skin causing redness, a rash like burns, itching and even scaling.

This reddish rash will also make you uncomfortable when wearing a dress, skirt, or pants. Especially if at that time the weather was hot. If not treated promptly, skin that is wet and clammy due to sweat can make the blisters worse.

3. Fungal infection

The groin is one of the most strategic locations for fungus to multiply rapidly, because it is damp and warm. Generally, the cause of itching in the groin is the result of a fungal infection on the outer part of the skin, especially in the groin area.

Tinea cruris is a dermatophyte infection of the groin area commonly known as ringworm. Actually, the fungus that causes ringworm naturally lives in dead skin, hair and nail tissue. In most cases, the presence of this fungus is not dangerous. However, this fungus can multiply quickly and cause infection when the area it lives in is warm and humid.

This is why ringworm appears more frequently on the skin around the groin, inner thighs and buttocks. This skin disease is very contagious from one person to another through direct contact through the skin. In addition, sharing towels with an infected person and rarely showering can also increase your infection.

4. Pubic lice

Lice and scabies are parasites that can cause itchy skin, including itching in the groin. If you experience itching, irritation, and small white spots appearing on your pubic hair, you may have pubic lice.

Genital lice, aka Phthirus pubis, are small parasitic insects that live on coarse human hair, one of which is pubic hair. Pubic lice when viewed with a magnifying glass look like crabs, about 1 to 2 millimeters in size, and yellow, gray, or brown in color.

If you get genital lice, then you will often feel severe itching in the groin. This itching is generally worse at night when the lice are more active and feed on human blood. Pubic lice also cause sores on the genital area accompanied by small blue gray markings known as macula cerulae .

Not only in pubic hair, this type of lice can also be found in chest hair, abdomen, armpits, legs, beards, mustaches, eyelashes, and even aliases. But unlike common lice, genital lice do not live on the skin of the hair. These lice are spread through close physical contact, often through sexual contact.

5. Contact dermatitis

Contact dermatitis can affect any part of the body including the groin. There are two types of contact dermatitis, namely allergic and irritant. Allergic contact dermatitis appears in people who are sensitive to certain, harmless substances. This can happen when a person comes into contact with soap, shampoo, and even detergents.

Meanwhile, irritant contact dermatitis is when the skin is irritated by a substance even though it is not allergic to certain substances. Irritation can vary from sweat, urine, feces, cosmetics, to jewelry (usually with piercings) and tight clothing can also cause itching in the groin. In general, itching due to contact dermatitis is not severe, but it can be annoying.

6. Intertrigo

Intertrigo is an inflammation of the skin that appears between the skin folds. This condition is caused by bacteria and fungi that should not get on the skin. The areas most commonly affected are the armpits, under the breasts, groin area, neck, buttocks, genital area, and stomach.

This skin inflammation can be exacerbated by many factors such as humidity, hot weather, lack of air circulation (for example, wearing clothes that are too narrow), to skin friction with skin or skin with clothes.

Areas that experience intertrigo will appear reddish or brown in the form of a large "field" of rash right in the folds separated by a white stripe. Your skin may also look dry and crusted, feel very itchy, and even give off an unpleasant odor that is different from your usual body odor.

7. Genital herpes

For some people, itching in the groin can be an early sign or symptom of a sexually transmitted disease, which is caused by the herpes virus. This condition causes the genital area to become swollen, hot, red, and painful.

Not infrequently, fluid-filled blisters or boils can form. If the resilience breaks, it will cause painful sores. Not only on the genitals, watery lumps called elastic can appear around the mouth and anus area.

If you have experienced these symptoms and they recur, you may have genital herpes. The reason is, herpes causes recurring symptoms.

Some people can experience these symptoms several times a year and some people may experience no symptoms at all. Genital herpes can be spread through touch, but is more commonly spread through sexual contact.

8. Sexually transmitted diseases

Unsafe sex practices can lead to sexually transmitted diseases, and many of these diseases make the groin itchy. Apart from genital herpes, some of the common venereal diseases are chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and gonorrhea.

An itchy sensation in the groin can develop into pain and burning. If you experience an itchy groin followed by other classic symptoms of venereal disease, such as vaginal itching, painful urination, foul-smelling vaginal discharge, and pain during sex, contact your doctor immediately.

If you think you need a venereal disease test, ask your doctor. Talk about your concerns and what specific tests you would like.

It may seem embarrassing to talk about sexually transmitted diseases to other people, but not with your doctor. Your doctor is responsible for your care without judgment or criticism.

How to deal with an itchy groin?

1. Make sure the genitals are dry and clean

It is important for you to always keep your genitals clean and dry. Do not let your genital area become damp, always dry it after making contact with the genitals with a clean dry cloth or tissue.

Use clean underwear, change at least 2 to 3 times a day. Choose cotton underwear to circulate air in your genital area.

For women, don't forget to routinely change pads at least 3-4 hours. Changing pads rarely can cause a rash, smell bad, and increase the risk of infection.

2. Don't scratch!

Wet, moist skin around the groin can make itching worse. However, try not to scratch it. The reason is, scratching an itchy groin will only cause the skin to become more irritated and will even cause other new infections.

3. Pertamina jelly

Well, if the itching you feel is caused by dry skin, then using petroleum jelly is the right choice. Take a little petroleum jelly on your fingertips and apply it on the itchy area to reduce the itching sensation you feel.

Apart from that, you can also use baby powder. Powder can absorb oil and moisture from the skin layers. Before you leave the house, apply some powder or baby powder to the inner thighs and groin, areas that will sweat a lot.

You can also use body lotion or coconut oil as a lubricant to reduce friction and soothe the irritated skin around the thighs.

4. Avoid clothes that are too tight

Avoid wearing tight clothes (such as jeans) during your activities, especially over a long period of time. The reason is that tight jeans can cause friction in the groin and genital organs. So do not be surprised, if your genitals become easily scuffed, itchy, and red when wearing jeans that are too long.

Give enough air space around the groin area so that your vital organs feel comfortable. In addition, choose clothes that are a little loose with soft materials so as not to cause friction that endangers your vital organs.

5. Antifungal cream

If the cause of itching in the groin is due to a yeast infection, you can treat it by using an over-the-counter antifungal skin cream or ointment that can be found at a pharmacy or drug store.

Use an antifungal cream or powder that contains terbinafine, miconazole, clotrimazole or butenafine. This anti-fungal cream can help fight the fungus that is causing your groin to itch. In addition, the use of zinc creams, such as Destin, can relieve itching.

Antifungal creams should ideally be used at night before bed. When the body does not do much physical activity anymore so that the cream can absorb well in the skin around the groin. That is why it is important to read the instructions for use on the packaging before using creams to treat vaginal itching.

Don't stop using the drug just because the symptoms have gone away. If symptoms do not improve after 2 weeks, contact your doctor immediately.

6. Avoid triggers itching

If itching in your groin is caused by allergies, the only solution is to stop direct contact with chemicals or materials that trigger allergies.

For example, avoid buying toys or blankets if you are sensitive to wool products, and knowing how to identify poison ivy plants. Wear gloves, wear long sleeves and trousers to avoid contact with trees and anything that has touched the plants.

7. Use anti-flea lotion and shampoo

You can get rid of genital lice with a careful and patient approach. This method is done by diligently cleaning yourself and personal items that are contaminated.

Choose lotions and shampoos designed to kill lice. Usually this flea shampoo is sold in the market or drugstores. Always pay attention to the rules of use stated on the packaging label. Remember, this treatment requires patience and diligence. You may need to repeat this treatment for seven to ten days until the lice in the pubic hair are completely gone.

Last but not least, wash contaminated items thoroughly and regularly. Wash used sheets, clothes, and towels for two days after treatment with soap and hot water (at least 54 degrees Celsius) and dry them on high heat for at least 20 minutes.

8. Consult a doctor

If your groin still feels very itchy even though you have tried as above, you should check with your doctor immediately.

By carrying out a complete physical examination and medical tests such as urine tests, the underlying cause of the itching in the groin will be identified and the appropriate treatment to treat the condition. Especially if you suspect venereal disease.

It should be noted that venereal diseases, aka sexually transmitted diseases, cannot be detected easily by the naked eye in someone (or even yourself), because they often occur without your knowing it. The reason is, many venereal diseases do not show certain symptoms or signs. This fooled many people.

The only way to determine whether you have venereal disease or not is by a laboratory examination by a doctor at a hospital or health clinic.

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