How to deal with extreme itchiness and redness around the genital and thigh region?

Hi,

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I saw your clinical pictures (attachment removed to protect the patient's identity) and this is a tinea cruris fungal infection of the groin.

You will need oral antifungal medicine. Can you please mention your body weight so that I can calculate the dose of the antifungal tablet?

1. Use topical Sertaconazole 2% cream, and apply it to the affected area of the groin at night for six to eight weeks.

2. Use Abzorb dusting powder (Clotrimazole), and apply it to the groin in the morning.

Let me mention a few skincare tips.

Crucial Do’s

1. Wear dry loose cotton clothes, and try to find inner garments which are 100% pure cotton. Make use of a fan or air conditioner at night to keep the affected part well-ventilated.

2. Take a bath twice a day, always use lukewarm water. Avoid using very hot water to take bath. Hot water favors fungal growth in the body. Wash the affected parts with cold water once you are done taking bath. Always use a fresh dry towel to wipe off water from the body. Make sure skin folds are totally dry before wearing clothes.

3. Use antifungal dusting powders for your skin folds such as underarms, thigh folds, below breasts, and between the toes.

4. Wash your clothes, towel, and bedspread using hot water and dry them in good sunlight.

5. Eat healthy food, and keep your body weight ideal for your height because overweight and having poor nourishment lead to reduced immunity which increases the chances of getting a fungal infection.

6. If you are diabetic, check your blood sugar level frequently and make sure your blood sugars are within the normal range because uncontrolled blood sugar is a risk factor for fungal infection.

7. Ask if any of your family members have a similar fungal infection, if so encourage them to take treatment.

8. Check your pet animals for rashes, if there are any, take them to the veterinary doctor for treatment. Dogs and cats are also sources of infection.

9. Always complete the full course of medications prescribed by your dermatologist. Incomplete treatment results in the recurrence of fungal infection which is more resistant to treatment.

Crucial Don’ts

1. Do not scratch. Scratching makes the rash worse. Ask your dermatologist for anti-itching medicine.

2. Do not wear synthetic clothes or tight-fitting jeans which do not allow air to flow through them, and do not wear wet inner clothes. Do not wear inner wears while at home, allow air to flow freely through the affected part.

3. Do not share your personal items such as clothes, towels, soap, or comb with your family members or friends.

4. Do not use over-the-counter (OTC) medications for ringworm. Most of these OTC creams contain steroids in them, which give faster relief from itching but they make the ringworm spread to a larger area and also make the routine treatment insufficient.

5. Do not use home remedies such as garlic paste to get rid of ringworm, this would burn your skin and may leave a permanent scar.

Proper and timely medications from a dermatologist and these skin care measures, would help faster relief from symptoms, speedy recovery, and less chance of recurrence.