What if it isn’t jock itch?

Some conditions look like jock itch, but they aren’t, so they won’t respond to typical tinea cruris treatment.

Inverse psoriasis

Inverse psoriasis is a type of psoriasis, an autoimmune condition, that may have a genetic basis.

Like jock itch, it tends to appear in the same areas where you skin chafes, like your groin or inner thighs. Some common treatments for inverse psoriasis include:

Yeast infection (thrush)

Yeast infections are a similar type of fungal infection caused by the fungus Candida.

They’re more common in people with vulvas, but they can also affect the penis from the head and shaft to the scrotum and the nearby groin skin.

Common treatments for yeast infections include:

antifungal topicals like nystatin or clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF)

oral antifungal medications, for more severe cases

Erythrasma

Erythrasma is an itchy, scaly bacterial infection, caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium minutissimum, that often grows in the folds of skin. It is commonly misdiagnosed as jock itch and can lead to severe symptoms like abscesses and fistulas under the skin.

Risk factors for this infection include excessive sweating, humid environments, diabetes, age, and obesity. It is treated with antibiotics like erythromycin or clindamycin.