Tinea cruris: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment

Tinea cruris is a type of superficial mycosis, called dermatophytosis, which affects hairless skin, mainly the groin and pubic region, in which the appearance of red plaques in this region can be noticed, which are very itchy, and blisters may also appear. on site.

This ringworm occurs mainly in people who wear very warm clothes, do not perform proper hygiene and sweat a lot, and is more common in men. Therefore, in the presence of signs and symptoms possibly indicative of Tinea cruris, a dermatologist should be consulted so that treatment can be started, which involves the use of antifungal ointments.

Main symptoms

The main symptom of Tinea cruris is the appearance of a red lesion in the groin, which can occur on just one side or both, and can also affect, in some cases, the pubic region. The main symptoms and characteristics of Tinea cruris lesions are:

• Well-defined red plates;
• Lesions with centrifugal growth, that is, growing from the center to the extremities;
• Lesions with raised edges;
• Local itching;
• Presence of blisters in the lesions, in some cases.

Furthermore, it is common that in some cases there is a secondary infection caused by bacteria or other fungi, it is important to consult a dermatologist as soon as signs and symptoms indicative of Tinea cruris are noticed, as this way it is possible to immediately start treatment and alleviate the symptoms.

Causes of ringworm

Tinea cruris is mainly caused by fungi Trichophyton rubrum e Trichophyton mentagrophytes, however, it can happen, less frequently, due to the proliferation of fungi of the genera Epidermophyton and Microsporum. These fungi can be found on the skin and, due to some factors, they can proliferate and digest the keratin present in the skin, leading to the development of symptoms.

Some factors that can increase the risk of developing Tinea cruris are excessive sweating, wearing very warm clothes, inadequate hygiene, diabetes mellitus and a compromised immune system, as they create a favorable “environment” for the development of the fungus.

How is the diagnosis

In most cases of Tinea cruris, the diagnosis made by the dermatologist consists only of evaluating the lesions, in addition to an assessment of the person’s general health and habits. However, in some cases the doctor may recommend carrying out some dermatological tests to confirm Tinea cruris and rule out other skin problems that have similar symptoms, such as inverse psoriasis, erythrasma, seborrhea dermatitis and inguinal candidiasis, for example.

Thus, the doctor may recommend performing a biopsy of the lesion, testing with potassium hydroxide (KOH) preparation and direct and culture examination, in which a scraping is taken from the lesion, which is sent to the laboratory so that it can be cultured and evaluated under the microscope, making it possible to identify the fungus responsible for the symptoms.

Treatment for Tinea cruris

Treatment for Tinea cruris involves the use of antifungals in tablet or ointment form, mainly, which must be applied directly to the lesion. Thus, the doctor may recommend the use of miconazole, clotrimazole, terbinafine, sulconazole, ketoconazole or itraconazole, for 1 to 3 weeks according to the doctor’s instructions and the extent of the lesion.

Furthermore, it is important to always keep the area clean and dry and avoid wearing clothes that are too tight or with hot fabric, as this can reduce the risk of developing Tinea cruris or another skin disease again.