Who is likely to develop jock itch?
Jock itch is almost exclusively a problem of adolescent and adult males. There are several factors that explain the prevalence for the male gender. Males tend to wear more occlusive clothing than women. Fungi are more likely to cause infection if the skin is moist from perspiration. Because of the male anatomy in the genital region, the scrotum may cause more occlusion as it contacts the inner upper thighs. As a result of this occlusion, there is increased likelihood of skin moistness and increased heat. Compared to females, males are more likely to be physically active and this may result in the groin becoming warm and moist for an extended period. It is felt also that males are more likely to have other sites of dermatophyte infection including athlete’s foot. These other sites may serve as reservoirs of fungi and help to spread the infection to other sites of the body. Adolescent males may take less of an interest in personal hygiene compared to adolescent females. And adolescent ma
