Tinea cruris?

If you have tinea cruris for over a year, can it lead to complications? If you itch it a lot, or if you rub it and then rub your eyes or ears, or other parts of the body can it spread? Can it cause a systemic fungal infection

Not likely.

Tinea cruris, a pruritic superficial fungal infection of the groin and adjacent skin, is the second most common clinical presentation for dermatophytosis. Tinea cruris is a common and important clinical problem that may, at times, be a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.Clinical cure of an uncomplicated infection usually can be achieved using topical antifungal agents of the imidazole or allylamine family. Consider patients unable to use topical treatments consistently or with extensive or recalcitrant infection as candidates for systemic administration of antifungal therapy.

Prevention of reinfection is an essential component of disease management. Patients with tinea cruris often have concurrent dermatophyte infections of the feet and hands.

* Treat all active areas of infection simultaneously to prevent reinfection of the groin from other body sites.

* Advise patients with tinea cruris to dry the crural folds completely after bathing and to use separate towels for drying the groin and other parts of the body.

Diet: Recommend weight loss for patients who are obese and have tinea cruris.

* Recurrence of the disease is common; therefore, it is of utmost importance to treat concurrent fungal infections and to keep the groin region dry to prevent recurrence of tinea cruris. Advise patients to dry the area after bathing, using a towel or a hair dryer.

* Advise patients to avoid wearing tight-fitting clothing to prevent moisture build-up.

* Advise patients who are obese to lose weight.

* Advise patients to put on socks before undergarments to minimize the possibility of fungal transfer from the feet to the groin.

* Antifungal powders, which have the added benefit of drying the region, may be helpful in preventing recurrence.

Complications:

* Tinea cruris can become infected secondarily by candidal or bacterial organisms. In addition, the area can become lichenified and hyperpigmented in the setting of a chronic fungal infection.

* Mistreatment of tinea cruris with topical steroids can result in exacerbation of the disease. Although patients may note initial relief of symptoms, the infection may spread.

Prognosis:

* The prognosis of tinea cruris is excellent with appropriate diagnosis and treatment; however, recurrence is likely if the groin region is not kept dry.