Everyday Behaviors That Cause Jock Itch

To call jock itch uncomfortable would be an understatement. Impacting the genitals, buttocks and inner thighs, jock itch is among the most common – and most cumbersome – fungal infections under the sun. However, despite how inconvenient jock itch can be, it’s also relatively easy to treat and prevent. In fact, altering a few learned behaviors can effectively reduce your odds of developing a case of jock itch.

Sharing and Reusing Towels

Under no circumstances should you share a towel with someone. Even if the other party is a close friend, family remember or romantic partner, towel-sharing is practically asking for trouble, as it places you both at risk for assorted skin conditions and fungal infections. So, no matter how well you know someone or how close you are to them, take care to abstain from sharing towels.

You’d also be wise to avoid reusing towels, even if you’re the only one who’s previously used them. Many of us think we’re doing right by the environment and helping conserve water by reusing towels, but this practice only serves to increase your odds of developing jock itch, as well as other fungal infections and skin conditions. So, regardless of how much you disdain doing laundry, it is imperative that you abstain from using towels more than once before washing them.

Sharing and Reusing Clothing

As is the case with towels, sharing and reusing clothing is likely to result in jock itch and a host of other undesirable infections. So, if you’ve developed a habit of wearing articles of clothing for multiple days on end without washing them, you’ll have no one but yourself to blame when jock itch begins to form. By the same token, you should also abstain from sharing clothing with others, particularly if it hasn’t been washed.

If possible, you should also avoid sleeping in your clothing. Not only does this bring germs from the outside world directly into your bed, it ensures that you remain immersed in all the sweat you’ve built up throughout the day during the overnight hours. So, even if you don’t bathe before turning in for the night, make sure to put on fresh socks, underwear and sleep attire prior to hitting the sack.

Bathing on an Irregular Basis

Good hygiene is important in many areas of life. From the way we’re perceived by others to the way we view ourselves, staying on top of grooming is synonymous with positive results. In addition, good grooming is conducive to favorable health and can help you avoid a variety of fungal infections, jock itch chief among them.

Since sweat buildup is a major contributor to jock itch, it’s important to give your body – particularly the parts that are most prone to fungal infections – a vigorous scrub at least once per day. Furthermore, if you regularly engage in strenuous workouts, you may require multiple baths or showers each day. Once you’ve finished bathing, take care to thoroughly dry yourself off before proceeding to get dressed, as any moisture that remains is liable to be trapped by your clothes.

Wearing Tight-Fitting Clothes

Tight-fitting clothing can be a boon to anyone looking to show off their natural body shape, hence its popularity with bodybuilders. However, the tighter clothing is, the more likely it is to seal in sweat, and this moisture retention can easily contribute to the formation of jock itch. So, if jock itch and other fungal infections are a concern, seek out clothing that provides comfortable breathability and moisture-wicking properties.

Given how much sweating we do in them, breathability is a particularly important quality to look for in workout clothes. Additionally, if you’re a fan of the great outdoors, seek out antimicrobial outdoor gear and activewear developed with antimicrobial properties.

A bad case of jock itch can be equal parts irritating and uncomfortable. Furthermore, if jock itch isn’t treated in an expedient and effective manner, it’s going to stick around – and possibly even spread. Fortunately, treating and preventing jock itch is much easier than you may think. Taking a few common sense measures and changing a handful of learned behaviors can go a long way in keeping jock itch at bay. Anyone who’s ready to send jock itch packing can benefit from avoiding the behaviors discussed above.