Gym Rats, Beware of Jock Itch
One really needs to tip one’s hat to gym rats, those incredibly
dedicated guys who spend hours at the gym to hone and perfect their physiques
while so many of us opt instead to sit on the couch and exercise by lifting and
pressing on the TV remote or the computer mouse. While some gym enthusiasts may
go overboard, their attention to physical health – and, one assumes, male organ
health as well – is admirable. So for all those who make the gym their second
home – as well as for those who are less steady in their gym visits – the
following tips and information concerning jock itch should help keep
midsections healthier.
An itch by any other name
Jock itch is medically known as tinea cruris, and it’s a close
relative to the also-familiar athlete’s foot (tinea pedis). Like athlete’s
foot, jock itch is a fungal infection, meaning that the culprit that starts it
all is a fungus.
For those whose memory of high school science is failing them, a
fungus is one of a group of organisms that range from itty bitty guys like mold
and yeast to bigger lifeforms, such as mushrooms. Many fungi occur naturally in
small amounts on the human body with no problem. But when they overproduce,
they can become an infection, and that’s what happens with jock itch. Too much
fungus grows, creating a very itchy rash that is usually circular in shape,
red, and sometimes raised and crusty. Jock itch can appear on the member, the
sacks, the buttocks, the thighs, or anywhere in the general midsection area.
The fungus that results in jock itch, like all fungi, loves moist,
dark spaces. This is the ideal environment in which to grow. And the midsection
is a moist, dark place – usually made even moister from sweat accumulated
during a gym workout.
Prevention
Jock itch is by no means a serious male organ health issue – but
man, can it ever be an annoying one! Often, the itch associated with the
condition can be intense, and it can be embarrassing to be caught scratching
away at one’s equipment. Besides, if one scratches too hard and/or too
frequently, the rash can become infected, and that’s not good. So keeping jock
itch away, and treating it if it strikes, is essential.
The fungus is spread through contact, frequently skin to skin but
also from surfaces or fabrics to bare skin. The gym is fertile ground for the
fungus to grow. The workout floor is filled with hot, sweaty bodies, and the
locker room, showers, and saunas tend to be warm and moist – and filled with
unclothed men. So the potential for spreading jock itch (or athlete’s foot) is
obvious. Follow these simple rules to reduce the risk of acquiring jock itch.
- Wipe down equipment before using. Because
(hopefully) people are clothed on the gym floor, there is less chance of
spreading the fungus, but it can seep out from sweaty shorts, so wipe down
equipment regularly.
- Be selfish. Sharing is usually
good, but there’s a limit. Never wear another guy’s socks, underwear, or jock,
and if borrowing gym shorts, be sure they are clean. Always use fresh, clean
towels rather than borrowing one your buddy has been using.
- Use protection. In this case, that
means don’t sit bare-assed on the locker room bench or sauna; put a towel down
instead. Wear flip-flops or similar footwear in the shower or steam room rather
than going barefoot. (If a guy has athlete’s foot, it may spread – by the
fungus touching underwear as it is being put on, for example – and become jock
itch. So footwear helps a guy avoid athlete’s foot and subsequent possible jock
itch.)
Gym aficionados want to avoid more than jock itch, of course, and
a superior male organ health oil (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically
proven mild and safe for skin) helps keep the male organ healthy. Look
for an oil with moisturizers like shea butter and vitamin E, which can help
soothe the itch associated with the fungus. And it should also contain vitamin
D3, which has proven benefits in fighting diseases and supporting healthy
cellular function.
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