Jock Itch: Sensible Prevention Tips

By John Dugan

Although scratching the crotch is perfectly acceptable when knocking back a few brews in a man cave with the guys, it's not something that wins a fellow a lot of points when giving a business presentation or when out on a date. Yet there are times when the urge to itch is so strong that there's little a guy can do but give a surreptitious little scratch and hope no one notices. This is especially true when a dude has come down with a bad case of dreaded jock itch and feels like all he wants to do is put his hands down his pants and scratch away for a couple of hours. Since jock itch is such a nuisance, it's wise to practice prevention strategies for avoiding it. The following may help.

- Don't share towels with a bud. Whether at the gym or at home, it's important to use a clean towel when drying off from the shower. Jock itch is a fungus spread through direct contact - meaning it's not airborne. A man has to come into physical contact with it. Using a towel that another guy has used means one person might pass the fungus to the other. This is especially important at the gym. Often, guys hang their towels on a row of hooks while they shower - and it's easy to forget whose towel is whose, so pay attention when hanging up that towel.

- Don't share underwear either. Seriously, going commando is usually a better option than borrowing some briefs from a bro. It's just too personal. Besides, he may claim that he's washed his underwear in hot soapy water - but a lot of guys fudge the truth when it comes to how much laundry they do. Wearing boxers that have been clinging to a crotch with jock itch is a disaster waiting to happen.

- Use a towel in the sauna. Hanging out naked in the sauna or steam room after a good workout really helps relax the muscles. But other guys have been sitting there naked too, and if any of them had jock itch... well, need we say more? Bringing a towel to spread out and sit on is excellent prevention.

- Wear a condom. Jock itch often starts from sleeping with a woman who has a yeast infection. Wearing a condom is one of the most important prevention strategies in such cases.

- Beware of athlete's foot. The fungus that causes jock itch is the same as that behind athlete's foot - so if a guy has athlete's foot, he needs to avoid touching his feet and then touching his penis.

- Give the penis an airing. Jock itch thrives in warm, moist conditions, so it benefits a guy to let his penis have fresh air regularly. Sleeping in the buff is an easy way to do this, or just walking around the house naked for an hour or two on a regular basis.

- Stay loose. Tight fitting clothing may accentuate a guy's physique, but if the pants and underwear are too tight, it makes more heat and moisture, which encourages jock itch. Go for boxers rather than briefs and trousers that don't cling directly to the crotch.

- Shower and dry. Shower frequently to keep the skin clean - and dry it thoroughly.

Taking prevention tips to heart can decrease the odds of getting jock itch, but sometimes the yeasty beast comes for a visit anyway. The penis will better meet this danger if it's in its best health; daily use of a top drawer    penis health cr�me (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) can help maintain that health. For best results, make sure the cr�me contains a wide range of vitamins, including the all-important A, B5, C, D and E. In addition, the cr�me needs to feature L-carnitine, an amino acid with valuable neuroprotective properties that help ensure continued sensitivity in the penis.

Visit www.menshealthfirst.com for more information about treating common penis health problems, including soreness, redness and loss of penis sensation. John Dugan is a professional writer who specializes in men's health issues and is an ongoing contributing writer to numerous online web sites.