Jock Itch vs Inverse Psoriasis - What Are the Similarities & Differences?
Jock itch and inverse psoriasis both involve skin redness and itching. They are usually observed in the groin, thigh, or buttocks area, causing itchiness, and they both share the same symptoms.
What’s the difference between jock itch and inverse psoriasis?
Jock itch is a fungal infection that causes redness and itch in warm and moist areas of the body like the groin and the inner thighs. It is a ring-like rash that is red, flaky, scaly, and often burns. The fungi that cause this are similar to what causes ringworm. You might get this infection if you wear tight clothes that irritate your skin, have moisture in your groin area from too much sweating, wear a wet bathing suit for a long time, are overweight, or have close contact with someone who has it.
Inverse psoriasis, on the other hand, is a chronic autoimmune disease that is mostly caused by genetics. Unlike jock itch that is caused by fungi, inverse psoriasis appears when a person’s immune system does not recognise healthy cells as they are, and the body starts to attack them. The redness usually appears in areas where the skin rubs against the skin like armpits, inner thighs, or groins.
Jock itch and inverse psoriasis: The similarities
Similarities between the two are seen in some symptoms, such as redness and itchiness. Being overweight will also give you a higher risk of getting any of the two.
The fungus for the jock itch is mostly found in skin folds that have moisture or people who sweat more. That is also a similar case for inverse psoriasis. Moreover, people who are obese often have a weaker immune system, which makes them more prone to infection.
Jock itch and inverse psoriasis: The difference
The main difference between the two is seen in the “demarcation” or the edges of the skin’s redness.
If you look closely at the redness caused by a fungal infection, or the jock itch, you can observe that the colour of the centre of the lesion is brownish. Its redness will eventually turn pale and will later become more scaly.
On the other hand, scaling is not always observed in inverse psoriasis. In case there is scaling, it is distributed well throughout the patches of skin. The redness is also evenly spread in the skin compared to the redness of jock itch.
How to treat them
Over-the-counter antifungal medicines can do the trick for jock itch. It usually takes weeks before they clear up, but if you don’t treat it immediately, they can last up to months on your skin. There’s no existing permanent cure for psoriasis yet, but you can always manage the symptoms by using topical creams, taking oral medications, and other therapies as prescribed by your skin doctor.
Conclusion
If you experience any redness or irritation to your skin, do not immediately assume that it’s a jock itch or inverse psoriasis. Know first the difference between the two to identify how to treat it, or better yet seek the advice from your doctor for proper diagnosis and medication.
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