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Chafing in the groin
Last reviewed: 08.07.2025

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Intertrigo in the groin area is one of the most common places on the human body where the likelihood of this disease occurring is high.
Its occurrence often occurs due to hyperhidrosis – a tendency to excessive sweating. It should be noted that hyperhidrosis in some cases can serve as evidence of the presence of other diseases, such as tuberculosis, vegetative-vascular dystonia, etc.
In addition, clothing made from synthetic fabrics, which can act as an allergen, can lead to the development of this type of inflammation in the natural folds of the skin.
Groin rash also occurs as a result of wearing uncomfortable clothing or underwear. If the clothing or underwear has rough seams and hard inserts, they create constant friction in the groin area.
Skin irritation in the groin area may occur as a result of a woman using unnatural sanitary pads. In addition, they can also cause allergies.
Even small fragments of the body's waste products can provide suitable conditions for the reproduction of pathogenic microbes such as Candida fungi, streptococci and staphylococci. Therefore, a very important condition in order not to minimize the possibility that they will provoke skin inflammation is careful observance of personal hygiene rules.
It is also important to take care to maintain your body mass index within the optimal range, since if you are significantly overweight, your inner thighs will rub against each other when you walk.
Intertrigo in the groin in men
According to the widespread belief, diaper rash is a skin lesion that occurs mainly in infants. However, diaper rash in the groin in men is a problem that many people also face in adulthood. The groin area in the human body is one of the most common places in which there is an increased likelihood of developing this disease. The groin area of a man, due to the fact that, first of all, in the area of the groin folds, the outlet of the urethra in the penis can come into contact with it, is able to provide optimal conditions for the reproduction of colonies of various pathogenic microbes. Under normal circumstances, in the absence of a disease, there is a certain microflora, with the presence of a certain number of microorganisms that are pathogenic only conditionally, and even necessary. However, when the balance is shifted, they begin to acquire pronounced pathogenic properties. In addition, the groin folds are often subject to constant friction from clothing, which occurs especially if the trousers or jeans are too tight and tight-fitting, and the underwear is made of thick material and has rough seams. In addition, there are a large number of sweat glands in the groin, as well as many other glands, which in turn, in the case of insufficient hygiene, also contributes to an increased risk of diaper rash.
Intertrigo in the groin in men suggests that in order to get rid of this problem it is necessary to first eliminate or at least minimize the adverse effects of skin irritation factors due to friction, and eliminate the bacterial environment that can arise in the groin folds. It should also be borne in mind that this skin lesion in men often resembles epidermophytosis and manifestations of the effects of streptococci or fungus. To prescribe the necessary treatment measures, it is necessary to establish an accurate diagnosis. And only a competent medical worker can do this.
Genital rash
Intertrigo of the genitals, its occurrence, can be inextricably linked with the fact that a person violates or insufficiently observes the rules of intimate hygiene. The next condition capable of provoking the appearance of irritation and inflammation on the genitals, characteristic of intertrigo, is often the constant rubbing of the skin by the fibers of the hard fabric of too tight, uncomfortable clothing. Be it trousers, jeans, or tight-fitting underwear, especially made of synthetic materials. The reason for the occurrence of such intertrigo is also the use of low-quality powders when washing clothes, which can act as an allergen. In addition, the use of latex condoms can be associated with an allergic factor.
As a result of prolonged friction and pressure of the contacting skin surfaces, inflammatory hyperemia develops, which subsequently, with increased skin moisture, causes maceration and weeping areas of the skin, characteristic of diaper rash.
Intertrigo of the genitals may accompany intertrigo of the groin area, and the areas of such damage can cover the groin fold and spread to the thighs. Irritations and inflammatory processes of this nature, if left untreated, can precede the development of some more serious and severe diseases. Inflammatory and infectious diseases of the genitals in most cases begin with the appearance of similar symptoms. Based on this, if itching, irritation, accompanied by a feeling of general discomfort, is observed in the genitals, you should not hesitate to seek medical help.
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Intertrigo of the testicles
Testicular diaper rash is a fairly common lesion, occurring mainly in newborns and in infancy. In reality, of course, it is not the baby's testicles themselves that are irritated with subsequent development of weeping inflammation, but primarily the skin of the scrotum covering them. This usually occurs due to insufficient care and hygiene of the boy's genitals. Some mothers completely in vain believe that if the child is constantly in a diaper, this can eliminate the need to unswaddle for washing and then swaddle the baby again every time. Urine, for a long time, in contact with the very delicate and sensitive skin of the baby, coupled with overheating of the skin, acts as a strong irritant and can provoke redness, cause pain and ultimately lead to diaper rash, when wet areas appear in the folds on the testicles.
It should be noted that redness or other of the above-mentioned changes in the skin condition of the testicles do not always clearly indicate that there is diaper rash of the testicles. In many cases, some other inflammatory disease or infectious process may be hidden behind such symptoms. Only a doctor can establish the actual cause and prescribe the necessary treatment. And mothers, in order for their child to grow and develop healthy, need to take care of maintaining its skin dry and clean.
Scrotal diaper rash
Scrotal diaper rash has in many cases the simplest and most easily explained causes. Often, the culprit is too tight underwear or too tight trousers. First of all, such clothing prevents air access and ventilation, which in turn leads to overheating and causes intense sweating. The next unfavorable moment in this regard is prolonged chafing of the perineal skin, and this becomes a factor in severe irritation of the skin.
The scrotum may be characterized by heavy sweating, especially at night, due to the appearance of a fungal infection. In this case, diaper rash is accompanied by an unpleasant odor.
In the presence of inguinal-perineal hyperhidrosis, the reasons for active sweating and the possible occurrence of diaper rash against this background are not obvious.
In this case, in addition to the scrotum, the entire perineum and sometimes the anus area are involved in the processes of active sweating and the formation of increased humidity.
Just like with groin and perineal diaper rash, diaper rash on the scrotum often appears as wet spots on clothing, and the more serious the stage of the disease, the larger they are. But although this can be the cause of discomfort and self-doubt, fixation on this problem, many men for some reason are in no hurry to seek medical help. Meanwhile, all the necessary measures against such an undesirable phenomenon are reduced in many cases to basic adherence to the rules of intimate hygiene - at least twice a day washing with soap. A healthy approach to choosing underwear and clothing is also needed, excluding, if possible, synthetic materials. It is also important to monitor the maintenance of body weight within the optimal weight, since obesity is one of the main causes of profuse sweating and the accompanying development of skin lesions, including diaper rash of the scrotum. But first of all, with any negative changes in the condition of the skin, you must consult a dermatovenerologist.
Chafing on the penis
One of the reasons for the appearance of such an unpleasant phenomenon as diaper rash on the penis is that after a man has finished urinating, some amount of urine in the form of its last drops remains on his underwear. No matter how carefully you shake the penis, they are still present. Fresh urine has neutral properties, but after some time, under high temperature conditions, a bacteriode environment is formed in the perineum. Intensive reproduction of bacteria causes an unpleasant odor, the active components contained in urine and sweat cause irritation of the skin on the penis, which, if appropriate measures are not taken, is fraught with the development of an inflammatory process and the subsequent formation of diaper rash.
During the day, a certain layer of smegma and urine residue forms on the penis, which, if not washed off, covers the skin with a sticky coating. But in many cases, it is not possible to perform the necessary hygiene procedures during the day. Therefore, the need to ensure measures, so to speak, of passive intimate hygiene comes to the fore. First of all, this suggests that preference should be given to underwear made of materials that can easily absorb moisture. Thanks to it, good air circulation is ensured, which helps to maintain an optimal temperature at which the likelihood of the skin becoming sweaty is low. The ideal choice in this regard is cotton. Underwear made of natural cotton or containing it can be easily washed and dries in a short time. Synthetic materials in underwear are unacceptable, as they cause skin friction and disrupt heat exchange processes, and can also act as allergens.
Intertrigo on the penis, as well as many other skin problems on the intimate parts of the body, can appear as a result of a man's careless attitude to the issue of personal hygiene. In order to maintain male health, a boy needs to be taught from childhood that the genitals should be kept clean.
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Treatment of diaper rash in the groin
The occurrence of inguinal diaper rash is more common among the male population, which is explained by poor intimate hygiene and structural features. Inflammation with sharply defined boundaries often contains pustules and bubbles, which indicates the presence of pathogenic microflora. The stronger sex suffers from diaper rash with excess body weight, increased sweating, when wearing synthetic and tight underwear, as evidenced by inflammation of the skin of the scrotum. Diabetes mellitus, urinary incontinence and other problems increase the risk of diaper rash.
In women, dermatitis develops mainly in the folds of the abdomen and under the mammary glands. Inflammation in the groin area is observed as a result of wearing tight, synthetic clothing, promiscuous sexual relations and passion for various detergents. Intimate deodorants, excess weight are also provocateurs of the inflammatory process. Diaper rash in adult women opens the way to the vagina for pathogens that cause purulent ulcers, cracks and erosions.
As trite as it may sound, treatment of diaper rash in the groin at the initial stage comes down to washing the skin with boiled water and then drying it. It is advisable to use medications only after consulting a specialist. Medicines are prescribed for the following purpose:
- suppression of the action of fungi and pathogenic flora;
- to provide a drying effect and prevent the spread of the pathological focus;
- reducing inflammation and getting rid of pustules, ulcers and erosions.
Treatment of diaper rash involves using a solution of furacilin and potassium permanganate with mandatory air baths. Teymurov paste helps to get rid of fungi and other microorganisms, and Desitin baby cream kills unpleasant odor. Potato starch has been used as a powder for many years.
Treatment of diaper rash with cracks and pustules requires lubricating the pathological area with an ointment containing zinc, clotrimazole, locacorten vioform, but the use of soap should be avoided.
So, diaper rash in the groin, although it occupies one of the first places in terms of the frequency of cases of this disease with this localization, is not difficult to protect yourself from. To do this, you only need to wear comfortable natural underwear, maintain personal hygiene and try to keep yourself at an optimal weight.