Inguinal fungus, medically known as tinea inguinalis, is a fungal infection of the groin area. Men are more frequently affected than women.
The infection is triggered by filamentous fungi, which belong to the dermatophyte family. The term dermatophytes combines the ancient Greek words for skin (derma) and plant (phyton). Dermatophytes live on the skin.
In medicine, the term tinea (Latin for woodworm, moth) refers to all dermatophytosis diseases:
- Tinea pedis refers to athlete's foot,
- Tinea manuum is the dermatophytosis of the hand,
- Tinea capitis is the dermatophytosis of the hairy scalp
- Tinea inguinalis (lat. inguen for groin/abdomen) is the inguinal fungus.
Alongside dermatophytosis, candidiasis is a common fungal infection of the skin. Unlike tinea, however, they are caused by yeast fungi.
Fungi form a separate kingdom in biological classification alongside multicellular animals and plants. They are eukaryotes, i.e. living organisms whose cells, unlike bacteria, have a nucleus. Due to the characteristics of their metabolism, fungi are more closely related to animals than to plants.
The fungi family covers the entire spectrum between
- microscopically small single-celled organisms such as yeasts and
- multicellular organisms such as molds and molds.
Fungi make up a quarter of the earth's biomass. However, most types of fungi tend to remain invisible. Large species of fungi native to forests and meadows are in the minority.
The majority of fungi live underground. As important symbionts, these fungi promote the growth of around 80 to 90 percent of all plants.
As beneficial organisms for humans, fungi refine food. Humans use fungi for various fermentation processes, for example in the production of alcoholic beverages and dairy products.
As pests, fungi colonize the skin or the inside of the body and can cause
- Poisoning,
- allergies or
- infections
cause poisoning, allergies or infections. Dermatophytes are also pests.
Dermatophytes feed on carbohydrates and keratin. Keratin is an essential component of the horny layer of skin, hair and nails. This is why filamentous fungi particularly like to choose the surface of vertebrates as their preferred stomping ground.
Filamentous fungi can be found everywhere in nature. In their developmental stage as spores, fungi are
- highly resistant to climate and weather,
- excellently protected from drying out and
- can survive for a long time without nutrients.
As a form of survival, they wait in the ground or in damp, heavily frequented public spaces such as
- swimming pools,
- showers,
- saunas or
- hotel rooms.
Fungi can be easily transmitted in swimming pools © yanlev | AdobeStock
They also like to live in
- clothing,
- towels,
- combs,
- blankets and
- doormats
on. They are infectious in this environment for up to four years.
In the dermatophyte family, Trichophyton rubrum is the most common inguinal fungus pathogen. In addition, the fungus species
- Epidermophyton floccosum,
- Trichophyton mentagrophytes and
- Trichophyton tonsurans
may also be the cause of inguinal fungus.
Skin fungal pathogens find ideal growth conditions in warm, moist and dark environments. They prefer to live in skin folds and on feet in tight, air-impermeable closed shoes.
The pathogens get on feet and nails by walking barefoot in fungus-friendly environments such as swimming pools and saunas. This is why athlete's foot and nail fungus is much more common than inguinal fungus.
However, an athlete's foot infection that is detected too late or not treated properly can eventually spread to the groin area.
The fact that dermatophytes can spread in the groin region depends to a large extent on
- general physical condition,
- individual lifestyle habits and
- personal hygiene and health awareness.
and health awareness. A number of general factors are known to favor the development of inguinal fungus.
Healthy skin is protected by the natural skin flora. A large number of beneficial microorganisms colonize the skin surface and perform a defensive function. In addition, the skin is covered by a dense horny layer that is impenetrable to germs.
The carefully coordinated balance of the various protective mechanisms is sensitive to disturbances. Diseases that affect the immune system, but also care errors, can reduce the skin's ability to defend itself. This allows fungal pathogens to penetrate.
- Diabetes mellitus is one of the chronic diseases that affect the immune system. Insufficiently treated diabetes increases susceptibility to bacteria and fungi. As a result, mycoses spread, particularly in the area of the lower extremities.
- Circulatory disorders in the outer regions of the body, such as peripheral arterial occlusive disease, disrupt the immune defense and the regeneration of the skin. Fungi then find favorable living conditions and often cause mycoses of the feet.
- Being overweight(obesity) can lead to climatic conditions in skin folds where dermatophytes feel particularly at home.
- Cortisone or medication suppresses the immune system during cancer therapy, for example. This gives fungal pathogens opportunities for increased activity.
- Unclean toilet seats, inadequately cleaned laundry and intimate physical contact promote the transmission of fungal pathogens.
Tinea inguinalis initially appears as red spots on one or both sides of the inner thigh.
As the disease progresses, the edges of affected areas of skin appear slightly inflamed and scaly. The center increasingly fades and takes on a brownish color. Inguinal fungus is accompanied by itching and those affected often complain of a burning sensation.
If the growth of the fungus is not contained, the inguinal fungus can spread further. It can then also affect large areas of skin on the outside of the genitals and even the buttocks.
Inguinal fungus tends to develop in dark, warm and moist skin folds © timonina | AdobeStock
All fungal infections should be treated quickly and decisively. However, this requires the exact identification of the pathogen. Seek the advice of your doctor, especially if
- you are pregnant - during pregnancy, every medical measure must be clarified by a doctor
- suffer from unclear symptoms that do not indicate tinea inguinalis with certainty
- you suspect that you have a fungal infection but do not know the course of the disease from your own experience
- your self-treatment with a usually effective medication does not help
- you have been suffering from inguinal mycosis and other extensive mycoses of the skin and nails for a long time. In this case, it must be clarified whether a genetic predisposition causes the development of Trichophyton rubrum syndrome. This is associated with persistent and protracted courses of infection.
If the doctor suspects a fungal infestation, he usually confirms the findings with a pathogen test.
A swab of the affected tissue is taken from the skin, from which a culture is prepared in the laboratory. Fungal pathogens contained in the sample are cultivated on special culture media and later examined under the microscope. Depending on the growth rate of the fungus, a culture takes between one and four weeks to develop. Only then can a diagnosis be made.
A laboratory-based differential diagnosis
- differentiates mycosis from bacterial infections
- distinguishes tinea inguinalis from psoriasis, which causes similar symptoms
- provides information on the exact fungal pathogens involved in the disease process.
Based on the results of the pathogen detection, the doctor decides on the further therapeutic procedure. He determines
- which active substance is best suited to combat the infection,
- whether local treatment is sufficient or
- whether you also need to take antifungal medication (systemic therapy).
If the diagnosis of tinea inguinalis is confirmed, self-treatment with a topical antifungal agent is usually the next step. Proven medications include agents with the active ingredient bifonazole.
Treatment of the fungal pathogen brings reliable healing success if a broad-spectrum antifungal agent is used. Bifonazole is a drug from the azole group. It has both a fungistatic and fungicidal effect. This means that the fungal pathogens are both inhibited in their growth and destroyed. Bifonazole also has anti-inflammatory properties.
A cream that
- comprehensively combats mycosis and is equally effective against dermatophytes, yeasts and molds
- stops the growth of the fungus by damaging the structure of its cell membrane, thereby killing the pathogen
- acts against bacterial germs that cause additional damage to the skin at the site of the fungal infestation
- has anti-inflammatory properties and quickly relieves the symptoms of tinea inguinalis, such as itching and burning.
Waterproof creams are particularly suitable, as they also stay on during sport and leisure activities.
The success of treatment depends crucially on consistent adherence to therapy. Do not discontinue the antifungal medication prematurely, even if your symptoms subside quickly.
An antifungal agent must usually be continued for two to three weeks after the infection has healed. This is the only way to ensure that the pathogens are permanently eliminated and the fungal infection does not flare up again.
Always follow the dosage and application instructions. Ask a doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure.
