Itchy Male Organ and Summer Sweat: Could it be a Fungal Infection?

It’s an understandable equation: Summer=heat=sweat=jock itch. Sure, it’s a little more complicated than that, but this simple equation pretty much says it all. With the summer months here and the temperature rising every day, guys are getting hotter and sweatier. And once heat and sweat increase, so does the opportunity for an itchy male organ to make its unwelcome presence known. Now, on the scale of male organ health issues, jock itch is no crisis, being more of an annoyance than anything else. But as annoyances go, it’s pretty darn annoying.

So if summer sweat is here, what can a guy do to keep jock itch at bay or under control? First, it helps to know a little about what jock itch is.

A fungus

Jock itch isn’t just an itch that appears out of nowhere; it’s actually the result of a fungal infection. Like all fungi, jock itch is attracted to places that are dark and moist; sound like any crotches you know?

Jock itch presents as a red or pink rash on or around the manhood, sacks and posterior. And as the name implies, it can itch like crazy. And although any guy can get it, people with certain conditions, such as diabetes or obesity, are more prone to jock itch than are others.

Sweat

Because jock itch thrives in a moist environment, it pays to take steps to combat summer sweat. Here are a few ways to do that.

- Wash frequently . Even if a guy tends to shower every day, he may want to consider stepping up his member washing during the summer - and especially if he is an active person who spends a lot of time engaged in sweaty activities. This doesn’t necessarily mean showering more often, but it does mean a guy may want to give a sponge bath or two just to the genitals during the course of a hot day.

- Change clothes (at least underwear) as necessary. Keeping the personal basement as dry as possible means stripping off those underpants that are dripping with sweat - and those trousers as well, if they’re damp from the heat. It doesn’t really help top wash the member and then put it back in a sweaty pair of briefs.

- Choose clothing carefully. If the day is going to be hot, take a few extra minutes to plan the wardrobe accordingly. In general, loose boxers are cooler than tight briefs. Trousers made of lightweight breathable material, like cotton, are cooler than those made of heavy fabrics or synthetic fabrics. And for the most part, darker clothes "hold" the heat more than lighter colors do. Also, looser trousers are less likely to rub against the skin and create irritation.

- Keep clothes clean. Yes, sometimes it’s tempting to wear that pair of pants for one more day - but in the summer, fungus is more likely to have grown overnight than in the winter.

- Be careful in locker rooms. The fungus that causes jock itch also causes athlete’s foot - so be careful when in the locker room or sauna. Don’t borrow a friend’s towel, which maybe infected. And put down your own towel before sitting on a bench or in the sauna; someone’s athlete’s foot may recently have been there.

If a guy does come down with jock itch, there are numerous over-the-counter options he can use. Sometimes a case will be stubborn and require the help of a doctor.

Keeping sweat and jock itch under control are all part of good male organ care. So is the daily use of a top notch male organ health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). Seek out a crème that includes a combination of hydrating agents, such as shea butter and vitamin E, to help preserve the natural oils that keep skin smooth, even when sweat is wreaking havoc on the skin. The best crème will also include vitamin B5, also called pantothenic acid, which is required for cell metabolism and the maintenance of healthy manhood tissue.