Q. I’ve been fascinated by the discussion of jock itch in your column. I’ve had this problem for years and tried dozens of over-the-counter medicines. None of them worked for more than a few days.
Last year my doctor came to my rescue by prescribing Lotrisone cream. What a relief! I only have to use it once or twice a month, and then “touch up” with Eucerin lotion every few days. Itch-free at last!
A. The combination of a moisturizer and a corticosteroid cream can often be quite effective for this type of problem. One reader reports: “I am eternally in your debt for the jock itch remedy of Cetaphil followed occasionally by 1 percent hydrocortisone cream. After five years of embarrassing agony and numerous treatments I now enjoy heavenly relief–not a cure, but a reliable balm.”
Cetaphil is a non-detergent cleanser and moisturizer. Another reader found that “When I switched to Cetaphil Cleanser, my eczema never came back.”
Another possible approach is old-fashioned amber Listerine mouthwash. One reader reports:
“I have been plagued with jock itch for weeks and had tried a couple of OTC creams with little success. I was getting ready to see my dermatologist when I read about using Listerine for jock itch, athlete’s foot, and other fungal infections.
“Listerine has now cleared the problem up in a couple of days. It stings for a minute or two when first applied, but it isn’t that bad and it really worked.”
One caution, though. We would discourage putting Listerine on any open wounds or bad abraded skin. The alcohol and essential oils are likely to sting something awful.
