Sports are a big part of our lives. The benefits of keeping active and healthy, both physically and mentally, have never been more recognised. However, sports also come with risks, such as sprains, strains and in some cases broken bones. But there is also a lesser known menace associated with sport – ringworm. 

Ringworm is a superficial fungal infection of the skin. It can occur anywhere on the body from head to toe: on the scalp (tinea capitis), body (tinea corporis), inner thighs, groin and buttocks (tinea cruris), or feet (tinea pedis). It manifests as a red, itchy, ring-shaped rash and flaking or peeling skin. Anyone can get ringworm and, although it is not considered a serious infection, it is estimated that 10-20% of us will contract it during our lifetime¹ (with an estimated market worth for tinea cruris and tinea corporis therapies of over ~ $1 bn/year).² It has also been noted that in certain sports there is a greater risk of both tinea cruris and tinea corporis. 

Tinea cruris, also known as jock itch, is particularly prevalent in men and adolescent boys who play sport.³ The fungi that cause tinea cruris thrive in warm, moist environments, such as the inner thigh, groin and buttocks.³ As such, people who play sports who sweat a lot, or reside in hot, humid climates, are more at risk.⁴ Tinea cruris is highly […]