# Embarassing itch "caused by underwear" What is going on down there? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 26, 2004, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-itch-caused-by-underwear-what-is-going-on-down-there/231207 "2004-02-26T01:04:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DVsickgirlDV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@DVsickgirlDV](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DVsickgirlDV)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-itch-caused-by-underwear-what-is-going-on-down-there/231207/1 "2004-02-26T01:04:35Z")
This is embarrassing, but here is goes: My friend has been having an itch in her crotch area for the past month. This itch isn’t directly on any sexual body parts, its more along in that crease of skin where your thighs meet your hips, and upward surrounding the pubic hair, but never directly on the hair region. She went to the gyno about it and the gyno told her that it was just her underwear causing skin irritation, and recomended she just rub anti-itch cream whenever it got itchy. Well she has been doing this, and she still itches like crazy, and she even resorted to not wearing underwear and it still itches down there. Anyone have any suggestions on what to do? And how is this caused when she doesn’t wear underwear? And why specifically did the underwear start itching like that if she’s been wearing underwear for over 20 years? ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-itch-caused-by-underwear-what-is-going-on-down-there/231207/2 "2004-02-26T01:16:45Z")
Were she a man, I’d say your friend has jock itch; it’s sort of like athlete’s foot of the groin. I use miconazole nitrate cream when I get athlete’s foot or jock itch (I get the big tube of Vagisil and throw away the applicators – the miconazole sold for athlete’s foot is only 1/2 ounce). ---
**Author:** ![Patr100](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@Patr100](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patr100)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-itch-caused-by-underwear-what-is-going-on-down-there/231207/3 "2004-02-26T01:30:10Z")
Has she changed her washing powder lately? Could be an allergic reaction. Strangley enough, although non-biological powders are supposed to be better for sensitive skin. they seem to irritate mine more. although It may be something else. ---
**Author:** ![DVsickgirlDV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@DVsickgirlDV](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DVsickgirlDV)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-itch-caused-by-underwear-what-is-going-on-down-there/231207/4 "2004-02-26T01:55:50Z")
> [@Patr100](#): > > Has she changed her washing powder lately? Could be an allergic reaction. Strangley enough, although non-biological powders are supposed to be better for sensitive skin. they seem to irritate mine more. although It may be something else. She hasn’t changed anything that she normally uses to cleanse herself, so we already ruled out alergic reactions to chemicals. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-itch-caused-by-underwear-what-is-going-on-down-there/231207/5 "2004-02-26T02:28:47Z")
A fungal skin infection would be high on my list of probabilities. A trial of an over-the-counter antifungal cream topically would likely do no harm, and might do a world of good. If that fails, a trip to a doc would be advisable. QtM, MD ---
**Author:** ![DVsickgirlDV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@DVsickgirlDV](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DVsickgirlDV)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-itch-caused-by-underwear-what-is-going-on-down-there/231207/6 "2004-02-26T02:40:13Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > A fungal skin infection would be high on my list of probabilities. A trial of an over-the-counter antifungal cream topically would likely do no harm, and might do a world of good. If that fails, a trip to a doc would be advisable. > > QtM, MD Do you have any specific brands she should try? thanks ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-itch-caused-by-underwear-what-is-going-on-down-there/231207/7 "2004-02-26T02:45:48Z")
> [@DVsickgirlDV](#): > > Do you have any specific brands she should try? thanks clotrimazole or tolnaftate are both good active ingredients. They come in lots of brand names. ---
**Author:** ![choosybeggar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@choosybeggar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choosybeggar)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-itch-caused-by-underwear-what-is-going-on-down-there/231207/8 "2004-02-26T02:58:02Z")
> [@DVsickgirlDV](#): > > …its more along in that crease of skin where your thighs meet your hips, and upward surrounding the pubic hair, but never directly on the hair region. Perhaps it’s an allergy to the elastic in the underwear. Fungal/yeast are also on my list. A trip to the dermatologist is in order to get matters sorted out. ---
**Author:** ![tadc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f07891/32.png) [@tadc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tadc)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-itch-caused-by-underwear-what-is-going-on-down-there/231207/9 "2004-02-26T05:39:56Z")
> [@DVsickgirlDV](#): > > She hasn’t changed anything that she normally uses to cleanse herself, so we already ruled out alergic reactions to chemicals. “Washing powder” is British for “laundry detergent”. Not used to cleanse herself but rather her clothing. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![tadc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f07891/32.png) [@tadc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tadc)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-itch-caused-by-underwear-what-is-going-on-down-there/231207/10 "2004-02-26T05:41:39Z")
also, what about crabs? ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-itch-caused-by-underwear-what-is-going-on-down-there/231207/11 "2004-02-26T06:01:26Z")
> [@tadc](#): > > also, what about crabs? ☹ No, I’ve had those. They _definitely_ only affect areas with hair. That is where they live, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Robbbbb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9a140/32.png) [@Robbbbb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robbbbb)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-itch-caused-by-underwear-what-is-going-on-down-there/231207/12 "2004-02-26T17:00:22Z")
Possibly scabies. I recommend seeing a dermitologist if nobody elses’s suggestions work. ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-itch-caused-by-underwear-what-is-going-on-down-there/231207/13 "2004-02-26T20:33:36Z")
Has she changed how she washes her underwear? I’m with \*\*Qadgop \*\* on this - sounds like a fungus. My whole family came down with a topical fungus during a year where we had no hot water. (long story) In addition to the ointments, try soaking the underwear in a vinegar/warm water solution before washing. Helps keep the fungus from coming back. ---
**Author:** ![Shrinking\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-itch-caused-by-underwear-what-is-going-on-down-there/231207/14 "2004-02-26T21:41:54Z")
> [@DVsickgirlDV](#): > > … she’s been wearing underwear for over 20 years? Perhaps she should change more frequently. Might help. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![rookie523](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@rookie523](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rookie523)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-itch-caused-by-underwear-what-is-going-on-down-there/231207/15 "2004-02-26T22:12:32Z")
Eczema? I get eczema when my skin is dry and no amount of lotion can relieve the itch. Are there any rash like symptoms? ---
**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-itch-caused-by-underwear-what-is-going-on-down-there/231207/16 "2004-02-26T22:16:18Z")
Another strong possibility is eczema, which often occurs in “folds” such as inside elbows, etc. I’ve been afflicted with a tendency to eczema for over a year now and often have to bathe (not shower) twice a day to keep it at bay. Creams such as “Cortizone” available over the counter in the US are very effective, soothing an itchy area within minutes, but they may not be suitable for long term use in that area of the body. ---
**Author:** ![Paradoxical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/77aa72/32.png) [@Paradoxical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paradoxical)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-itch-caused-by-underwear-what-is-going-on-down-there/231207/17 "2004-02-26T22:19:46Z")
It could possibly be a few stray ingrown hair follicles…has she recently gained weight? Some people suffer extreme dry skin chafing when they gain an excess of fat around the thighs… ---
**Author:** ![toysarefun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@toysarefun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toysarefun)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-itch-caused-by-underwear-what-is-going-on-down-there/231207/18 "2004-02-26T23:47:07Z")
Is this woman sexually active? Trichomoniasis that is. Every website I go to has different symptoms and all that to, and also they say you can have no symptoms as well, plus doctors never do anything about it. Its parasitic…, relatively harmless, the doc has to actually take samples and look under a microscope to detect it, and that takes time and people are lazy. I’m a guy and I’ve got the same symptoms she has right now, however the itch comes and goes. ---
**Author:** ![DVsickgirlDV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@DVsickgirlDV](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DVsickgirlDV)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-itch-caused-by-underwear-what-is-going-on-down-there/231207/19 "2004-02-27T22:45:33Z")
No rash, no weight gain, and she had a boyfriend whe the itch started but they broke up recently so she’s not sexually active. we’re trying the anti-fungal cream to see how it works. thanks for all the suggestions ---
**Author:** ![rhinostylee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bc79bd/32.png) [@rhinostylee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhinostylee)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-itch-caused-by-underwear-what-is-going-on-down-there/231207/20 "2004-02-27T23:29:18Z")
Sure . . . \*your friend \* has this problem . . . you seem to know an awful lot about \*your friend’s \* underwear and pubic region. Your friend is **YOU**! Admit it! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassing-itch-caused-by-underwear-what-is-going-on-down-there/231207.md?page=2)