Is drumming causing your jock itch?
You’re having the time of your life in a major gig, opening for a band you have always looked up to. Banging away on your drums, you notice an uncomfortable, lightly-burning sensation whenever your jeans hits your balls. You fight the urge to scratch, cringing at the very thought of how satisfying it is to just scratch away on those balls!
Finally the gig ends, you walk into the dressing room; first thing you do is the classic “pinch and roll”.
“Why are my balls itchy as hell?”, you ask yourself. Is this…STD? Is this JOCK ITCH? “But I’m no jock” you say! “Only athletes get jock itch!”.
Sounds familiar? It may not be that common among drummers, but many, many drummers do get jock itch! And most of them tend to hide it from their peers and family members, afraid of the judging looks and thoughts. However, jock itch among drummers is way, way, way more common than you would think. And this is important as being embarrassed by this will not only lower self esteem, but it also affects performance levels of some, with a few totally giving up drumming due to the irresistible and uncontrollable urge to scratch during shows.
And because we at Jock Itch Crusader care for you and your nuggets’ health, let us shed light on why those pebbles itch, why you have it, and what you can do to make it go away!
Tinea cruris, or jock itch, is a fungal infection of the groin caused by dermatophytes. Dermatophytes live off on the body’s dead skin cells and thrive in warm and moist areas of the body, which are areas where you also sweat the most. And don’t tell us that your family jewels don’t sweat!
Imagine your balls as a sort of “beach”, where these dermatophytes are the annoying and rowdy tourists that swarm during the summer for the warm and cozy environment. Only in jock itch, they have enjoyed the warm confines of your nuts so much that they decide to have a “permanent vacation”, tagging along their friends and relatives to their new haven, with their drums banging away on your plums at all times of the day.
So while most people disregard drumming as the cause of why them pebbles itch and burn so much, the truth is, drumming can cause jock itch.
The hot and humid environment causes you to sweat, which causes your balls to shed some skin, which is food for those unwanted creatures that cause jock itch.
Once in their new homes, these dermatophytes secrete substances that irritate the skin surrounding your grapes. And they ain’t called jock itch for nothing! They are bloody itchy!
They may also cause a reddish discoloration on your groin area, and sometimes these areas are elevated compared to the surrounding skin – it’s like them building a platform for all of to see how much of a good time they’re having chomping away on your balls.
Acute infections, or new infections, usually have a moist rash on the affected areas. Chronic infections, or those that go untreated, have a dry, scaly rash. Whether it acute or chronic, both types are still itchy as f**k.
Itchy balls and legs? Check! Reddish groin? Check! Scaly areas? Check! Well, it looks like you have jock itch! But don’t worry, medications and good hygiene go a long way in curing this infection.
The remedy for jock itch, as you will find out, is good hygiene and proper medications.
But here are some tips specifically created for drummers to banish these unwelcome tourists from the land of your future sons!
- Keep the affected areas dry – Sweat occurs naturally, we can’t control it. We can control, however, how wet with sweat the area is. Thoroughly dry the area with a clean and dry towel. It is important that this is your OWN towel, and specifically for your balls. REMEMBER, jock itch is contagious! So having your own towels for the specifically affected areas is important.
- You can also use deodorant powders to prevent moisture build-up and to keep the area dry. One excellent product is the Gold Bond Medicated Extra Strength Powder. Not only does this powder keep you dry, but it also has a cooling effect, which is perfect for those hot and humid nights banging away on your drums in front of hundreds!
- Wash the area with mild soap and water – Not just any soap, but soap specifically made for infections. It is important that these soaps have antibacterial and antifungal activity, such as Defense Soap. This is one of the best over-the-counter remedies that we could suggest. What’s perfect with this soap is that it is hypoallergenic , which means it won’t cause you any allergies or irritations, and it contains natural ingredients such as eucalyptus oil, which has proven anti-fungal properties.
- NEVER SCRATCH! Okay, this part is HARD to do. Itchiness leads to scratching, and in the case of jock itch, more scratching leads to irritation, which will lead to I’d-do-anything-to-stop-the-itchiness prayers. Luckily, there are products that relieve itching, and the most effective and recommended is Tinactin Jock Itch Spray. It is 100% safe and effective, and is highly recommended by trainers. If itching is your biggest problem, then we highly recommend you use this.
- Anti-fungal creams and medications – check out our comparison chart for the best anti-fungal medication for you.
Curing yourself from jock itch doesn’t mean you won’t have it again.
Recurrence is a big possibility, so you have to keep some things in mind to prevent the itch from coming back! Remember…jock itch prevention is ALWAYS better than a cure.
Never let these bad boys ruin your nightly gig! You may have the best over-the-counter remedies, but prevention of jock itch is as important, if not more important, than curing it.
- As much as possible, drum in shorts. The ventilation created will prevent humidity and warmth in those sweet spots. Besides, it gives you more freedom of movement!
- Keep your nuts clean and dry! You can use Defense Soap as your exclusive soap for ‘em nuts. And before drumming, you can use deodorants and anti-perspirants for the area.
- Bring extra undies – This may seem like a tip for women, but if you want to be itch-free, you have to be clean. And another way of doing it is by changing your underwear after each set, if possible. You may have banged away in an air-conditioned theater, but those nuts still feel the warmth of being in a tight space. Changing your underwear prevents build-up of dead skin cells, which is the food of these itchy mofos.
- Bathe before going to bed every night, drum or not, sweat or no sweat. You may be tired, but do it for your kids down there.
- You may have heard or read somewhere that trimming your pubes is the remedy for jock itch. It may help relieve the itch, but it is not the cure for jock itch. Dermatophytes won’t care if you’re bald down there or not, as long as it’s moist, humid and there’s plenty of food, they’re good!