Groin hyperhidrosis is a form of local increase in sweating. This form of the disease is quite rare, but in its severity brings a lot of unpleasant feelings, discomfort and stress.
Groin hyperhidrosis is a disease in which strong sweating in the groin, it occurs regardless of the environment or circumstances. Strong sweating can be observed in complete peace and even in the cold season.
The manifestation of this pathology can cause many complexes and health problems. Excessive sweating in the groin in men and women leads to severe chafing and diaper rash of the skin, where pathogenic microflora can get and provoke an inflammatory process. This condition is called erythraxism.
The main causes of this disease are:
- Hard work at work or strenuous exercise;
- A hot climate;
- low-quality clothing;
- obesity;
- diabetes mellitus;
- genital tract infections;
- complications from head injuries.
Groin erythrasis in males
The main cause of this inflammatory process is the bacterium Corynebacterium minutissimum. It does not spread to the deeper layers of the skin, affecting only the top layer of the skin. This type of bacteria is not capable of damaging the hair or nails.
When hyperhidrosis is localized in the groin, favorable conditions are created there for the reproduction of bacteria or fungi. This pathogen is constantly on the surface of human skin, but for the manifestation of its pathogenic properties need special conditions.
Warm temperature is optimal for bacteria to multiply, and increased sweating and the presence of organic compounds allow them to feed.
Groin erythrazma may not manifest itself for a long time, and small red spots on the skin in man’s groin area or the inner surface of the thighs may be observed. Most men do not pay attention to them. If the conditions for bacterial growth appear, these spots increase in size up to several centimeters in diameter, change color from pink to red or yellow. When secondary infection joins, itching, burning, possible purulent discharge appear, and the groin area sweats and smells.
How to prevent groin sweating
To avoid the appearance of inguinal erythrazma, first of all, it is desirable to get rid of severe sweating. To do this, you need to follow the following recommendations:
- Hygiene – is the main method in the fight against sweating in the groin. It is recommended to take a cool shower or bath twice a day. Be sure to use detergents (shampoo, gel, soap).
- Shaving – so that the skin is less chafed and irritated, it is advisable to constantly shave the hair in the intimate area. Large stubble should not be allowed, and after each shave, lubricate the skin with a softening and soothing gel or cream.
- Antiperspirants deodorants – will reduce sweating and give a normal smell to the genital areas. It is desirable to avoid contact of antiperspirant substances with mucosal areas.
- Baths or lotions with herbs – decoctions of oak bark, St. John’s wort, chamomile or sage show their effectiveness in treating sweating in the groin. Resorting to these methods it is necessary to avoid getting the decoction on the mucous membranes of the intimate areas.
- Clothing and underwear – if the crotch sweats a lot, it is mandatory to choose high-quality underwear. It should be made only of natural materials (cotton), which are well breathable and do not retain heat.
Diagnosis
If you have an unpleasant odor due to the fact that you constantly sweat in the groin, it is recommended to see a dermatovenerologist or dermatologist. They will prescribe the necessary examinations, take swabs for microflora, and then choose an effective treatment.
At home, you can take baking soda and vinegar baths. They will help normalize the microflora of the skin and destroy pathogenic bacteria with minimal harm to the body.
Possible dangers
With untimely begun treatment of sweating in the groin, as well as ignoring the basic rules of hygiene, the appearance of dangerous for future health complications is possible.
Diaper rash
- Diaper rash – at first glance a minor complication, but if not treated in time – it can escalate into an extensive purulent process. It first occurs in the area of natural skin folds. They occur more obese people, as they have more pronounced skin folds. The development of diaper rash in hyperhidrosis groin divided into three stages:
- Redness – the skin in the place of heavy rubbing becomes red, while no visible damage is observed. Perhaps the disappearance of the hair on this area.
- The appearance of cracks – if you do not properly care for diaper rash in the first stage, it gradually develops into the second. In this case, the reddened skin dries up, and painful cracks of a small size appear on it. At this stage there is a strong itching, discomfort and pain, which forces the patient to take therapeutic measures. And most often they consist in the application of ointments or bandages with decoctions, which is wrong. At this stage it is necessary to limit this area from traumatization and constantly dry it with powders.
- Festering – in the absence of treatment or its improper tactics, the area of the diaper rash is guaranteed to get an infection. Multiplication of pathogenic microflora leads to suppuration and extensive destruction of the adjacent tissues.
Fungal infection
With severe sweating in the groin in men, and more often in women, there are favorable conditions for the accession of fungal infection. In this case, the fungus does not affect the skin, it immediately penetrates the external genitalia, settling there and gradually multiplying. The presence of fungal infection in inguinal hyperhidrosis is indicated by the following symptoms:
- Severe itching in the genital area;
- Change and peeling of the skin;
- The appearance of discharge from the external genitalia;
- A strong unpleasant odor with an acidic aroma.
It is difficult to get rid of a fungal infection, because the treatment is hindered by the constant moisture in the area. For an effective fight against mycosis, it is recommended to see a dermatovenerologist, who will determine the genus of the pathogenic fungus and prescribe an effective treatment against it.
Treatment methods
First of all, it is necessary to remove the factor that provokes hyperhidrosis in the groin area. If it can not be determined, the patient is assigned a full range of treatment measures.
It consists of the following steps:
- Treatment with a psychologist – visiting this specialist helps to get rid of intrusive thoughts, complexes, adds self-confidence. Patients learn to communicate again with the people around them. Psychologist also helps to understand some stressful situations, gives advice on how to avoid them in the future.
- Medicinal treatment – courses of sedatives are prescribed. Diazepam, Oxazepam, Phenazepam may be used. Taking these drugs allows the patient to get rid of feelings of anxiety, easier to cope with nervous and stressful situations, relaxes the muscles, and improves sleep. Topical medications have proven to be very effective. A zinc-containing ointment or cream is generally used. Applying them on the problem areas can get rid of severe sweating for up to 10-14 days.
- Ionophoresis – rarely used because of the inconvenience of application in the groin area. But in some cases, the performance of this procedure gives a long-lasting effect and saves the patient from anguish.
- Botox injections – the most common option for the treatment of sweating in the groin. Allows you to get rid of this problem for more than six months without much harm. Injections use botulinum toxin, which blocks the conduct of nerve impulses along the ganglia, which leads to a temporary shutdown of the sweat glands.
- Surgical methods have not yet gained much popularity, because of the danger of damaging important nerve trunks. Crossing the wrong nerve bundle can lead to erectile dysfunction, incontinence, or severe pain syndrome.
Conservative treatment
When there is a bad smell in the groin of men, doctors prescribe medicinal creams, which have a healing and drying effect. Mostly for these purposes use salicylic ointment and “Clotrimazole”. In addition, if there is night sweating of the scrotum or sweating between the toes, it is recommended to use antiseptic medications that can remove pathogens on problem areas of the skin. If we are talking about cosmetics, then with their help it is possible to get rid of bad odor. Used medication, which includes formalin, which allows you to block the sweat glands, after which there is less sweating and it does not smell as strong.
Doctors recommend taking a bath. You can add sea salt or vinegar to the water. With the help of such baths can reduce sweating, prevent diaper rash and skin irritation, get rid of the unpleasant smell of sweat. In addition, baths will help to relax the patient, relieve stress. Also add medicinal plants:
- chamomile;
- oak bark;
- St. John’s wort.
Using Botox
If a patient has perspiring intimate area and conservative therapy does not give the desired effect, experts recommend resorting to injections. To get rid of sweating between the legs will require several sessions, after which the excessive sweating will disappear. The disadvantage of this procedure is considered to be the short duration of action. Sweating will last no more than 6 months, after which you will need to go back to the session and have a Botox injection.
Surgery
Sympathectomy is used to get rid of excessive sweating, in which nerve trunks are crossed or blocked. The intervention is often used to treat hyperhidrosis, for example, in the armpits. As for increased sweating between the legs, doctors do not recommend surgery. This is due to the fact that in the process of surgery there is a risk of damaging the nerves that go to the genitals and the urinary cavity, so when sweating in the groin area it is better to resort to Botox injections.
Prevention of excessive sweating in the groin in men
To minimize the chances of this problem it is necessary to adhere to the following recommendations:
- Follow personal hygiene – for this you need to take a shower more often, a gradual decrease in water temperature is recommended. Use only high-quality shampoos and soaps. Make sure that these products do not cause any reaction on the skin. After sweating, wipe the groin area with a cool, damp towel.
- Shaving or waxing – doctors recommend that patients with hyperhidrosis in the groin, in order to prevent the occurrence of unpleasant odors, to perform laser waxing of this area. This will reduce the risk of infection, as well as minimize skin damage and irritation.
- Use anti-sweat products – scented talcum powder or antiperspirants for the groin area are used for this purpose. Applying them in a timely manner helps to reduce sweating and prevents the development of chafing and diaper rash.
If there are suspicious symptoms, diaper rash, unpleasant odor, itching in the groin area, it is recommended to seek medical help from a specialist. If necessary, he or she will adjust or change the treatment tactics for this condition.
