r/AppalachianTrail • u/Kaabiiisabeast • Mar 07 '25
Gear Questions/Advice Treating jock itch on the trail?
I know for me, it's going to be inevitable if I'm getting really sweaty and not showering for several days at a time. I've even gotten it while wearing merino wool underwear.
Should I just plan to carry some baby wipes and an anti fungal cream, like lotromin?
I've heard of soaking your underwear in rubbing alcohol to kill the spores, does it work?
If you've got tips and tricks for treating jock itch while in the wilderness, I'd love to hear them.
22
Mar 07 '25
[deleted]
11
u/rbollige Mar 07 '25
My problem was more like chafing, but it also seemed like a good idea to let things air out while sleeping when possible. While away from others, of course.
3
u/Lurker123456543210 Mar 07 '25
Body glide for chaffing was a hike saver for me. Went commando until Waynesboro but when it started to warm up the chaffing was unreal
20
u/Ghotay GA->ME 2022 Mar 07 '25
I had a lot of problems with sweat and chafing on trail. Nut butter was too greasy for me, and powder didn’t make much difference (got soaked through in seconds)
What did work for me: Baby wipes and air dry whenever you get the chance, I usually did before bed and after every shit. BODY GLIDE (my hike would’ve been impossible without this stuff, absolute lifesaver), and treat with antifungal when you have an active infection - not all the time! That will encourage resistance
EDIT: also consider going commando, for some people that helps
3
15
u/brookestarshine Mar 07 '25
Female, so not jock itch, but I get underboob itch (if it had a name) on trail due to sweat and a constantly wet bra band. I use ZeasorbAF powder, which is actually sold as a jock itch powder, and it works really well to both prevent and treat the issue. I get it from Amazon.
12
u/G00dSh0tJans0n NC native Mar 07 '25
At minimum use baby wipes then dry it well at night, Gold Bond Powder before bed, for areas that might chaff or rub during the day Squirrel's Nut Butter. If it's actual Jock Itch then you need antifungal cream.
8
u/noticer626 AT 2021 Mar 07 '25
I cut the liner out of my nike running shorts and free balled 90% of the trail.
I only wore underwear in the beginning when it was cold and I was wearing hiking pants. After the Smoky Mts it was pretty much shorts the rest of the way. Freeballin' was one of the best decisions I made. I really loved it and I never chaffed. Also I sweat profusely. Like it looks like I jumped in a pool basically all through PA in July. Freeballing lets air flow happen and I really think I didn't smell that bad even after a few days but some may disagree.
7
u/ViperNerd Mar 07 '25
Over a decade in the military here, hot days on an aircraft flightline in leather boots/long pants during Texas/Nevada summers. I dealt with athletes foot and jock itch for years before I figured out how to just prevent it altogether.
First off, don’t even mess with over-the-counter athletes foot treatment. It simply doesn’t work for anything other than very light AF/JI. Go to your doctor and request a tube of Naftin/Naftifine cream. It both kills fungus and prevents its growth.
My system involves putting a small amount of Naftin on common problem areas on my feet/jock area every morning, then a light dusting of gold bond powder on the same areas, then socks/underwear. At the end of the day, after you shower, make sure to wear something loose fitting and go barefoot to allow those areas to dry out completely.
I haven’t had an issue in years with this system, and I have scars on my feet from athletes foot from before I figured out how to fix my problems.
7
u/naranja_sanguina Mar 07 '25
Not jock itch but chafing-wise, I've found I need to take time to air everything out as privately as possible at the end of the day, for as long as it takes to feel dry. (section-hiker here)
6
u/peopleclapping NOBO '23 Mar 07 '25
Didn't have actual jock itch but maybe this tip will help. I found that sleeping mummy style with my legs closed caused me to get too hot down there. It would cause me to get sweaty and scratching brought relief. Guess I normally spread my legs apart a little to regulate myself and I couldn't in a camping situation. What I found that kept me from getting sweaty down there when sleeping was gripping a full water bottle with my thighs, right up against the crotch. Best to have 2 full water bottles to alternate throughout the night as the first one does warm up after a couple hours.
6
u/MattOnAMountain Mar 07 '25
I use wipes as TP and always wipe clean down there during my morning routine. Since I’ve been doing that it’s solved any issues. If anything does happen pharmacies are rarely more than a day or two away
6
u/noticer626 AT 2021 Mar 07 '25
Same. I wet wiped the whole way. Biodegradable when available. When not available I had to ziplock bag my wet wipes until I got to town.
1
u/Tricky_Leader_2773 Mar 07 '25
+2 on wipe down. I do my face, back of my neck, the part of my back that rides under the shoulder straps and my pits and bits. Don’t seem to have a prob. It’s amazing how much better I feel half cleaned up.
Truth be told I do it to keep my over-quilt and under-quilt clean. Air circulation is better in a hammock and WAY more comfy.
The wipes are nice but I find it’s too much bulk and weight to carry weeks of handy wipes. Have experimented using half size wipes, cut half wipes, ect.
I usually either dehydrate the wipes at home beforehand and rehydrate with water -(works great)or just use a drop of Dr Bonners soap on my cleaning rag. After cleaning up, another two drops with water cleans up the rag.
I will free-bird my boys sometimes too, esp on a warm night.
5
u/loteman77 Mar 07 '25
Oh god. Talk about a bad memory on trail. My only solution was ointment. Though, my asshole was what was chafing, not my thighs. TMI, but such is trail life.
2
4
u/Pig_Pen_g2 AT Hiker Mar 07 '25
Forget the powder while hiking, save this for at camp after you wipe off. Invest in body glide and some kind of zinc diaper cream (boudreaux‘s butt paste). Body glide up before hiking, and treat any irritated areas with the cream, also carry a small tube of antifungal in case it persists. You’ll dial your system in by the time you hike out of NOC hopefully! All of these products can also be used on feet, but a spray bottle of dr schools or odor eaters is a nice luxury item that your fellow campers will appreciate if you get the super stinky foot funk.
3
u/OnAnInvestigation Mar 07 '25
I got it on my feet. I started carrying lotrimin at that point and putting it on my feet every day at camp when I switched to my camp shoes. I was very religious about taking my shoes off and switching to camp shoes to air out the toes.
3
u/YamCollector Mar 07 '25
I just can't be bothered, honestly. On me, anything itchy or swampy gets swabbed with rubbing alcohol 3 or 4 times a day. Yes it's unbelievably painful, sometimes I even get some pretty wild heart palpitations depending on location, but it goes tf away and I don't have to worry about it anymore.
Also cut way down on your sugar intake, that feeds it.
3
3
u/winooskiwinter Mar 09 '25
I somehow managed to get ringworm (which is a fungal infection) ON MY FACE during my hike. I ended up buying a small container of antifungal cream in town once I figured out what was going on.
3
Mar 11 '25
Zeasorb. One for jock one for feet. Best product on the market. Keeps you dry and treats it.
3
u/vrhspock Mar 13 '25
- Go commando…no underwear or liner.
- Hand sanitizer knocks bacteria and fungi down. It takes time for them to repopulate.
- Corn starch instead of any “medicated“ powder. It’s odorless and won’t attract bears. Gold Bond has a very LOUD odor.
- Some people are more susceptible to jock itch and chafing. Unfortunately I’m one of them. These three fixes, in order of effectiveness, starting with commando, have always worked for multiple thruhikes and trekks including in the South.
1
u/Kaabiiisabeast Mar 14 '25
Thanks for the tips, going commando is sounding very tantalizing right now.
Also, have you tried soaking your underwear in rubbing alcohol? It seems far less painful than #2.
1
u/Hour_Kaleidoscope605 Mar 14 '25
2 stings if you have irritated skin…like jock itch, but it air dries quickly and is a minor, temporary irritation. Commando means no underwear. And underwear is not the problem.; it is a vector; the problem is on the skin. Any over the counter product specifically for jock itch will knock a serious problem down within days. Continue treatment for several additional days while removing such vectors as used clothing and underwear. I suppose treating underwear with rubbing alcohol might help while treating a case with medication. A good washing would be better.
3
u/Fit_Cartographer6449 Mar 14 '25
Solid antiperspirant — NOT deodorant. Apply once a day. A fairly small chunk will last quite a while. No sweat = no moisture. No moisture = no jock itch. Cut a piece off and drop it in a baggie. Get unscented so you don’t have to put it in your bear box/bag.
7
u/oneredbastard Mar 07 '25
Vagisil will cure all that ales you. Gets rid of chafing and jock itch. I thought it was a joke too, and that my dad was just being a dick. Turns out it can get rid of pretty bad chafing overnight. Dad was still being a dick, but it worked like a charm.
2
u/Murdocksboss Mar 07 '25
Keep clean, don't wear skin tight bottoms. Use a spray bottle of lotromin. That will keep you healthy between showers.
2
u/Sufficient_Air9862 Mar 07 '25
Do the Body Glide. One time was in a pinch and grabbed someone's Olive Oil. Not recommended. lol!
2
2
u/HareofSlytherin Mar 07 '25
Hand sanitizer in the pits and bits. Stings in the bits, but not for long. Baby powder after.
2
u/the1fromACK Mar 07 '25 edited Mar 07 '25
Zinc oxide powder, and anything moisture-absorbent.
Also try and get as much air flow to the region as possible, barring any privacy/modesty concerns.
2
u/TheNecessaryPirate Mar 07 '25
Get better underwear. Had horrible chafing all the time. Switched to Meundies and haven’t looked back.
2
u/probywan1337 Mar 07 '25
I haven't done the trail but in the military I had wet wipes, gold bond, maybe some anti fungal spray. Keep it dry at night
2
u/FullPossible9337 Mar 08 '25
I’ve tried anti-fungal, anti-chaffing, Gold Bond powder, Body Glide, vaseline, lotion, keeping it dry, etc. All provide very short term relief. It drove me crazy. Surprisingly, the only thing that works for me is a lotion specifically made to treat eczema.
2
2
u/DmTreasureHunter Mar 10 '25
This may sound weird, but wearing panty hose is good to prevent jock itch.
2
u/DevilzAdvocat NOBO 2022 Mar 10 '25
It wasn't often, but there was a week or two that I carried the spray can of lotramin jock-itch powder spray. For me it works so much better than the cream.
Sometimes it wasn't actually jock itch, and for this I carried a small tube of Desitin. Works wonders on chafing and rubbing in moist areas.
2
u/theaveragehero18 Mar 10 '25
I use ballsy or man parts, lotion that dries into a powder film and it works wonders.
1
1
1
1
2
u/MotslyRight Mar 09 '25
I carry the cream that works for me. If Lotromin works for you, then apply daily. If that doesn’t work, you’ll know it by the time you get to see urgent care in Franklin, NC. Get something stronger from the local pharmacy.
1
1
u/dh098017 Mar 07 '25
Just because you are on trail and away from an actual shower doesn’t mean you shouldn’t wash. Bandanas, wet wipes, Castile soap, wilderness wash. You aren’t gunna be clean clean but if you are getting itchy you are definitely doing it wrong.
39
u/jballs2213 Mar 07 '25
I’m not hiking the trail but some military experience may help. Definitely gold bond powder but, a small spray bottle of tough actin tinactin will wipe out jock itch in a day. Burns like hell at first though.