This Unsexy Drugstore Product Is My Cure-All for Jock Itch

Years ago, I cashed in a Groupon deal for a low-cost back waxing and, boy, did I end up paying for it one day later—with the worst case of folliculitis (read: itchy, painful inflamed hair follicles) imaginable. It looked like chicken pox and was every bit as agonizing. I learned two things that day:

1. No more Groupons.
2. Hibiclens is an antimicrobial lifesaver, and not just for hair-removal woes.

What’s Hibiclens ? It’s what the dermatologist “prescribed” to me, but in reality it's an over-the-counter, medical-grade antiseptic cleanser that hospitals use as a skin disinfectant, with terrific impact in reducing infection rates.

The active drug in it is called chlorhexidine gluconate, which can also be found in other antiseptic products like mouthwashes and ointments. You can buy it as a standalone liquid, or in foam-building pumps. Personally, I recommend the pump for easy lathering .

I’ve been thrilled to see Hibiclens touted by many prominent dermatologists lately, suggesting it for a range of fungal and bacterial issues, like odor control, athlete's foot, and jock itch (those latter two involve a buildup of fungus). After calming and reversing my back-waxing irritation within a week, I have since used Hibiclens as a preventative measure (or corrective solution) for these other microbe matters.

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My main deployment: preventing jock itch, mainly after a day of sitting in my own sweaty filth, or after a long day of summer touristing under the sun. Hibiclens is great for flushing away grime around the thighs and underbutt, and I even use it as a handwash if I feel like I’m in dire need of a deep cleaning (e.g. after handling raw chicken).

The one place you can't use Hibiclens is your face. It’s likely gentle enough as a facial cleanser, but wasn’t formulated for that, nor do you want to risk getting it in your eyes, ears, etc. Many clinics will even warn against use near mucous membranes, so you don’t want to get it close to any orifices.

With jock itch, in particular, Hibiclens can be great for washing around your junk, while being especially diligent with the jewels. (Personally, I’ve had no issues with a quick once-over there, too, especially in the shower when it rinses quickly, but I am not a doctor! Proceed carefully, and ask a medical professional when in doubt.)

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But allow me to offer some real advice from experience when it comes to body odor in sensitive areas: You can use Hibiclens strategically every month as a way to temper unfortunate smells. Just ask board-certified dermatologist Heather Rogers of Modern Dermatology in Seattle, WA, and founder of Doctor Rogers Skincare : “Wash any area prone to smell with Hibiclens for the first five days of each month to control the stink,” she advises.

Again, you don’t want to use it as an everyday body wash for weeks on end; you want to give some peace to your skin’s natural microbiome as opposed to blanching it. I personally use Hibiclens on those days when I’m particularly concerned about sweat buildup and microbe proliferation, specifically for fungal control.

You won’t mistake Hibiclens in the pharmacy aisles. It glows rosy pink, so that doctors also don’t mistake it for anything else in the hospital. And for that same reason, you’ll want to rinse it off thoroughly in the shower, lest it transfers to your towels (if it does, don't bleach them; that red stain will turn brown).

This isn’t necessarily a product you showcase loud and proud in your shower (I do that, but then again, I’ve been coupled up for five years). But it is a product to keep ready at all times if you want to feel less itchy and scratchy in your nether regions—or to treat five-alarm folliculitis from a discounted back waxing.

Nothing sexy about irritated, fungus-infected, foul-smelling flared skin. You can rely on Hibiclens for those deep cleanings, and then if you wish, hide it deep in your medicine drawer.

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