Lots of men are sole men – dudes with a particular “thing” for feet. As a matter of fact, some experts believe that a foot fetish is the most common fetish, especially among men. But does a foot fetish come with any potential penis health concerns? Actually, depending upon how the foot fetish is played out in practice, there could be an increased risk of jock itch among men with this proclivity.

The foot fetish

A 2006 research study found that fetishes that involve body parts (or objects associated with body parts, such as shoes) are the most common, and that feet and/or toes are the most popular body parts for sexual fetishizing. 

When most people think of a foot fetish, they tend to picture a man who worships the foot. He may touch, stroke, sniff, or kiss a foot which he finds attractive. As he does this, he becomes more and more aroused. Often he masturbates his penis while touching or kissing the foot in question, achieving a more intense orgasm as a result of the contact with the foot.

But there are other ways in which the foot fetish may be acted out. For example, sometimes the fetish focuses on the shoe which has contained the foot, and he may fondle or kiss the shoe as he masturbates. Or rather than masturbating himself as he kisses a foot, he may instead ask the owner of the foot to rub his erect penis with the foot, or may position himself to rub his penis against a stationary foot.

The jock itch concern

It’s in this latter type of scenario – one in which there is direct physical contact between the foot and the penis itself – that the potential concern about jock itch more likely arises.

To understand why, it’s necessary to know a little about jock itch. Also called tinea cruris, jock itch is a fungal infection that can affect the penis, scrotum, buttocks and crotch. It presents as a red rash and, as its nickname suggests, can be extremely itchy. 

As a fungal infection, jock itch thrives in hot, moist places – such as the crotch. And it’s very contagious (which is one reason a guy shouldn’t share underwear with another guy).

But here’s the thing: the fungus that causes jock itch is basically the same one that causes athlete’s foot. And so if a man is rubbing a foot all over his penis, or is rubbing his penis all over a foot, and that foot has a fungus – it may easily get spread to the penis and cause a case of jock itch. (There is also a similar risk if a man places a sock, stocking or shoe on his penis; if the wearer of that item has athlete’s foot, the fungus may have spread to the item and may then spread to the penis in question.)

Similarly, a man with jock itch can pass his fungus off to a partner’s foot by physical contact between the two.

Treatment

Men with a foot fetish should ideally ask the owner of any feet they fetishize if they have any foot conditions. Barring that, a man should inspect the foot for signs of a fungal infection, and avoid penile contact if signs are present.

But, though an annoyance, jock itch does respond we’ll to treatments. Keeping the area dry and free from irritation and using any number of jock itch treatments (most of which are over-the-counter) generally brings relief in a few days. A doctor may also be consulted.

Whether from a foot fetish or not, jock itch can dry the skin, so using a superior penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) is advised. Find a crème with both she abutter and vitamin E, two well-regarded moisturizers that can help treat dry penis skin. It also pays to find a crème that contains vitamin B5. Also called pantothenic acid, B5 provides a boost to cell metabolism and helps maintain healthy penile tissue.