Yeast infections are common among adults these days. In women, they generally occur near their genitals, whereas in men, they tend to appear on the head of the penis. Be that as it may, apart from genital yeast infections, men also suffer from yeast infections that occur in their mouth, near the throats, and on the skin. One of the common types is called thrush in men, which is generally caused by Candida Albicans. This is also the reason why thrush in men is called Candidiasis.

So, let’s understand what is thrush in men, its symptoms, and how one can treat it.

What Is Thrush In Men?

As mentioned earlier, thrush in men is generally caused by the fungus called Candida albicans. Candida Albicans, more often than not, grow as an habitant in your body whenever it can find a warm and moist environment. It grows even faster than the body’s immune system could detect it. 

This situation leads to the rapid growth of the yeast and consequently, leading to some major complications before it can be discovered. However, there is a commonly believed misconception that thrush is a sexually transmitted infection; it is not. It can come into contact when a man indulges in sexual intercourse with a woman, but it is not primarily a sexually transmitted infection.

Thrush in men is generally found in the following places:

• Due to their recurring presence in the mouth, throat, and esophagus, such infections are also called oral thrush.
• Also prevalent on the folds in the skin, armpits, and between the fingers.
• Targets the head of the penis and below the foreskin.

How To Identify Thrush In Men?

To identify thrush in men, you need to keep in mind the following symptoms and get medical attention accordingly:

• If you are experiencing a thrush on the head of the penis, you will suffer from redness, itching, and burning on the tip and also under the foreskin.
• You will also see some white discharge, which is thick, white, and lumpy from the infected region, which will be accompanied by an unpleasant odor.
• You will also experience some pain and discomfort while having coitus with your partner.
• You will feel pain while having sex and while urinating.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is best to consult a doctor as soon as you can. If these symptoms go unchecked, they can lead to balanitis, which is the inflammation of the tip of your penis.

What Are The Causes Of Thrush?

More often than not, thrush in men is caused and even aggravated by the following factors:

1. Following a poor diet and having a poor hygienic lifestyle
2. Generally, a poor diet can make you obese. If you are obese, your body has several folds in the skin, which can provide a perfect environment for yeast to develop.
3. If you are suffering from type 1 and type 2 diabetes, you are also opening gates to the yeast infection on your skin, as they commonly thrive on high levels of blood sugar.
4. Sometimes, due to severe infections such as HIV, cancer and even acquiring medications for the same can weaken your immune system drastically. If you have been infected with any of them or acquired the medications for the same, there is a high probability that you might be infected from a thrush.
5. If you have been using a plethora of antibiotics that can affect the healthy bacteria in your body, you are also susceptible to be infected with thrush.
6. Exposure to foam, soaps, shower gels, lubricants that contain harmful chemicals makes the skin of your penis prone to thrush.
7. Avoiding or forgetting to dry your skin after washing is one of the perfect conditions for the fungus to thrive upon.

How to recover from a Thrush?

One of the simplest and easiest ways to treat thrush is to apply antifungal cream or consuming Over-The-Counter (OTC) medications for the same. You can apply the anti-fungal cream at least twice a day.

Certain examples of antifungal creams include clotrimazole and miconazole, which are extremely useful for treating male yeast infections. These medications are also used to treat athlete’s foot and other female yeast infections. Pills include fluconazole which could be prescribed by your doctor only when you are suffering from a severe yeast infection.

How to Prevent Being Reinfected from Thrush?

Once you are infected by a yeast infection, there are chances that you might also be infected with another one in the future. Therefore, follow the below-mentioned instructions to avoid being infected for the second time:

1. If you have recently recovered from an infection, it is best to avoid sex as it can lead to redness or itchiness in the region. Even if you do, wear a condom and then have coitus.
2. Remember that you pull back the foreskin of your penis and also wash the tip of it every day. Do not forget to thoroughly dry it.
3. Avoid using any kind of product such as talcum powder or soaps which contain harmful chemicals and can cause harm.
4. It is always best to wear loose undergarments as in doing so, you do not create a warm or moist environment for the infection to occur. Refrain from wearing any tight-fitting jeans or nylon shorts.

Apart from these, it is also necessary for you to maintain a healthy lifestyle involving good hygiene. These include:

• Make sure that you wash your penis with lukewarm water and carefully dry it thereafter.
• Also, make sure that you take good care of your foreskin as poor hygiene in that area can cause a build-up of smegma. Smegma is a white cheesy substance that can cause irritation and discomfort.

Thrush in men is extremely common which can be taken care of with the necessary medications and creams. However, if the symptoms are aggravated due to some comorbidities such as diabetes, cancer, or HIV, immediate medical attention is necessary here.

Also Read: Thrush: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment