General Information About Penile Yeast Infection
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It occurs when candida (yeast) fungi, normally present in small amounts on the skin, find a dark, moist, and airless environment, infecting the head of the penis (glans) and the overlying foreskin.
Diabetic patients have high amounts of sugar in their urine. Drops of sweet (sugary) urine remaining on the glans penis provide an excellent nutrient source for fungi, causing their overgrowth.
For men, it arises more from a disruption of their own flora rather than being a sexually transmitted disease. However, rarely, it can be transmitted to a man during sexual intercourse with a partner who has an active vaginal yeast infection.
Symptoms include a bright red appearance on the glans penis, severe itching, burning, a white cottage-cheese-like/lumpy discharge (smegma buildup), skin peeling, and pain during intercourse/urination.
It is diagnosed when a Urology doctor examines the patient and observes the characteristic white rash and redness. At the same time, a blood sugar measurement is strictly requested to determine if the patient has underlying diabetes.
The treatment is very simple and leaves no permanent damage. Keeping the head of the penis clean and dry is essential. Antifungal (fungus-killing) and mild cortisone creams prescribed by the physician are applied twice a day, clearing the infection within a few days.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
