Thrush usually occurs in the female genital area, but may also occur in men. In fact, this yeast infection was first discovered on a man. In males, it is most commonly found in the groin and buttocks, but rashes may also occur on the legs. The disease was originally discovered by Bernhard von Langenbeck, who noticed fungi living in nature without problems, but on the skin, it can cause an inflammatory reaction.
Yeast infection can live in both the mouth and genital areas. Many men suffer from it unknowingly because it does not necessarily cause any symptoms. Women, in turn, notice the yeast infection in most cases, because vaginal infection signals that something is wrong.
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How does thrush appear on men?
Fungal infections occur if the balance between good and bad bacteria is missing. The ringworm is usually easy to identify from the spreading, red and itchy circles on the skin. They have a rough surface. The caps can grow from a few inches to a few centimeters in diameter. The skin in the middle of the ring usually looks normal, but the external skin is often itchy.
The most common fungal infection occurs in the legs, hands, joints, stomach and back. Occurrence often depends on the presence of yeast in places that are hot and humid. This helps the ringworm to spread and when it spreads it irritates those areas of the body.
In addition, thrush can cause potential health effects for men. Because of the fungal infection in the woman’s genital area, the male urethra may be exposed to infection. In some cases, yeast can reach the urethra of the man and proceed to the area of the prostate, bladder and even the kidneys. However, this is rare.
Areas where fungal infections occur:
- mouth
- nails
- armpits
- between toes
- foreskin
- folds of the skin
Fungal infection, such as yeast infection, is more common in men who are not circumcised or have medical problems. It is believed that yeast infection is about one-fifth of men. This is because yeast causes problems only when it grows uncontrollably. Read more about fungal infections.
Fungal infections can be caused by a number of factors:
- Use of chemicals such as perfumed soap or shower gel
- Extensive genital washing
- Bad hygiene
- Long-term use of dirty underwear
- Intercourse with a woman carrying a fungal infection in the genital area
- Long-term antibiotic treatment
- Weak immune system
- Medicines that inhibit the body’s natural defense
- Diabetes
Symptoms
In men, fungal infections usually occur between the penis and the foreskin. One or both of these areas may become inflamed, swollen, or painful. In addition to these symptoms, you may experience itching or small white spots around the tip of the penis.
- Thick and smelly discharge around the foreskin
- Pain when moving the foreskin
- Itching genitals
- Redness
- Pain when urinating and during intercourse
Treatment
For most men, fungal infections are rather mild and no treatment is required. In some cases, the infection may disappear by itself and sometimes the creams can help to eliminate it. In more aggressive cases, you can try to treat the groin with antifungal cream.
Changes in lifestyle, such as reducing sugar intake, can prevent the return of the thrush. In addition, hygiene plays an important role in the prevention of yeast infections. Candidiasis lives most commonly in hot and humid conditions, so it is important to keep such areas as dry and clean as possible.
Men should keep their penis’ clean by washing them with warm water and drying the penis as thoroughly as possible. In addition, the use of cotton underwear is recommended.