Yeast Infection Cream

Yeast infection is caused by a fungus or yeast called Candida albicans that can be found in both men and women. Candida albicans generally reside under the folds of the skin, hence the most common location for a candida outbreak in women is the vaginal area while in men it normally thrives on and around the penis shaft and head. The infection is more prone to occur in women who are pregnant, obese, diabetic or suffering some other health disorders, leading to a white to yellow cottage cheese-like discharge from the vagina. Men having a weak immune system or an unhealthy lifestyle are more vulnerable to yeast infection, resulting in sores or inflammation at the tip or head of the penis.

Apart from these, the infection may cause itchiness and burning sensation in the infected area which may also be accompanied by the emergence of white patches. A person suffering from yeast infection may also experience pain or discomfort while having a sexual intercourse or while urinating. Since there are many over-the-counter antifungal medications for treatment, one can surely get confused which is the best and most effective. However, one of the most effective as well as safest medications for treating yeast infection is the yeast infection cream. So let us try to learn more about it with the information given below.

Antifungal Creams for Yeast Infection

There are different types of antifungal creams available in the market and picking one that suits you the most can be an intimidating task. An important parameter to be kept in mind while purchasing is to check whether it is a brand name cream or a generic name cream. Though both are nearly same, they just vary in their price, i.e. brand name cream is more expensive than the generic name cream. Moreover when you compare their ingredients, you will find that they are almost the same. Hence, if you want to save money, purchase a generic cream, which have names that end in 'ole'. For example, miconazole and clotrimzaole are two commonly used generic creams. Since yeast infection medications are same for both men and women, below are some over-the-counter topical, antifungal creams for both men and women.

Miconazole Vaginal Cream
Miconazole or Monistat is an antifungal vaginal cream, used to treat yeast infection in women. The cream provides relief from the two most common vaginal yeast infection symptoms, itchiness and burning sensation. Femizol-M Vaginal Cream, Monistat 3 Vaginal Cream, Monistat 7 Vaginal Cream, and Monistat Vaginal Cream are some of the brand names for this generic yeast infection cream. Avoid using miconazole cream and its other related products with any blood thinning drugs, like Warfarin as it may lead to diluting of blood and subsequently result in bruising and bleeding.

Butoconazole Vaginal Cream
Butoconazole antifungal cream is the generic name for some brands including Femstat, Gynazole 1, Myselex 3. Its antifungal properties relieve the symptoms of yeast infections, and provide instant relief.

Clotrimzaole Anti Fungal Cream
Clotrimzaole antifungal cream is the generic name for brands like Gyne-Lotrimin, Bynix, Mycelex-7, Myselex-G and Trivagizole. Its antifungal agents treat the symptoms of yeast infection and keep them from reoccurring.

However, like two sides of the coin, these creams also have some side effects associated with them. One of the most important side effects is that along with the 'bad' bacteria it kills off the 'good' bacteria required to maintain 'bacteria balance' in the body. Also some creams when applied to the infected area can cause severe burning and irritation in that area, which is so intense that one has to wash away the cream right away for instant relief. Hence, be careful while purchasing and applying the cream.

Apart from using these creams, wearing lose and cotton inner wears, avoiding synthetic fiber clothing, keeping the genital area clean and dried are some effective ways to cure as well as prevent yeast infections from occurring in future. However, even after trying these treatment methods, if there is no change in the condition or the infection still persists, it is recommended to consult a doctor to elucidate the case.