Hi everyone,
The first thing I would like to say is that I am not a medical expert. I have not had any medical
training or experience. I do feel qualified however to talk about my own experiences with Male
Systemic Candida (MSC) as I have suffered with a genital skin condition caused by this fungal
overgrowth for 2 years now.
I have spent many hours searching the internet for information about my condition and it appears
that what I am suffering from is very rare in males and hardly documented. Sometimes I feel like I
am the only guy in the world with this frustrating condition. I have decided to post about my
experience and communicate with any other males who are suffering from similar symptoms.
Symptoms
I have been battling a skin condition on the foreskin of my uncircumcised penis for 2 years. The
prepuce (inner foreskin) is constantly inflamed (red). It is not sore or itchy, just red and
occasionally dry and scaly.
History
Over the past 2 years I have visited numerous general medical practitioners and been prescribed
countless topical creams including Canestan, Betnovate and Resolve. Needless to say, none of these
creams have improved my condition.
I was (and still am) very depressed with my condition as it does affect my moods. I have not dated
any females (as much as I would like to) because I
embarrassing. Its not the kind of thing you want to bring up in conversation with a
prospective partner.
I visited a Dermatologist who then referred me to a Urologist. On my first visit he prescribed
Betnovate. This ointment seemed to reduce my inflammation, but it did not rid me of the condition.
I researched Candida and pro-actively put myself on a Candida yeast free diet. This would have to
be one of the hardest diets to stick with, and even harder when the symptoms remain persistent. To
this day I am still eating copious amounts of yoghurts which contain live bacteria and avoiding all
yeast products.
I returned to my Urologist after using Betnovate for 3 months in desperation. Initially, he
suggested a circumcision, but because we had not officially diagnosed my condition, he could not
guarantee my symptoms would not return. I was instantly depressed at the thought of going through a
circumcision only to have my condition remain at large.
So we decided to get a prepuce biopsy done. I checked in at my local hospital and had a small
portion of my foreskin removed. A week later I was finally able to get my results. The tests
concluded that I was suffering from chronic inflammation of the prepuce caused by a fungal infection
and identified Candida as the culprit.
At first I felt relief that it wasn't something more sinister, such as sclerosis or balanitis. And
it wasn't malignant, phew. But I was (and still remain) incredibly frustrated because all my
attempts in the past to rid my body of this fungal overgrowth have not been successful. Candida is
damn hard to get back in check!!
My Urologist prescribed me with a 10 day supply of Nizoral tablets. I am half way though the course
and I am yet to see any improvement in my condition. I continue to stick to a mild Candida diet and
take many multi vitamin pills along with garlic tablets and dietary supplement pills that contain
'good bacteria' such as Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Bifidobacterium Lactis Organisms. All that
mixed with positive thinking and prayer is all I've got working for me at the moment.
I would be very interested to hear from any other males who may have experienced similar symptoms
and what methods they may have used to heal themselves from this depressing and rare condition.
In confidence and with respect, MSC.