Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsOther ConditionsDiganosisWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderTreatmentFAQ
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Other Conditions
Diganosis
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Treatment
FAQ
Male yeast infectioncan cause skin peeling, as can other conditions.
Althoughyeast infectionsare far more common in women, men can also get yeast infections. The funguscandidiasiscauses yeast infections, and it’s one of the most common types of fungal infections.
Yeast infections can develop anywhere on the skin, but the fungus prefers areas where moisture can accumulate. Common places for yeast infections include the genital area, skin folds, the belly button, the mouth, and the throat.
This article discusses male yeast infection and skin peeling in detail.
Verywell / Laura Porter
Symptoms of a Male Yeast Infection
The first sign of a male yeast infection is anitchy rash on the penis. The rash sometimes appears as white and shiny patches.
The skin may feel more moist than usual. In addition, a thick, white, cottage cheese–like substance may appear between folds of skin, like at the foreskin or testicles.
You may also notice redness, itching, and pain around the penis and testicles.
The way to get rid of a male yeast infection quickly is to catch it early. Typically, most penile yeast infections clear up in a couple of weeks using over-the-counter (OTC) fungal medication.
Why Does the Skin Sometimes Peel?The infection can cause the patches to flake, crust, and become irritated. The inflammation and discharge make the skin more vulnerable to becoming irritated and breaking down. This makes it more likely for the skin to peel from a male yeast infection.
Why Does the Skin Sometimes Peel?
The infection can cause the patches to flake, crust, and become irritated. The inflammation and discharge make the skin more vulnerable to becoming irritated and breaking down. This makes it more likely for the skin to peel from a male yeast infection.
Belly Button Yeast Infection: What to Know
Other Conditions That Can Cause Skin Peeling
Yeast infections aren’t the only cause of skin peeling on the penis or the area around it. Other conditions that may cause skin peeling include:
Eczema
Eczema—also called atopic dermatitis—is a chronic skin condition causing itchy, red, dry, cracked, and peeling skin. People with eczema often have dry, itchy skin and are more likely to develop skin infections.
Since people with eczema have a more reactive immune response, their skin tends to be more sensitive to products like soap or laundry detergent.
Chafing
Mild chafing leads to symptoms on affected areas, such as:
Severe chafing may cause the skin to be hot to the touch, blister, bleed, and peel.
Allergies
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
Psoriasis
Psoriasisis an inflammatory skin condition in which cells are created quickly and build up on the skin. Psoriasis looks like dry, raised skin patches (plaques) covered with gray or silver scales. It often affects the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back. Still, patches can appear on any area of the body, including the penis.
Symptoms of psoriasis include:
Balanitis
Balanitisis an infection or inflammation of the skin on the head of the penis that mostly occurs in uncircumcised men.
Symptoms of balanitis can include:
Herpes
Symptoms of genital herpes include:
Syphilis
The first symptom of syphilis typically is a painless sore on the affected area. Other symptoms include:
The rash and sore are typically not itchy or painful.
Diagnosing Skin Conditions
Your primary care provider or urologist can diagnose most skin conditions affecting the penis. To diagnose your skin condition, a healthcare provider may:
The diagnosis will help your healthcare provider create a treatment plan for your condition.
A rash and peeling skin on the penis may be a sign of only a mild condition, or there could be a more serious reason. Visiting a healthcare provider will help determine what is causing the rash and peeling skin.
Contact your healthcare provider if you notice the following symptoms:
Treatment will depend on the cause of your infection. Yeast infections can easily be treated with over-the-counter (OTC) antifungal medications. If it’s your first yeast infection, visit your healthcare provider for a diagnosis since the symptoms of a yeast infection can mock other conditions.
Antifungal medications are available as creams, ointments, tablets, and suppositories. The oral tablets require a prescription. Creams and ointments are available over the counter to treat male yeast infections. Common types include Monistat (miconazole) and Terazol (terconazole).
Viruses like herpes can’t be cured. Still, the number and severity of symptoms can be reduced with antiviral medications.
Avoiding irritating products can prevent reactions from allergies and reduce the number of psoriasis symptoms.
Summary
Yeast infections can develop in men and can affect the penis and the area around it. Symptoms include an itchy rash that may be red, white, and/or shiny, sometimes with increased moistness or a cottage cheese-like substance.
Other conditions that could cause penis skin peeling include psoriasis,eczema, chafing, and bacterial infections. Many of these have similar symptoms, so it’s best to visit a healthcare provider instead of trying to self-diagnose. Whatever the cause of your symptoms, there are treatments to help manage them.
Frequently Asked Questions
OTC and prescription antifungal medications are available to treat male yeast infections fast. Common topical treatments include Monistat (miconazole), Nizoral (ketoconazole), and Lotrimin AF (clotrimazole). Diflucan (fluconazole) is available as an oral pill that requires a prescription from your healthcare provider.
Psoriasis usually looks like red or pink plaques of thick, scaly, raised skin. The plaques can be small or cover a larger area. Sometimes psoriasis appears as small, flat bumps. It often affects the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back, although it can appear anywhere on the body—including the penis.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Yeast infections.MedlinePlus.Eczema.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergy symptoms.MedlinePlus.Psoriasis.Harvard Medical School.Balanitis.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Balanitis.Groves MJ.Genital herpes: a review.Am Fam Physician. 2016 Jun 1;93(11):928-34.Arando Lasagabaster M, Otero Guerra L.Syphilis.Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin(Engl Ed). 2019;37(6):398-404. doi:10.1016/j.eimc.2018.12.009
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Yeast infections.MedlinePlus.Eczema.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergy symptoms.MedlinePlus.Psoriasis.Harvard Medical School.Balanitis.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Balanitis.Groves MJ.Genital herpes: a review.Am Fam Physician. 2016 Jun 1;93(11):928-34.Arando Lasagabaster M, Otero Guerra L.Syphilis.Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin(Engl Ed). 2019;37(6):398-404. doi:10.1016/j.eimc.2018.12.009
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Yeast infections.MedlinePlus.Eczema.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergy symptoms.MedlinePlus.Psoriasis.Harvard Medical School.Balanitis.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Balanitis.Groves MJ.Genital herpes: a review.Am Fam Physician. 2016 Jun 1;93(11):928-34.Arando Lasagabaster M, Otero Guerra L.Syphilis.Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin(Engl Ed). 2019;37(6):398-404. doi:10.1016/j.eimc.2018.12.009
MedlinePlus.Yeast infections.
MedlinePlus.Eczema.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergy symptoms.
MedlinePlus.Psoriasis.
Harvard Medical School.Balanitis.
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Balanitis.
Groves MJ.Genital herpes: a review.Am Fam Physician. 2016 Jun 1;93(11):928-34.
Arando Lasagabaster M, Otero Guerra L.Syphilis.Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin(Engl Ed). 2019;37(6):398-404. doi:10.1016/j.eimc.2018.12.009
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