Canesten External Thrush Cream

Canesten External Thrush Cream contains clotrimazole 2%, an antifungal medicine. It eases the itching, burning and soreness of thrush on the skin around the vagina or on the penis. It's for use on the outside only.

How does Canesten External Cream work?

Thrush is caused by a yeast called candida, which normally lives on the skin without causing problems. Clotrimazole stops the yeast growing, so the infection clears and the skin can settle.

Who can get thrush?

Thrush is a yeast infection that anyone can get. In men it's more likely after antibiotics, with diabetes, or if the skin under the foreskin stays warm and damp. It can be passed on during sex, but it isn't classed as a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

When to use it

Use the cream if you've had thrush before and recognise the symptoms: itching, soreness, redness or a burning feeling around the vagina, or on the head of the penis. Men often use it on its own. Many women use it alongside a fluconazole capsule, which treats thrush inside the vagina while the cream soothes the skin outside.

Our pages on thrush treatment for men and thrush treatment for women explain the options in more detail.

How to use Canesten External Cream

• Wash and dry the area gently first.
• Apply a thin layer to the affected skin 2 or 3 times a day and rub it in gently. A strip of about half a centimetre is enough to cover an area the size of your hand.
• Keep using it until your symptoms have gone. If they haven't improved after 7 days, speak to a GP or pharmacist.
• The cream can damage latex condoms and diaphragms, so they may not protect you properly while you use it and for at least 5 days afterwards.

Always read the leaflet that comes with the cream.

Side effects

Some people get mild burning, stinging or redness where they apply it. Rarely, people are allergic to the cream: stop using it and get help straight away if you get swelling of the face, lips or tongue, or difficulty breathing or swallowing.

Who should speak to a GP or pharmacist first?

Speak to a GP or pharmacist before using the cream if:

• it's your first time with these symptoms;
• you're under 16 or over 60;
• you're pregnant or breastfeeding;
• you've had thrush more than twice in 6 months;
• you might have an STI, or a new partner may have one;
• you have unusual discharge, sores, blisters, bleeding or pain in your lower tummy.

Don't use it if you're allergic to clotrimazole or any of the other ingredients. If there's any chance of an STI, getting tested is the safest first step. Our sexual health page explains the options.

How to order

Answer a few short questions about your symptoms and health. Our UK pharmacy team checks the cream is right for you, then we send it in plain, discreet packaging.

Canesten External Thrush Cream FAQs

Can men use Canesten thrush cream?

Yes. Men can use the external cream on the head of the penis and under the foreskin. If it's the first time you've had these symptoms, or there's any chance of a sexually transmitted infection, see a GP or sexual health clinic first.

Should I use the cream or a tablet?

The cream eases itching and soreness on the skin outside. A fluconazole capsule treats the infection from the inside. Many women with thrush inside the vagina use both together. Men with mild symptoms often find the cream is enough on its own.

How quickly does it work?

The itching often starts to ease within a few days. Keep using the cream until your symptoms have gone. If they haven't improved after 7 days, speak to a GP or pharmacist.

Can I use it during my period?

Yes. The external cream goes on the skin around the vagina, not inside it, so you can keep using it during your period. Thrush treatments that go inside the vagina, such as pessaries, are different and should wait until your period has finished.

Sources:

• NHS: Thrush in men and women
• NHS: Clotrimazole