Unfortunately, there are now resistant strains of yeast that no longer respond well to either therapy.” “Comparing the vaginal therapies to the oral ones, both work fairly well. “The most popular varied treatments include vaginal creams and suppositories and oral tablets,” says Dr. If you’re experiencing extreme itch or burning, a cream might sound immediately soothing. If you’ve never had a yeast infection before or don’t have any experience taking these medications, something like an insert may be intimidating. There are so many different options of yeast infection treatments, including inserts, creams, and oral pills. Here’s where yeast infection medications can get confusing. When that happens, it’s time to switch to an alternative therapy-whether from the OTC to the oral medication, or the other way,” she says. Also, OTC therapies will not work well if the yeast is a resistant strain to the medication.

“Naturally, OTC therapies will not work when the diagnosis is incorrect. However, Felice Gersh, MD, OB-GYN, founder of the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine, in California, and author of PCOS SOS Fertility Fast Track, notes that if you don’t see immediate relief (within one to three days), you should contact a doctor immediately. “Most people tolerate the oral treatment much better, and it has the added benefit of being much cheaper than over-the-counter.” “The vaginal treatment can be for one, three, or seven days depending on the severity of your symptoms,” says Dr. Frank notes that you can use dosages depending on the severity of your symptoms. Benzocaine, resorcinol, and hydrocortisone are ingredients that soothe the symptoms.ĭosage instructions are usually printed clearly on product boxes or packaging. Gersh notes, “Medications that only address the symptoms of burning and itching include the ingredients benzocaine (a numbing agent), resorcinol, and sometimes hydrocortisone (a mild steroid).” She adds, “There is an OTC local anesthetic cream containing benzocaine 5% and resorcinol 2%,” so if you’re looking for something to numb symptoms fast, look for a combination of those two ingredients.Īdditionally, “mineral oil is an ingredient that may help as a soothing ingredient,” notes Dr. “Those usually end in -azole, such as fluconazole (for oral treatments) or miconazole (for topical treatments).” She adds that prescription topical medications may also have steroids to help ease inflammation and related discomfort.ĭr. “Effective treatment for a yeast infection is typically a type of antifungal,” says Dr. There are a variety of active ingredients found ineffective yeast infection treatments. What to Look for in Yeast Infection Treatments Active Ingredients A board-certified physician from our Medical Expert Board reviewed this article to ensure accuracy of ingredients, proper dosage, and effective forms of treatment. Each of the over-the-counter yeast infection medicines chosen in this article was determined to be the best of these factors. We researched dozens of over-the-counter yeast infection medicines and evaluated them for price, ingredients, uses, and symptoms targeted. However, if the infection spreads to a larger area or you’re one of the few people who experiences them frequently, a doctor’s visit and oral prescription medication may be necessary. Yeast infection medications include antifungal cream. Because yeast infections can cause itching burning, and redness, it's important to have over-the-counter yeast infection medicines on hand.

“People become symptomatic when an overgrowth of the organism, typically Candida, penetrates the superficial layers of the skin,' says Barbara Frank, MD, an OB-GYN in Brookline, Massachusetts, and medical adviser to Attn: Grace. Three out of four people with vaginas will experience yeast infections at some point in their lifetime.

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