Balanitis Treatment Online — $59 telehealth, Australia-wide

$59 telehealth consultation · prescription based on cause · Australia-wide

Balanitis treatment by phone with a Specialist GP — fully private, no referral needed. Balanitis (inflammation of the head of the penis) has several possible causes — most commonly candida (thrush), bacterial overgrowth, irritant contact dermatitis, or — less commonly — an STI. We'll discuss your symptoms, ask you to describe (or upload) what you're seeing, and prescribe the right treatment for the most likely cause. If a physical exam or swab becomes necessary, we'll arrange in-person follow-up.

$59 telehealth · Australia-wide · doctor calls you

Same-day or next-day appointments

Specialist GP · sexual health focus · fully private

Antifungal, steroid or antibiotic cream — based on cause

Script sent by SMS to any pharmacy in Australia

In-person follow-up available if swab needed

What happens at your appointment

Book a $59 telehealth appointment online — same or next day
Specialist GP calls you privately — discusses symptoms, history, what it looks like
If a clear cause is identifiable, appropriate cream prescribed (antifungal, steroid, or antibiotic)
Script sent by SMS to any pharmacy in Australia · usually $10–25 over the counter
Follow up if symptoms don't improve in 5–7 days · in-person review or STI testing if indicated

Common causes of balanitis: candida (thrush) most common, especially in uncircumcised men · irritant contact dermatitis from soaps, condoms, lubricants · bacterial overgrowth · less commonly STI (chlamydia, gonorrhoea, herpes) · recurrent balanitis warrants STI testing and consideration of underlying conditions like diabetes

Book telehealth · $59 → In-person Melbourne · $149 →

Founded by Dr Ed Skinner

Specialist GP · 10+ years sexual health · University of Melbourne

Our story →

Common questions before you book 4 quick answers ▼

What causes balanitis?

Multiple causes: candida (most common — especially in uncircumcised men or with diabetes), contact dermatitis (soap, lubricant reactions), bacterial infection, or STIs. A proper exam identifies which, so the right treatment is prescribed first time.

Why see a doctor instead of buying antifungal cream?

Antifungal cream only works if the cause is candida. If your balanitis is bacterial or due to dermatitis, antifungal cream wont help and may delay proper treatment. Roughly 30% of balanitis cases are non-candidal.

Will I need a circumcision?

No — balanitis is treated medically, not surgically. Recurrent balanitis may occasionally prompt consideration of circumcision in adults, but that is a last-resort discussion after standard treatment has been exhausted.

Can I be seen by telehealth instead?

Balanitis genuinely benefits from a proper exam to identify the cause. If you prefer telehealth initially, the $59 telehealth consult can start treatment for presumed candida and refer you in-person if it doesnt resolve.

East Melbourne clinic. Book online for same/next-day slots.

Balanitis treatment online — everything you need to know

Balanitis Treatment Online — telehealth consultation with a Specialist GP, $59, available Australia-wide. In-person follow-up at our East Melbourne clinic from $149 if a swab or physical exam is needed.

What is balanitis? Balanitis is inflammation of the head of the penis (the glans). When the foreskin is also affected it's called balanoposthitis. Symptoms include redness, soreness, itching, a discharge, sometimes a foul smell, and pain on urination or during sex. It's common — particularly in uncircumcised men — and most cases respond quickly to the right cream.

What causes it? Most balanitis falls into one of four buckets. Candida (thrush) is the most common cause — typically presents with white plaques, intense itching, sometimes after antibiotics or with poorly-controlled diabetes. Irritant contact dermatitis — soaps, perfumed body washes, condoms, lubricants. Bacterial overgrowth — moist conditions under a tight foreskin allow bacteria to multiply. STIs are a less common cause but worth ruling out, particularly if there's a new partner or recurrent symptoms — chlamydia, gonorrhoea, herpes, and trichomoniasis can all present with balanitis-like symptoms.

How telehealth treatment works. Your Specialist GP calls you privately. We discuss your symptoms — what it looks like, when it started, what's making it worse, recent sexual exposure, antibiotic use, and any underlying conditions like diabetes. From this we can identify the most likely cause in the majority of cases. You can also send a discreet photo via secure message before the consult if you'd like — many patients find this helpful but it's optional.

Treatment is matched to cause. Candida — clotrimazole 1% cream applied twice daily for 7–14 days, often combined with hydrocortisone if there's significant inflammation. Bacterial — fusidic acid or mupirocin cream, occasionally an oral antibiotic for severe cases. Irritant dermatitis — gentle cleansing, avoid the trigger, mild steroid cream short-term. The script is sent by SMS to any pharmacy in Australia. Costs are typically $10–25 over the counter.

When in-person review or testing is needed. If symptoms don't clear in 5–7 days of treatment, if there's an unusual presentation suggestive of lichen sclerosus or premalignant change, if it's the third or more episode in a year, or if there's any chance of an STI — we recommend either an in-person exam at our East Melbourne clinic ($149) or an STI screen via our $39 online test. Recurrent balanitis also warrants checking blood glucose to rule out undiagnosed diabetes.

Completely confidential. Your consultation, prescription, and any follow-up are private. We don't notify your regular GP, employer, or anyone else.

Author: Dr Ed Skinner

MBBS, FRACGP · Specialist GP · AHPRA · MED0001674680

Last reviewed: April 2026

Frequently asked questions

$59 for a telehealth consultation with a Specialist GP. The prescribed cream (clotrimazole, hydrocortisone, or fusidic acid depending on cause) typically costs $10–25 over the counter at any pharmacy. No additional consultation fee unless follow-up is needed.

Most balanitis improves significantly within 3–5 days of starting the right cream and clears completely within 7–14 days. If you're not seeing meaningful improvement after 5–7 days, follow up with us — it may indicate the wrong cause was treated, or that an STI test or in-person exam is needed.

In most cases yes. Your GP can identify the most likely cause from a careful history of your symptoms — onset, appearance, what makes it worse, sexual history, antibiotic use, diabetes status. You can optionally send a discreet photo before the consult. If your description suggests something needing a physical exam (lichen sclerosus, suspected malignancy, recurrent failures), we'll arrange that.

Candida (thrush) is the most common cause, especially in uncircumcised men. It typically presents with white plaques, intense itching, soreness, and may follow antibiotic use or be associated with poorly-controlled diabetes. Treatment is topical clotrimazole 1% cream — usually highly effective.

Less commonly, yes. Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, herpes, and trichomoniasis can all cause balanitis-like symptoms. We'll ask about recent sexual exposure during your consult. If there's any concern, we'll recommend an STI screen via our $39 online STI test or arrange testing alongside treatment.

Recurrent balanitis (3+ episodes a year) is worth investigating. We check for undiagnosed diabetes (a common contributor), recommend an STI screen, look for irritants in your hygiene routine, and consider whether the foreskin anatomy is contributing (recurrent balanitis is sometimes an indication for circumcision). In-person review is usually appropriate if it's recurrent.

It's best to abstain until symptoms have cleared — both for comfort and to avoid passing on a candidal infection to your partner. Once you're symptom-free, normal sexual activity can resume. If an STI is suspected or confirmed, both partners should be tested and treated before resuming sex.

Daily gentle cleaning under the foreskin with warm water (no soap on the glans), thoroughly dry afterwards, avoid perfumed products, change soggy underwear promptly, manage blood sugar if diabetic, and ensure both you and any partner are STI-free. Tight foreskin (phimosis) increases risk — that's treatable.

Most causes (candida, irritant dermatitis, bacterial overgrowth) are not contagious in a typical sense, although candida can pass between sexual partners and may need both partners treated. STI-related balanitis is contagious — these need partner notification and treatment. We'll discuss this during your consultation if relevant.

No. Telehealth consults at Clinic365 don't require a referral. Your consultation and prescription stay between you and the Specialist GP — we don't notify your regular GP unless you specifically ask us to.