It's getting worse...

He rejects hygiene criticism, insisting he washes daily and blaming his suspected penile yeast infection on unprotected sex with a partner. Yogurt stopped symptoms briefly; after severe itching and scratching, he bought Japanese athlete’s-foot antifungal cream for about $40 and applied it. The cream stung, then caused cooling and numbness; worried about erections, he plans washing it off before visiting his girlfriend that night.

A health scare prompts safer-sex intentions, but embarrassment still drives risky self-treatment.