Advice for your customers
Helping your customer to understand their medicines
For a customer to successfully treat thrush they must use the product you are recommending correctly. So it is important that you provide the customers with all relevant information. This extra information could include:
It is an antifungal treatment that works by preventing the fungal infection from growing and thus treats the infection.
Antifungals come in different formats. Make clear the difference between internal and external options. Emphasise the importance of using both, an internal and external product or a combination product.
The customer needs to know the different benefits of different formats so that they can choose a treatment that matches their lifestyle and successfully treat the thrush infection. For example, an oral capsule would be a convenient treatment for a busy lady who wants to start her treatment immediately regardless of her whereabouts. Or a pessary may be more suitable for women who want a treatment to start working during the night and to use an external cream during the day.
This information can be passed on to the customer by showing the product packaging and patient information leaflet to emphasise the important points.
Throughout your communication with the customer, you've shown that you understand what they're going through. That goes a long way to making thrush sufferers feel understood and less embarrassed - and more likely to come back to your pharmacy.
Self help tips for customers
- Wear loose clothing and cotton underwear - avoid synthetic underwear and nylon tights
- Shower, wash or bathe immediately after exercising and cool off as quickly as possible
- Use non-fragranced soaps and shower gels. You could recommend the customer uses products from the Care by Canesten range
- Avoid friction in the vaginal area as this can cause candida to thrive. This can happen in situations such as:
- Scrubbing the genital area hard with sponges or flannels
- Trauma of sexual intercourse, often due to vaginal dryness. Suggest the customer uses a lubricant
- Inserting a tampon
- Try to avoid stressful situations - stress can cause a thrush attack.
