Candidiasis

Herbal Treatment Of Candidiasis (Yeast Infection)
About Candidiasis

Candidiasis or Candida Albicans is a fungal infection caused by a fungus called yeast or Candida. Candida generally found in mouth intestinal tract, and vagina. Candida can cause infections if it grows out of control or if it enters deep into the body. Candidiasis can affect many parts of the body, causing localized infections or larger illness, depending on the person and his or her general health.

Dryness or skin damage is the main reason of candida infection disease in the vagina. Dryness or damaged skin gives ample opportunity to the fungus to intrude into the body. Otherwise, candida is an ordinarily present microbe in the intestinal, respiratory and vaginal layers. It causes disease only when the protection guards of the body are down.

Types Of Candidiasis

There are several different types of Candidiasis are as follows:

1. Thrush (Oropharyngeal Candidiasis): Thrush is the common type of mouth infection caused by yeast. It affects moist surfaces around the lips, inside the cheeks, and on the tongue and palate. Newborns baby and the elder people affected by this.
2. Esophagitis: Candida infections of the mouth can spread to the esophagus, causing esophagitis.
3. Cutaneous Candidiasis: Candida can cause skin infections, including diaper rash, in areas of skin that receive little ventilation and are unusually moist.
4. Vaginal yeast infections: Pregnant women or women with diabetes are especially prone to this common fungal infection. It usually first appears as a thick white or yellow vaginal discharge (leukorrhea) with itching and redness of the female genitalia (vagina and vulva).
5. Penis, infected by Candida: Infection of the tip of the penis (Glans Penis) with Candida bacteria is less common than Candidal Vaginitis. This infection may be seen in men whose sexual partners have Candidal Vulvovaginitis and in men with Diabetes Mellitus.

Causes Of Candidiasis

Candidiasis of the skin develops when the skin becomes infected with Candida. A small amount of Candida fungi naturally live on the skin. When this type of fungus begins to multiply uncontrollably, however, it can cause an infection. This may occur because of:

• Warm weather
• Tight clothing
• Obesity
• Infrequent undergarment changes
• Poor hygiene
• The use of corticosteroids or other medications that affect the immune system
• The use of antibiotics that kill harmless bacteria that keep Candida under control
• A weakened immune system as a result of diabetes, pregnancy, or another medical condition
• Incomplete drying of damp or wet skin

Symptoms Of Candidiasis

The main symptom of candidiasis of the skin is a rash. The rash often causes redness and intense itching. In some cases, the infection can cause the skin to become cracked and sore. Blisters and pustules may also occur.

The rash can affect various parts the body, but it’s most likely to develop in the folds of the skin. This includes areas in the armpits, in the groin, between the fingers, and under the breasts. Candida can also cause infections in the nails, edges of the nails, and corners of the mouth.

Other conditions that may resemble candidiasis of the skin include:

• Hives
• Ringworm
• Diabetes-related skin conditions
• Herpes
• Seborrheic dermatitis
• Contact dermatitis
• Eczema
• Psoriasis

Ayurvedic Outlook

Your doctor may also want to perform a skin culture before making a diagnosis of candidiasis of the skin. During a skin culture, your doctor will rub a cotton swab over the affected area and collect a skin sample.The sample will then be sent to a laboratory to be tested for the presence of Candida.