Yeast infection or Candidiasis is a result to an abnormal or overgrowth of naturally occurring yeast organisms, in exposed and moist parts of the body. Body parts include vagina, penis foreskin, ear, oral cavity, armpit, nostrils, or in diaper area is termed as termed as yeast infection.

It important to learn what causes yeast infections so you can be alert with its symptom and prevention. Symptoms of yeast infection are itching, soreness, redness ad swelling of vulva; vaginal rashes and dryness; obnoxious yeasty odor and pain during sexual intercourse.

There are more than 20 species of Candida, a fungus. The most common of all is the Candida albicans which live on all surfaces of our bodies. This fungi, Candida albicans , when it multiplies rapidly becomes a yeast infection, or in medical term, candidiasis. But that not just it, there are number of things to consider to what causes yeast infections and we provided some of them below.

Immune system

Lowered immune system is one of the biggest causes of rapid bacterial growth. This happens when you do too much, and don’t get enough sleep, or you are always sick. Stress can also be a reason for a reoccurring yeast infection.

Antibiotics

Prolonged usage of antibiotics, especially with certain types, will cause yeast infection. For American women, it is probably one of the leading causes of chronic yeast infection. Some women happen to get a yeast infection no matter what type of antibiotics, and how long they are using it. There are number of treatments to take once a yeast infection starts, but unfortunately, there is no way of preventing an antibiotic=induced yeast infection.

Hormones

One very common causes of vaginal yeast infection is the women’s body’s hormonal changes at the end of every menstruation cycle. Birth control and pregnancy are also two factors that could cause a yeast infection.

Sex

Yeast infection can be passed on to a partner during sex through semen and other bodily fluid, but this infection cannot be thought as a sexually transmitted disease. Vaginal intercourse without adequate lubrication makes a situation worse.

Diabetes

Due to an uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, being a diabetic or having an elevated blood sugar levels can cause yeast infection to grow.

Some other factors that encourage the growth (not direct cause but may increase) of yeast infections include:

• Menopause
• Injuries
• Allergic reaction
• Hot, humid weather
• Poor personal hygiene
• Frequent exposure to sperm and semen over a short period of time
• Sweating
• Increased pH level

The very important reason why you need to familiarize yourself with the yeast infection causes is for you to be able to recognize its symptoms right away and treat it as early as you can with just over the counter treatments before the infection becomes worse and you needed stronger drugs just to stop it from recurring.  Although women are mostly the victim of this fungal infection, it does affect both genders and in different age groups.  There are a number of yeast infection causes you need to know about.

FUNGUS is the leading cause of yeast infection in women.  Candida Albicans is the specific name of the fungus found in yeast.  It is introduced in small amounts in a woman’s vagina and becomes harmful when it rapidly multiplies itself to become an infection.

IMMUNE SYSTEM, when it becomes lowered, is what causes the yeast fungus to rapidly grow in numbers.  You are lowering your immune system by not getting enough sleep, too much stress or if you are working yourself in overdrive.

HORMONES, when it changes towards the end of a woman’s menstrual period, can become one of the yeast infection causes. Pregnancy or taking birth control pills can also place a woman at risk of yeast infection.  Pregnant women, most of all, can undergo through recurring infections.

ANTIBIOTICS are most probably the primary cause of recurring yeast infection on females. This occurs when taking particular types of antibiotics or using it on a lengthy period.  However, there are just some females who still develop yeast infection regardless of what type of antibiotics they are administered under or how many days or weeks they take it.  So far there had been no known prevention of an antibiotic-induced candidiasis, but there are a lot of treatments available once it starts.

SEX can be a so-called travel agent when passing the infection from one partner to another.

DIABETES or having an elevated level of blood sugar can trigger the yeast to grow.  The so-called diabetes mellitus which becomes uncontrolled when one has diabetes causes the infection to develop

You might notice that I often mention women as an example but it doesn’t mean that men are immune to yeast infection either.  The difference being is that men may not get obvious symptoms like women do once they develop candidiasis.  Only twelve to fifteen percent of them will manifest symptoms like itching and rash in the penile area after a sexual intercourse with a partner that is already infected with candidiasis.

There is a yeast infection treatment available in both medical and natural form which can address or cure the problem of yeast infection.  Medicinal treatments are often sold over the counter and can guarantee a cure after applying it religiously in a few days.  For a mild yeast infection problem, some of these following treatments can be used as well:

YOGURT

It contains live Lactobacillus Acidophilus, a bacterium that is also found inside a vagina.  Yogurt creates an environment that is too acidic for the fungus to live with, thus killing it in the process.  You can simply apply yogurt by using a syringe and insert it in the vagina.  There are also Lactobacillus cultures contained in capsules that you can buy in a local health shop.

ALLIUM SATIVUM

Another effective yeast infection treatment that can be abundantly found in garlic.  For many centuries now, garlic has been known for its ability to cure certain infections and diseases.  Candidiasis – a fungus responsible for creating yeast infections on many women, and sometimes on men – is just one of the various types of fungi that garlic can kill.  This humble herb contains Allicin which is a great yeast infection treatment. For its application, just skin a clove of garlic and tie it to a string like that of a tampon and insert it inside your vagina as you would a tampon as well.  It is imperative that you tie the string securely around the garlic so you can pull it out easily after leaving it inside your vagina for several hours.  For a bad case of vaginal yeast infection, however, you might need to leave the garlic on overnight.  If you are not comfortable using garlic as a suppository, there are garlic substitutes available and sold in the form of yeast infection treatment capsules in health shops.

AZOLE

This medication belongs to a family of antifungal drugs.  This medicine blocks the growth of ergosterol, a material crucial to the yeast cell wall.  Without it, the said wall becomes leaky that it will eventually kill the yeast.  Examples of Azole medications are butoconazole, miconazole, clotrimazole, tioconazole, and fluconazole.

POLYENE ANTIFUNGALS

This type of yeast infection treatment includes amphotericin B and nystatin.  For superficial candidal infections, doctors would prescribe nystatin, but for worse cases of candidiasis or systemic fungal infections, they would prescribe amphotericin B.  These antifungal remedies will work their magic by attaching themselves to ergosterol, and then it will form artificial holes in the wall it’s making so the yeast would leak and die.

When a diaper rash becomes really stubborn that it refuses to be gone despite of the tubes of diaper rash cream you’ve used against it, you might need to consider the possibility of a yeast infection already.  In its early stages, it is indeed quite difficult to tell if a common diaper rash is becoming a yeast infection, but when left untreated, it then becomes very noticeable.

Look out for these following symptoms in order to detect early on if it isn’t a normal diaper rash anymore:

• Check closely for a slightly raised border on those bold red rashes
• Scaly skin
• Look for satellite lesions.  If you don’t know what they are, those are smaller spots isolated from the main rash that are found on inflamed areas.
• You can frequently find the infection in the skin folds of your infant’s groin area.
• The rash still hangs around even you’ve already applied diaper rash treatments for two days

You may not necessarily need to see a physician when your baby has yeast infection because in its early stages, it still can be treated with over-the-counter treatments.  But as soon as the rashes begin oozing or open-sored, or your baby develops fever, immediately call your pediatrician and have it looked at.  Those can already be signs of bacterial infections imperative of a medical attention.