Candida / Yeast

Candida or Monilia is a skin rash caused by a yeast living on normal skin of 80% of all people. In most people, the presence of this yeast on the skin is not visible. In some people, for unknown reasons, the yeast grows more actively and causes a red, itchy, scaling rash. The yeast likes warm moist areas and usually grows in the skin folds under the breast, stomach, and arm pits.

Candida - CAUSE

Candida is caused by a yeast called Candida albicans.
Candida infection sometimes occurs as a result of antibiotic therapy.
People with diabetes are more prone to getting the rash of Candida, but the rash can occur in anyone.

Candida - SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Red, itchy, scaling rash on skin, usually worse in the skin folds under the breast, stomach, and arm pits.

This vaginal infection occurs predominantly in reproductive age women. The main symptoms produced by a candida yeast vaginitis are vaginal and/or vulvar itching (pruritus), or even a vulvar burning sensation. There is a cheese-like (caseous) white to white yellow discharge. Also there can be swelling of the perineum or a redness (erythema) (1). The discharge is not watery and usually not odorous. Symptoms build up over 1-3 days.

Candida - HOW DIAGNOSIS IS DONE?

Gram stain showing yeast is an accurate method of diagnosis as is culture.

Candida, Yeast - - Homeopathy Treatment & Homeopathic Remedies

Homeopathy is very well known for its effectiveness in skin-disorders. There are many homeopathic medicines which have been used clinically against fungal diseases and candida. The following homeopathic medicines may help in the treatment of Candida:

Sulphur, Sepia, Antim crud, Natrum mur, Natrum salicylicum, Petroleum, Medorrhinum, Thuja etc.

Candida - CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT

A common treatment regimen is anti-yeast cream applied to the affected area twice a day followed by hydrocortisone cream. Azole class of drugs are also commonly used.

Candida - WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?

If you have recurrent Candida infections you should have a glucose tolerance test done to rule out diabetes mellitus.
If you are a diabetic and are frequently diagnosed with Candida infections your blood glucose levels are probably not in the normal range. You should contact your family doctor and have your treatment plan reevaluated.

REFERENCE WORKS

Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 14th ed, McGraw-Hill

Davidson's Principles and Practise of Medicine, 17th ed, 1996, Churchill Livingstone

New Manual of Homeopathic Materia Medica & Repertory, William Boericke, 2nd revised ed., 2001, B. Jain