Cure It, Heal It, Prevent It! Easy Tips On How To Treat Yeast Infection

Yeast infections, most often caused by the Candida albicans fungus, are an itchy, painful and irritable affair. While the reasons for occurrence of yeast infection may be anything ranging from certain antibiotics, diabetes and contraception pills to hormonal changes, immunodeficiency and douching, a number of precautionary measures can be adopted to prevent these infections. Medication for yeast infection is also available in various forms and it can be treated in a number of ways.

Yeast infection, also called candidal infection or candidiasis, is usually superficial, appearing either in one's mouth (commonly known as ‘thrush'), on skin or on the genitalia. Body parts that often remain moist and warm are prone to such infections. They could, therefore, affect areas such as the underarms, lower abdomen and below other folds of skin. Oral infections are common among adults, and are characterized either by redness of the tongue or the appearance of a white, patch-like substance on the tongue or at other places in the mouth.

Candidal infections that affect the genitalia are more common among women that in men. In women, a white, curd-like substance may be discharged from the infected vagina and an itchy, irritable or burning sensation would typically occur in the vaginal area. Among men, itchiness and burning would occur, and may be accompanied by sore red patches near the tip of the penis. Sometimes, internal organs such as the gastrointestinal tract or the urinary bladder may be affected by yeast infections; although such infections generally affect people with weak immune systems.

Since these infections are most often superficial, they clear up easily with the help of self-treatment at home using specified over-the-counter or prescribed medication. In rare cases, candidiasis may be fatal or life-threatening, although this condition may be restricted to cancer or AIDS patients, or people with severe immunodeficiency. Consulting a doctor may be advisable to confirm, firstly, whether or not the infection is candidiasis; if it is, the severity and implications, and lastly, on how to cure yeast infection.

Use of antifungal drugs, creams or lotions is the most common way to treat candidal infection. Drugs like clotrimazole, fluconazole, miconazole, ketoconazole, etc. are examples of such antifungals, which may be taken orally. These ‘azole' medications are effective in treating yeast infection as they inhibit the formation of the vital cell wall material for yeast – ergosterol, which causes the yeast to perish.

For thrush, Nystatin is a recommended polyene antifungal, to be taken orally. Nystatin, like the azole medications, removes the fungi by affecting their cell membrane and is considered an effective cure for gastrointestinal yeast infection as well. Also, maintaining oral hygiene is a pre-requisite to such treatment. Persons affected with thrush or similar forms of candidiasis may be exposed to the danger of being dehydrated. Care must, therefore, be taken to prevent this.

For superficial infections of the skin, clotrimazole lotion, available over-the-counter, is considered the simplest and most commonly used cure. It would also be necessary that the affected area be kept dry, and hygiene be maintained.

Amphotericin B is another antifungal, typically used to treat severe cases of candidiasis or systemic infections. Caspofungin and voriconazole are other examples of similar antifungals used to treat serious cases of candidal infection. These medicines kill the yeast by attaching themselves to the cell wall ergosterol, and forming pores in the wall, causing leakage of the yeast, and subsequent death. Other forms of medication for yeast infection include vaginal suppositories.

Having discussed how to treat yeast infection, one may bear in mind the importance of prevention, primarily by maintaining clean and hygienic bodily habits. The following simple tips would help significantly in keeping the infection at bay.

• Areas of excessive sweating should be washed clean while bathing and dried thoroughly before clothing is put on.
• Sharing of towels should be avoided.
• Antibiotics must be taken only when necessary.
• Clothing which is tight and restrictive at the crotch must be avoided. Cotton underpants would be ideal.
• Douching should be avoided.
• Cutting down on sugar and processed foods would also help greatly in reducing the risk of a candidal infection. Also, one must work towards building his/her immune system.

Repeated occurrence of yeast infection may be a symptom of a severe illness such as diabetes, cancer or AIDS. Seek medical advice if the infection is recurrent.

Article by Sarah Lomas of RemedyForYeastInfection.com, a website with the best <a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link/3544937']);" href="http://www.remedyforyeastinfection.com">treatment of yeast infection</a> and <a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link/3544937']);" href="http://www.remedyforyeastinfection.com/healtharticles/">natural remedy yeast infection</a> information on the web.