What is Candida?

What is Candida?

About Candida

Candida is a type of yeast and it is the most common cause of fungal infections worldwide.

How common is Candida infection or candidiasis?

Candidiasis is a very common condition. The most frequent type of candidiasis is a yeast infection of the reproductive organs, which affects around 75% of people.

How does Candida affect my body?

Candida causes discomfort, itching and irritation until you find treatment. Like any other infection, it's best to treat the infection at the first sign to alleviate your symptoms. If candidiasis is left untreated, severe infections could spread to other parts of your body, including your blood, heart and brain.

Symptoms and Causes

What are the symptoms of candidiasis?

Symptoms of candidiasis vary depending on the location of the infection and can include:

  • Dead skin or read patches on your scalp
  • Red patch of skin (rash) with small, raised bumps (pustules).
  • Itching
  • Burning sensation
  • Vaginal discharge (white or yellow)
  • White patches or sores on your tongue or in your mouth that cause loss of taste or pain when eating or swallowing
  • Swelling (inflammation)

What causes candidiasis?

A candidiasis infection is the result of an overgrowth of Candida yeast due to an imbalance of healthy bacteria and yeast in your body. Triggers that disrupt the balance of bacteria and yeast include:

  • Taking antibiotics, oral contraceptives, medicines that cause dry mouth 
  • Medicines that kill healthy bacteria.
  • Feeling stressed
  • Eating a diet high in refined carbohydrates, sugar or yeast
  • Experiencing hormonal changes (pregnancy)
  • Diabetes, HIV, cancer or a compromised immune system

Is candidiasis contagious?

Candida yeast can spread from person to person, but that doesn’t mean it will immediately cause an infection in the other person. If you come in contact with someone who has candidiasis, you won’t necessarily develop the infection because if it didn't change the balance of yeast and bacteria in your body, but it's a possibility that it could change your balance in the future and cause an infection. That is why treatment is and prevention and treatment is recommended. 

Candidiasis treatment

While complete eradication of Candida is neither necessary nor feasible—since it is a normal part of the human microbiome—managing its levels is crucial to preventing symptoms and complications. In many cases, lifestyle adjustments, such as maintaining a balanced diet, reducing sugar intake, managing stress, and supporting gut health, and supplements can effectively keep Candida in check. This approach often eliminates the need for medical treatments which disrupt the body’s natural balance. Candida management prioritizes long-term wellness and minimizes the risk of recurrent infections, making it a preferred strategy for individuals who want to stay symptom-free and otherwise healthy. 

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