Treatment and Prevention
Candidiasis isn't normally a dangerous disease except in the rare cases
when it enters the blood and spreads to vital organs of people with weakened
immune systems. For infection of the skin, your doctor can give you an antifungal
cream or powder or prescribe you an antifungal pill. For vaginal yeast infections,
treatment consists of antifungal medications that are administered directly
into the vagina as tablets, creams, ointments, or suppositories. In addition,
a single dose of an antifungal medication taken by mouth (fluconazole*) may
be prescribed by your doctor. For oral thrush, a suspension of antifungal medication
can be swished in the mouth and swallowed, or sometimes the doctor will have
you dissolve an antifungal lozenge in the mouth. For severe cases, antifungal
medication taken by mouth may be needed. Speak with your pharmacist - you can
buy many of the creams and powder products intended for minor infections without
a prescription.
Here are some hygiene tips to help prevent candiasis:
- Wipe from front to back after going to the toilet - the rectal area is full
of yeast.
- Take baths not showers - sitting in the bath can clear yeast from the vaginal
area.
- Dry yourself thoroughly afterwards, especially the pubic hair - use a hair
dryer on low setting if you have to.
- Don't use soap around the vagina - soap kills the bacteria you want to keep,
and has no effect on yeast.
- Sterilize or throw away underwear that you wore during your last infection
- the washing machine isn't hot enough, you must boil them if you want to
keep them. You must also replace any diaphragms or caps.
- Use tampons, not sanitary towels, which cut off air to the vagina.
- Avoid chemicals like deodorant tampons and especially vaginal douches, which
serve no purpose and may cause infection.
These sensible precautions may also help prevent candidiasis:
- Wear loose cotton underwear.
- Avoid pantyhose and tight pants.
- Eat live yogurt, especially if you have been prescribed antibiotics or have
other factors which increase your risk for yeast infections - pasteurised
yogurt isn't effective. Some health food stores carry lactobacillus acidophilus
pills which may help to keep yeast in check.
- Cut down on sugar and alcohol (yeast's favorite foods) .
- Consider changing "the pill" - if you've had recurring infections,
change your birth control pill and see if it helps.
- Make sure your partner is uninfected - there's no point curing candidiasis
if you're going to be re-infected.
- Don't ask for antibiotics if you've got the flu - the flu is caused by viruses,
so taking antibiotics won't help and they might provoke candidiasis.
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name
is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®).
The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen).
A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article
lists medications by their common names. For more information on brand names,
speak with your doctor or pharmacist.