Do you want to get rid of Yeast Infection Naturally?

Having some knowledge as to what your yeast infection symptoms really are will make it easier for you to understand your treatment and why you must make certain changes. This article will give you some background information on Candida albicans and what it does to your body.

When dealing with yeast infections there are two things you should know first: there are a hundred different types of Candida, but only one causes infections in humans and fungus –which is different from bacteria needs oxygen and nutrients to survive and secrets enzymes which breaks down substances in its environment so that it can consume them as nutrients.

This is where all this jargon will begin to make sense. Fungus can grow into yeast forms and mold forms; yeast being single cell growth and mold being multi-cellular. It is not the yeast on its own that causes a problem but instead when the fungus takes on a mold form. This is because our body had the right living conditions for the mold to grow which is what we need to stop.

A yeast infection is actually a mold or fungal infection. This infection usually occurs on the skin or in the gastrointestinal tract.

Symptoms

Symptoms include severe itching, burning, and soreness, irritation of the vagina and/or vulva, and a whitish or whitish-gray discharge, often with a curdlike appearance.

Many women mistake the symptoms of the more common bacterial vaginosis for a yeast infection. In a 2002 study published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, only 33 percent of women who were self treating for a yeast infection actually had a yeast infection. Instead they had either bacterial vaginosis or a mixed-type infection.

In men, symptoms include red patchy sores near the head of the penis or on the foreskin. The sores may feel irritated and itchy, and sometimes they will burn as well.

Diagnosis

Medical professionals use two primary methods to diagnose yeast infections: microscopic examination, and culturing.

For the microscope method, a scraping or swab of the affected area is placed on a microscope slide. A single drop of 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution is then also placed on the slide. The KOH dissolves the skin cells but leaves the Candida untouched, so that when the slide is viewed under a microscope, the hyphae and pseudo spores of Candida are visible. Their presence in large numbers strongly suggests a yeast infection.

For the culturing method, a sterile swab is rubbed on the infected skin surface. The swab is then rubbed across a culture medium. The medium is incubated for several days, during which time colonies of yeast and/or bacteria develop. The characteristics of the colonies provide a presumptive diagnosis of the organism causing symptoms.

Our skin surface is made to act as a barrier to bacteria, but if something breaks that surface; a cut or a scratch; it gives the bacteria a way to get in. If our immune system is weak and the conditions just right, this will cause the cells to multiply and lead to infection. The same goes for any skin that is moist or rubbing together because it breaks down the skin and its ability to keep the bacteria out. This is why it is important to keep your immune system strong with proper diet as well as ensuring that your skin remains dry and clean. Another thing that can break down your bodies defenses against yeast infections are antibiotics and certain medications. They alter your body’s normal bacterium that actually helps to fight off yeast infections and instead makes you more susceptible. Finally, the hormonal changes experienced during pregnancy also cause you to be more prone to yeast infection symptoms.

Knowing how the infection gets in is helpful, but you need to understand that the bigger concern here is the fact that your body has the conditions that make it so inviting for the Candida albicans. You can kill the infection, but what is more important is changing the conditions so it doesn’t keep coming back.

You also need to be aware that there are other infections and conditions that can look and feel like yeast infection symptoms. Not all vaginal itching and discharge is a yeast infection and not all rashes on a baby’s bottom come from yeast. It is important that you seek the help of a healthcare provider to make the initial diagnosis.

All natural yeast infection cure