The human body serves as a habitat for yeast, and it is quite normal for anyone to be prone to yeast infections at any age. When the conditions become favourable for yeast growth, it develops rapidly and may result in a yeast infection at the site, such as the mouth, skin, or genital area.
There are different types of yeast infections depending on the kind of yeast and part of the body on which they are located. The most common yeast infections are diaper rash in babies, oral thrush, throat thrush, cutaneous candidiasis (skin infection), and genital infections.
The recurrence of certain yeast infections on or inside the body is common, especially in women. If these infections are left untreated, they become annoying and can continue to get worse with time. Keep reading to find out more about what works and what doesn’t when battling with yeast infection.
DO’s
You need to consider and adapt certain lifestyle factors to avoid the recurrence of yeast infections. Moreover, several natural remedies successfully worked in minimizing and curing yeast infections. Some of these are:
Cotton Underwear – Use loose-fitted cotton underwear to prevent vaginal yeast infections. Always choose your underwear fabric more carefully as it remains intact with your skin all the time. Cotton is a great fabric that absorbs moisture and allows air to pass through to keep your vagina dry and moisture-free. (Hasan, 2016)
Hydrogen Peroxide – It is a mild antiseptic that is effective in treating cutaneous candidiasis. It works by retarding the yeast growth. You can also add hydrogen peroxide to your bath to avoid genital yeast infections. (Kersten et al., 2018)
Coconut Oil – Use coconut oil as a mouthwash to treat oral thrush. Coconut oil naturally possesses antifungal properties and is effective in curing recurrent yeast infections. Coconut oil is a rich source of caprylic and lauric acids. It contains about 50% lauric acid and 15% caprylic acid. Both are saturated fatty acids, popular for their antimicrobial and antifungal properties. (Bergsson et al., 2001)
Apple Cider Vinegar – Apple cider vinegar bath removes all harmful microbes from your vagina, thus avoiding yeast infection. It must be diluted with water before treating genital yeast infection. (Mota et al., 2015)
Boric Acid – It is one of the essential antiseptics used for the treatment of genital yeast infections. It possesses not only antifungal properties but also antiviral properties. It can treat the most resistant yeast strains, both Candida albicans and Candida glabrata.Health professionals highly recommend boric acid as a treatment for recurrent vaginal infections. (Pointer, Boyer and Schmidt, 2015)
Probiotics – Probiotics are living microbes with many health benefits. They are the good bacteria available through certain foods such as yoghurt and supplements. (Fares et al., 2017) Probiotic supplements help to prevent yeast infections and even treat the existing ones. The primary bacteria in healthy vaginal flora includes Lactobacillus, which is found in most probiotic supplements. A probiotic supplement is particularly beneficial in promoting healthy bacterial growth, relieving your yeast’s symptoms, regulating the vagina’s bacteria and pH levels, which suppresses yeast growth. (Russo et al., 2019)
Garlic – This is a very effective yeast infection inhibitor because of its antifungal activity. If you want to treat any genital yeast infection, add garlic to your diet. (Goncagul and Ayaz, 2010)
DON’Ts
Douching – Avoid douching. Excessive cleaning wipes away healthy bacteria as well that is needed to fight yeast infections. (Martino and Vermund, 2002)
Hot Baths – Hot tubs and hot baths are not good for you if you suffer from a yeast infection. The warm and moist environment of hot baths favors the growth of yeast.
Scented Products – Avoid the use of scented soaps, detergents, lotions, and other products. Scented products are made from harsh chemicals and may cause severe itchiness and discomfort.
Foods – Do not eat sugary and processed foods. The sugar content of sugary and processed foods is high. High sugar provides a growth medium for yeast and results in yeast infections. (Olsen and Birkeland, 1976)
Antibiotics – Do not use unnecessary antibiotics. These antibiotics sometimes kill healthy bacteria living on and inside your body that fight against yeast infections.
Yeast infections have become a part of our lives. We need to adopt some tips useful in minimizing infection-induced rash, itchiness, and discomfort. In case of a severe infection, make sure you consult a health professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.
About the author: Dan Jackowiak, Nc, HHP, is the Founder of Yeast Infection Advisor. Dan is a Holistic Healthcare Practitioner and Nutritional Consultant that personally suffered from yeast and bad bacterial overgrowth of the gut for most of his life. The information on his website is a combination of his own nutrition and holistic training, life experiences, collaboration with fellow experts on his team, and over 18 years of studying medical research on candida yeasts infections of all types, which has allowed him to take his life and health back and help others overcome yeast-related health problems and digestive problems of all kinds.