Skin Yeast Infection Simplified

Skin yeast infection, also known as cutaneous candidiasis, is associated with the overgrowth of a certain type of parasitic organism called candida fungus. These yeast infections in the skin are characterized by the active growth of the candida fungus and generally result to the reddening and scaling of the skin. It is also associated with the itchy rashes that develop in the skin of an infected individual.

Yeast skin infections can affect any part of the surface of the body. However, the most common parts that are affected by candidal infection are those portions of the body that are mostly warm and damp, and where the skin is creased. These parts of the body include the groin area and the armpits. Further, skin yeast infection is more common in obese people or those who are diabetic. People who are undergoing antibacterial treatment also have a higher risk of developing skin yeast infection.

Yeast skin infections can also develop as diaper rash in newborn babies and it can also affect the nails. Further, it can infect the mouth as oral thrush and the vagina as vaginal yeast infection.

Signs and Symptoms of Skin Yeast Infection

The most common signs and symptoms of yeast infections of the skin include the following:

• Skin rash

• Skin patches with clear fluid discharge

• Itchiness and burning sensation

• Pimples

Yeast infections in the nails will result in the following:

• Whitish or yellowish nail that gets separated from its nail bed

• Swelling of the nail area

• Concurrent pain with the onset of the yeast infection

• Development of pus in the yeast-infected nail

Oral thrush shall have the following signs:

• Emergence of patches on the inside of the cheek and the surface of the tongue

• Concurrent pain experienced with the onset of the yeast infection

Underlying Causes of Yeast Skin Infections:

Common skin problems such as jock itch, athlete’s foot and ringworm and toenail fungus are generally associated with candidal infection. A group of fungus known as dermatophytes is the main cause of these major yeast infections of the skin.

It affects about 10% to 15% of the world’s population. Further, other parts of the body are also prone to these types of skin yeast infection. For instance, it is not unusual to develop a serious case of althlete’s feet and skin rashes on the surface of your hands. This happens because the fungal infection spreads through the bloodstream. This condition on the palm of your hands is directly caused by the mycotoxins associated with the candida fungus.

Yeast infections of the skin are also closely associated with high levels of blood cholesterol. With the proper treatment of skin yeast infection, the blood cholesterol level is also lowered. This means that there is a direct correlation between the incidence of yeast infections of the skin and the level of blood cholesterol. Thus, before you start any type of treatment to manage and control skin yeast infection, it is important that you seek professional advice of your doctor.