Yeast infections are generally benign infections involving several body areas. The most common areas infected by the Candida yeast organism include the mouth, the intestine, the skin and the vaginal infections. There is also such a thing as systemic Candidiasis which is a severe form of yeast infection that affects hospitalized individuals.

The causes of yeast infection vary depending on the source of the infection. Vaginal yeast infections have many causes. The most common cause of a vaginal yeast infection is antibiotic use for another reason. The antibiotics kill off the normal healthy bacteria in the vagina and the small amount of yeast that’s left in the vagina grow and proliferate to create a vaginal infection. The symptoms are vaginal discharge, burning and itching of the vaginal area.

Another big cause of yeast infections of the vagina is diabetes. The yeast thrives off of the higher sugar environment in the body and yeast grows off of the excess sugar. In some cases, people who aren’t diabetic but who eat a lot of sugar can get yeast infections of the vagina as well.

The environment of the vagina is important to getting yeast infections. It should be slightly acidic and if a woman douches with anything other than vinegar, she can get a yeast infection as a result. Using perfumes, dyes or detergents as part of your underwear will trigger a yeast infection in susceptible people. Using antibacterial soap can also trigger a yeast infection as can underwear made from nylon or that doesn’t breathe very well. Wearing nylons can cause the air to circulate poorly which can trigger a yeast infection in some individuals.

Genital candidiasis is a sexually transmitted disease in some cases. The man can harbor it under the foreskin or on the glans of the penis and pass it back to the woman. Men can even get yeast balanitis, which is a yeast infection of the foreskin. Both male and female vaginal infections are treated with anti-fungal cream. The women’s treatment involves prefilled applicators of cream and men’s treatment involves the topical application of cream.

Causes of yeast infections that involve the mouth can be diabetes or immunosuppression. Babies are relatively immune suppressed and they haven’t been exposed to Candida before so they easily get infected with oral infections of Candida. Diabetics can, because of their high blood sugar, get oral yeast infections as well. These are treated with antifungal lozenges, troches or nystatin liquid which is squirted in the mouth and swished around the mouth and spit out. Babies just swallow the liquid given to them by eyedropper.

Skin yeast infections are fairly common as well. Causes of yeast infection of the skin include being diabetic, overweight or being immune suppressed. Overweight individuals have a lot of skin folds that can breed the organism. Common places you’ll see these Candida infections are the groin folds, abdominal skin folds, underneath the breasts and in the armpits. The skin is warm and moist there from sweating and the yeast will often grow there as a result. The treatment is to use an anti fungal powder or cream on the affected areas.