1. What is the link between the reoccurring yeast infection and high blood sugar levels?
Thrush is a yeast infection caused by candida albicans. These pesky yeasts affect areas that are mostly moist, warm and dark (think vagina, penis, bum, skin folds… you get the idea!). Thrush is common amongst people who have diabetes or high sugar level. You may not have diabetes, but a high blood sugar can make way for the infection to grow as candida thrives on sugar.
A study in 2013 showed a link between high blood sugar and vaginal yeast infections. The cohort for the study were children from ages 8 to 17 with type 1 diabetes. Results demonstrated that patients with type 1 diabetes had higher cases of yeast infection as 30 out of the 76 patients in the study had a candida colonization. In a different study in 2014, it was concluded that women with type 2 diabetes were prone to getting yeast infections. The study looked at 717 women aged 17 to 74 and who all have diabetes type 2.
Improving your blood sugar levels will help in reducing your chances of getting candida. It is recommended that if you have high sugar levels, always screen for an overgrowth of candida in the genital areas. A poorly controlled diabetes also contributes to a weak immune system – a perfect breeding ground for a candida overtake. To keep control of sugar levels, follow a diabetes friendly diet, stay away from foods that elevate blood levels and keep active.
2. I have very painful sex even though we practice safe sex. Please help!
Painful intercourse can be a sign of a yeast infection. Sometimes, women with yeast infection do not get vaginal discharge and therefore do not connect the dots between painful sex and a yeast infection. Pain during sex due to vaginal yeast infection can feel like a burning sensation. This is because the vagina is irritated.
If you are dealing with a vaginal yeast infection, chances are that your vagina will be swollen not because of the infection but because of the constant scratching of the area. Infections can cause inflammation, redness, irritation, heat, immune malfunction. Constant scratching can release histamine and other chemicals that can stimulate a strong immune response. If you are unsure about having a yeast infection, go get it checked. Your doctor will swab the area and test it for cultures of yeast for candida albican.
While you wait to find out if you have vaginal yeast infection, avoid engaging in any vaginal penetration as it will only prolong the infection’s life as you give it to your partner who gives it back to you. Penetration will only further aggravate the inflamed vagina. Furthermore, refraining from sex will help keep the vagina dry as you will not be aroused, and your vagina will not self-lubricate. With a proper treatment, the infection will go away within four to six days.
3. I don’t have any itching but feel a burning sensation on my penis. Why is it?
A yeast infection is not only prevalent in females. Though very uncommon, it can show up in men as well in the form of penile yeast infection. Yeast infection of the penis shows up as rashes, or white shiny patches on the penis skin. If you don’t see visible white patches, check under the foreskin or other folds of your penis. Many people complain of a burning feeling on their penis when they have a yeast infection.
Candida is present in all of us, however, during an overgrowth, it takes over and presents itself as a yeast infection. It spreads in dark, moist and warm environments. The most common cause of a penile yeast infection is when the person has had unprotected sex with a woman who has yeast infection. If you are unsure that you have a penile yeast infection, ask your doctor to examine your symptoms.
Always wash your genital areas properly, especially around the folds of the skin. Avoid consumption of sweet food as candida thrives on sugar to sustain itself. To treat the infection, you may be prescribed a topical antifungal cream. Most over the counter ointments can help clear up the infection. If you do not treat the yeast infection, you may get a balanitis, which is the inflammation of the forehead of the penis. Delayed treatment may even contribute to you getting candidemia. This is when yeast infection enters the blood stream and starts affecting other parts of the body.
4. I have really dry scalp and dandruff. What can I do about it?
Once candida finds its way into your system, it has the unique ability to protect itself from certain environments by transforming from a yeast cell to hyphal cell. The cells can permeate into your gut lining, allowing toxins, microbes, proteins into the bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, the yeast colonizes other areas of the body, including the skin. Researchers have found candida on the skin of those who have eczema. This can explain why some people have dandruff no matter what they do to get rid of it.
The candida that causes infection of the scalp is also known as tinea capitis or fungal dandruff. Most common symptoms include itchiness of the scalp, flakes. Candida happens when there is a weakened immune system, bad eating habits (too much sugar and carbs), stress, etc. Stress can cause inflammation in our bodies. Inflammation can compromise our immune system, giving candida the opportunity to overgrow in our GI, intimate places.
If unsure that you may have a yeast infection, speak to your doctor. They will do a stool test to determine if there is a candida overgrowth in your body. You can also take the following test and see if you have candida and if so, at what levels. If left untreated, it can cause your hair to fall off in great numbers. Watch the following video where Eric Bakker gives more info on how to treat a fungal dandruff.
5. I have been dealing with pretty bad eczema all my life. Why can’t I get rid of it with treatment?
Eczema is an immune problem when the skin produces reaction to kinds of foods causing an inflammatory response. It is red with raised blisters, sometimes filled with fluid. In chronic eczema, there are lesser blisters and the skin is mostly thick and elevated. Those who have eczema complain about it being very itchy. There are many types of eczema. There is atopic dermatitis, irritant dermatitis, statis dermatitis, to name a few. A fungal infection can also produce eczema on the body. Eczema can be acquired by your parents if either or both have a history of hay fever, asthma or eczema. In some cases, eczema can also show up after a serious use of antibiotics.
People who have eczema most likely have some candida overgrowth in their body. You can tell your eczema is yeast infected by the following signs: skin has clear or yellow fluid, has blisters, pus spots appear on affected areas. Affected person may also have raised temperature or flu like symptoms. If you suspect that you have a fungal infection of your eczema, you will need an antifungal cream or ointment to help treat it. Furthermore, you will want to pay attention to your diet. Candida thrives on sugar and carbs so keep those at a minimum. Remove all suspected triggers from your diet or lifestyle which cause your eczema to flare up in the first place. You might also want to see what foods trigger the eczema on your body. First off, dairy is a huge culprit behind triggering people’s eczema and so is wheat. In this video, Eric Bakker goes in dept about having eczema and candida, and how to treat it.
References:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24012126
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24714993
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX1kgTKfntI&t=226s
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC126862/
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22109896