Skin Health Fungal, Bacterial & Viral Infections Candidiasis Infections Yeast overgrowth can take many forms By Amber J. Tresca Updated on May 06, 2024 Medically reviewed by Lindsay Cook, PharmD Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Types and Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment FAQ Candidiasis, or yeast infection, is an infection caused by a fungus called candida, which naturally occurs in small amounts on the skin, plus the mucosal surfaces inside the mouth, respiratory tract, intestines, and vagina. The most common of the candida species is Candida albicans (also called C. albicans), but many species exist. Candida grows best in warm, moist places. Infections involving C. albicans are very common and are usually easy to diagnose and treat. However, some infections and strains pose serious risks to your health. This article discusses the types and symptoms of Candidiasis, as well as how the infection is diagnosed and treated. Types and Symptoms of Candidiasis Candidiasis has different names depending on what part of the body is infected, including: On the genitals: vaginal candidiasis or vaginal yeast infection; candidal balanitis or male yeast infectionIn the mouth: thrush or oropharyngeal candidiasisIn the diaper region: yeast diaper rashOn the skin: cutaneous candidiasisIn the fingernails/toenails: candidal paronychiaIn the blood or organs: invasive candidiasis Belly Button Yeast Infection: What to Know Vaginal or Male Yeast Infection Candida, and especially C. albicans, overgrowth in the vagina is commonly called a vaginal yeast infection, vaginal candidiasis, or vaginitis. Approximately 30% to 50% of women experience a yeast infection at some point during their lives, and it's more common during pregnancy. Some women find that yeast infections occur shortly after they've taken a course of antibiotics. Symptoms include: Vaginal itching or sorenessPain during sexual intercoursePain or discomfort when urinatingRednessAbnormal vaginal discharge It's less common for men to have a genital yeast infection, but anyone can get them. It's often asymptomatic. When symptoms do occur, the most common one is inflammation of the tip of the penis. Some men also experience: Other rashes on the head of the penisFoul-smelling dischargePainful penis and foreskin All About Male Yeast Infections Thrush Occurring in the mouth, throat, or esophagus, thrush is most common in babies, people with diabetes, and those who test positive for HIV. Symptoms of thrush include: White patches on the tongue, roof of the mouth, and inside the cheeksRedness inside the mouthSoreness or cotton-like feelingPain while eating and/or swallowingCracks in the corners of the mouth When a breastfeeding baby has thrush, the mother may experience cracked and painful nipples. Yeast Diaper Rash A baby may develop a yeast diaper rash alone or along with thrush. Symptoms include: Bold red rash with a slight, raised borderSmaller red patches that blend with larger onesBlisters, ulcers, or pus-filled soresRed or scaly areas on the genitalia A yeast diaper rash will appear only under the diaper and won't respond to most diaper rash treatments. If you use a treatment for two days and the rash doesn't improve, that's a sign it could be candidiasis. Identify and Treat a Yeast Diaper Rash at Home Cutaneous Candidiasis Candidiasis on the skin tends to occur most often in warm, moist areas such as the groin, armpits, anus, and under the breasts. It causes a rash characterized by: Rash with redness and skin breakdownPatches that ooze clear fluidPimplesItching or burning Fingernails/Toenails Nail infections often occur in people whose hands or feet are regularly exposed to water. A manicure or pedicure performed with contaminated tools is also a common cause. Symptoms of candidal paronychia include painful redness and swelling of the skin around the nail, which may, in advanced cases, include pus. The skin may look baggy. In severe cases, the nail itself may become discolored. Causes of Fingernail and Toenail Infection Invasive Candidiasis A more serious form of candida infection in the internal organs, invasive candidiasis is less common and tends to occur in people who are already very sick, such as those who have had an organ transplant or are in the intensive care unit. This form of candidiasis can be fatal. It most often strikes the following: Blood (also called candidemia)HeartBrainEyesBones The most common symptoms include fever and chills that don't respond to antibiotics. Other symptoms vary depending on the part(s) of the body infected. Global Health Threat A treatment-resistant strain called Candida auris (C. auris) has become more common and currently is considered a serious global health threat by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other public health agencies. Causes of Candidiasis Candida doesn't cause disease unless some kind of circumstance allows the fungus to multiply. For example, candida could overgrow after you take a course of antibiotics for a bacterial infection (such as for a urinary tract infection or pneumonia), or because the immune system is suppressed due to disease or as a side effect of some medications. Other potential risk factors for candidiasis include: PregnancyUsing hormonal contraceptives (e.g. birth control pills)DiabetesA weakened immune system (for example, due to HIV infection or medicines such as steroids and chemotherapy)Recent or current antibiotic usePoor hygieneTight-fitting underwear or wet clothingBeing overweightA hot, humid environmentSkin products that irritate the skinBeing uncircumcisedSpermicides and condoms with lubricantsCancer treatmentSexual activityPerfumed products used in the vaginal areaDouchingVery hot baths or hot tubs Yeast Infection Risk Factors How Is Candidiasis Diagnosed? Diagnosis of yeast infections varies by location but some commonalities exist. Typically, for any form other than invasive candidiasis, a healthcare provider will perform a physical examination of the infected area and possibly take a swab or scraping that's sent to a lab and examined under a microscope. A home test is available for vaginal yeast infections, but they measure vaginal pH and aren't specific for candida, so the results are less reliable than the test your healthcare provider performs. For invasive candidiasis, a blood sample is sent to a lab and cultured to see if the fungus will grow. Your healthcare provider may also order additional tests to see if you developed candidiasis as the result of an underlying disease, such as diabetes. Diagnosing Vaginal Yeast Infections Candidiasis Treatment Treatment of most forms of candidiasis usually involves over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription antifungal ointments or suppositories. The same medications are used regardless of the location of the infection, though the strength and method of application may vary. Medications include: Lotrimin, Mycelex (clotrimazole) Micatin (miconazole) Nystatin (Mycostatin) Monistat (tioconazole) Keeping infected skin clean and dry can also help clear it up. The 7 Best OTC Yeast Infection Medicines Systemic Medications For persistent or serious yeast infections, healthcare providers may prescribe a systemic antifungal medication in pill form. Especially if you have a history of yeast infections, your healthcare provider may recommend these drugs as a preventive measure whenever you take antibiotics. They're usually given in two doses taken several days apart. These drugs include: Diflucan (fluconazole)AmBisome, Amphotec (amphotericin B)Nyamyc, Pedi-Dri, Nystop (nystatin) Nystatin is a common choice for candidiasis associated with HIV. While those oral drugs are sometimes used to treat invasive candidiasis, intravenous antifungals are a more common choice. They include: Cancidas (caspofungin)Mycamine (micafungin)Eraxis/Ecalta (anidulafungin)Rezzayo (rezafungin) These medications may be given for several weeks to ensure that all of the fungi are out of your system. Long-term antifungal therapy may be needed to treat chronic candidiasis, as well. Can Your Diet Help Prevent Candidiasis? Summary Candidiasis, or yeast infection, is an infection caused by a fungus called candida. The infection can occur in several areas of the body causing symptoms such as itching, pain, redness, and more. Invasive candidiasis is a more serious form of candida infection in the internal organs that can be life-threatening. If you believe you have some form of candidiasis, see a healthcare provider—especially the first time—so you can confirm the cause of your symptoms and get started on the right medication. Any time you have recurrent, treatment-resistant, or severe symptoms, you should seek medical help. Frequently Asked Questions Why do my yeast infections keep coming back? A frequent reason is that the initial infection wasn’t completely cleared up. You might need a different prescription medication and extended treatment of up to six months. A second common reason: You’re being re-exposed via a nursing baby with thrush or a sexual partner who has an untreated infection. How long before I can have sex after having a yeast infection? Wait until your symptoms are completely gone before having sex. Depending on the product you use and the infection, it may take 14 days to complete treatment, and after that, you should see symptoms go away. Is candidiasis considered a sexually transmitted disease? No. A yeast infection (candidiasis) can be transmitted during sexual intercourse from one partner to another. However, you can also develop the infection without having sex, so it isn’t considered an STD. How Candida Overgrowth Can Cause IBS 28 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Turner SA, Butler G. The Candida pathogenic species complex. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2014;4(9):a019778. doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a019778 Jacob L, John M, Kalder M, et al. Prevalence of vulvovaginal candidiasis in gynecological practices in Germany: A retrospective study of 954,186 patients. Curr Med Mycol. 2018;4(1):6-11. doi:10.18502/cmm.4.1.27 Martin Lopez JE. Candidiasis (vulvovaginal). BMJ Clin Evid. 2015 Mar 16;2015:0815. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaginal candidiasis. Morris BJ, Krieger JN. Penile inflammatory skin disorders and the preventive role of circumcision. Int J Prev Med. 2017;8:32. doi:10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_377_16 Medline Plus. Balanitis. Anwar KP, Malik A, Subhan KH. Profile of candidiasis in HIV infected patients. Iran J Microbiol. 2012;4(4):204-9. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fungal diseases: Candida infections of the mouth, throat, and esophagus. Fölster-Holst R. Differential diagnoses of diaper dermatitis. Pediatr Dermatol. 2018;35 Suppl 1:s10-s18. doi:10.1111/pde.13484 Johns Hopkins Medicine. Yeast infection. Metin A, Dilek N, Bilgili SG. Recurrent candidal intertrigo: Challenges and solutions. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2018;11:175-185. doi:10.2147/CCID.S127841 Shafritz A, Coppage J. Acute and chronic paronychia of the hand. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2014;22(3):165-178. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-22-03-165 Yapar N. Epidemiology and risk factors for invasive candidiasis. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2014;10:95-105. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S40160 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fungal diseases: Invasive candidiasis. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fungal diseases: Symptoms. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Candida auris. Lanternier F, Cypowyj S, Picard C, et al. Primary immunodeficiencies underlying fungal infections. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2013;25(6):736-747. doi:10.1097/MOP.0000000000000031 Mohan S. A study on clinical patterns of mucocutaneous candidiasis in immunosuppressed patients. Int J Dermatol Clin Res. 2017;3(1):032-034. doi:10.17352/2455-8605.000024 Achkar JM, Fries BC. Candida infections of the genitourinary tract. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2010;23(2):253‐273. doi:10.1128/CMR.00076-09 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cancer patients and fungal infections. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Office on Women's Health. Vaginal yeast infections. Mohamed AA, Lu XL, Mounmin FA. Diagnosis and treatment of esophageal candidiasis: Current updates. Can J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019;2019:3585136. Published 2019 Oct 20. doi:10.1155/2019/3585136 U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Vaginal pH. Amphotericin B. In: LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; April 8, 2016. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How is invasive candidiasis treated? Michigan Medicine. Recurrent vaginal yeast infections. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vulvovaginal candidiasis. New York State Department of Health. What is a yeast infection? Additional Reading Martins N, Ferreira IC, Barros L, Silva S, Henriques M. Candidiasis: Predisposing factors, prevention, diagnosis and alternative treatment. Mycopathologia. 2014;177(5-6):223-240. doi:10.1007/s11046-014-9749-1 By Amber J. Tresca Tresca is a freelance writer and speaker who covers digestive conditions, including IBD. She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age 16. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit