Candidiasis—or as it’s more commonly known, a yeast infection—can occur in many places in the body, such as the mouth,anus, skin, vagina, and bloodstream.
This infection is usually treated with over-the-counter medications. Prescription medications are also available for persistent infections. People with aweakened immune systemmay need further medical intervention to properly treat candidiasis.
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Over-the-Counter (OTC) Therapies
Many OTC therapies are available for treating candidiasis, and your treatment will depend on the area affected.
Vagina
Vaginal yeast infections can be treated using medicated creams, tablets, ointments, or suppositories.
Some examples include:
The Best Over-The-Counter Yeast Infection Medicines for Fast Relief
Skin
It is vital to keep the affected area clean and dry during treatment. This is also helpful for preventing the infection in the first place.
Mouth
11 Home Remedies for Oral Thrush and Answers to FAQs
Prescriptions
For persistent or severe candidiasis infections, your healthcare provider may prescribe a prescription medication. Again, the medication needed will depend on the area affected.
In the case a prescription will be necessary, a vaginal yeast infection can be treated with a single dose of oral fluconazole, an antifungal medication.
Thrush
Prescription treatment for thrush will be dependent on the severity of your case. Your age, other health factors, and the likelihood for it to spread rapidly will also be taken into consideration.
For mild to moderate thrush cases, your healthcare provider will typically prescribe an antifungal lozenge, mouthwash, or liquid, such as:
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Candida Sepsis
Candida sepsis occurs when theCandidayeast infects the bloodstream. For candida sepsis, experts recommend IV medications such as Eraxis (anidulafungin), Cancidas (caspofungin), Mycamine (micafungin), or Rezzayo (rezafungin).
Oral or IV fluconazole or voriconazole may be used in patients with normal or low white cell counts who are not critically ill and have no prior treatment with or known resistance to fluconazole or voriconazole.
Prevention
Preventing and understanding the underlying cause of your particular candidiasis infection is vital to prevent an infection from returning. There are a number of ways to keep infections at bay. Again, preventative measures will be dependent on the area affected.
Practicing proper oral hygiene is helpful for preventing thrush.This includes brushing your teeth twice daily and flossing once daily. You should also visit your dentist regularly.
People who wear dentures should remove them every night and clean them two or more times a week with white vinegar, chlorhexidine gluconate, or a diluted bleach solution.
Quitting smoking is also imperative. If you’re a smoker, quitting may help prevent thrush.
Yeast Infections
Keeping your skin clean and dry is vital to preventing skin yeast infections, particularly in skin folds, sinceCandida albicansgrows best in wet, warm environments.
A Word From Verywell
If you suspect you have candidiasis, consult your healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis and recommended course of treatment. While these infections are generally easily treatable, some cases, such as candida sepsis, can greatly affect your health and wellness.
If you have a weakened immune system, yeast infections can be more difficult to treat and may recur. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best course of action for your specific situation.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Turner SA, Butler G.TheCandidapathogenic species complex.Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2014;4(9):a019778. doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a019778
Cleveland Clinic.Vaginal yeast infections: treatment, causes, prevention & symptoms.
University of Michigan Health, Michigan Medicine.Yeast skin infection: topic overview.
Maley AM, Arbiser JL.Gentian violet: a 19th century drug re-emerges in the 21st century.Exp Dermatol. 2013;22(12):775-780. doi:10.1111/exd.12257
Mikamo H, Matsumizu M, Nakazuru Y, Okayama A, Nagashima M.Efficacy and safety of a single oral 150 mg dose of fluconazole for the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis in Japan.J Infect Chemother.2015;21(7):520-526. doi:10.1016/j.jiac.2015.03.011
Cleveland Clinic.Thrush: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatments & prevention.
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