How To Get Rid Of Yeast Infection In South Africa
What is Yeast Infection?
A vaginal yeast infection (vaginal candidiasis) is caused by an overgrowth of a fungus that naturally lives in the vagina, called Candida albicans.
This overgrowth triggers irritation, inflammation, itching, and painful discharge. Most women experience a yeast infection at some point during their lifetime.
If this is your first time experiencing the symptoms of a yeast infection, visit a gynecologist to verify that you actually have a yeast infection and not something else.
But if you have recurring yeast infections, talk with a doctor about other safe ways to treat a yeast infection or perhaps prevent reoccurrence.
How To Get Rid Of Yeast Infection In South Africa
Treatment for yeast infections depends on the severity and frequency of your infections.
For mild to moderate symptoms and infrequent episodes, your doctor might recommend:
- Short-course vaginal therapy. Taking an antifungal medication for three to seven days will usually clear a yeast infection. Antifungal medications — which are available as creams, ointments, tablets and suppositories — include miconazole (Monistat 3) and terconazole. Some of these medications are available over-the-counter and others by prescription only.
- Single-dose oral medication. Your doctor might prescribe a one-time, single oral dose of fluconazole (Diflucan). Oral medication isn’t recommended if you’re pregnant. To manage more-severe symptoms, you might take two single doses three days apart.
See your doctor again if treatment doesn’t resolve your symptoms or if your symptoms return within two months.
If your symptoms are severe, or you have frequent yeast infections, your doctor might recommend:
- Long-course vaginal therapy. Your doctor might prescribe an antifungal medication taken daily for up to two weeks, followed by once a week for six months.
- Multidose oral medication. Your doctor might prescribe two or three doses of an antifungal medication to be taken by mouth instead of vaginal therapy. However, this therapy isn’t recommended for pregnant women.
- Azole resistant therapy. Your doctor might recommend boric acid, a capsule inserted into your vagina. This medication may be fatal if taken orally and is used only to treat candida fungus that is resistant to the usual antifungal agents.
11 home remedies for treating yeast infections
1.Take Probiotics
Many yeast infections occur when your immune system is busy or damaged. It’s common to experience yeast infections while on antibiotics because your body’s normal bacteria die off.
2.Eat Yogurt
Yogurt is another healthy source of probiotics. Just make sure that you eat the yogurt. It doesn’t offer any benefits when applied topically, and the sugar that’s present in all yogurt may cause other infections as well.
3.Apply Saltwater Rinses
Yeast infections can sometimes be reduced and soothed by rinsing the area gently with saltwater. Mix a half teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm water. For oral thrush, you can gently swish the mixture around in your mouth. For other areas of your body, you can soak the infected area for several minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
4.Apply Coconut Oil
Coconut oil seems to act as an antifungal agent both in the lab and in people.
You can gently apply a thin layer of coconut oil to the site of the yeast infection. This may help kill off some of the yeast and may soothe irritated, dry, uncomfortable skin, allowing it to heal.
5.Use Tea Tree Oil
Some studies suggest that tea tree oil is particularly effective against yeast while not seriously affecting the bacteria that naturally live on the body. While more research needs to be done, tea tree oil may be a useful treatment.
6.Take Antifungal Medications
The most effective treatment for any fungal infection is to take antifungal medications. There are many medications available, from oral medications to topical creams, ointments, and suppositories for vaginal yeast infections. If you are sure you have a yeast infection, you can find many treatments available over the counter.
7. Apple cider vinegar
One popular yeast infection remedy is an apple cider vinegar bath.
Vinegar has many medicinal uses, some more proven by research than others. When you add a half cup of apple-67 cider vinegar to a lukewarm bathtub and soak for 20 minutes, the acidic component of the vinegar can eliminate any harmful microorganisms, including yeast.
An apple cider vinegar bath is not the same as douching, which aims to flush out all bacteria (good and bad) from your vagina. Doing so leaves you more prone to a reoccurrence of the yeast infection. Don’t douche with apple cider vinegar.
Vinegar should be diluted in water before touching the skin. In addition, consider adding apple cider vinegar to your diet.
8. Garlic
In a 2005 lab study, garlic was shown to be an effective Candida killer.
While more studies are needed, research from 2019 examined the effect of using a garlic solution on sores of the mouth and found it was effective in inhibiting the growth of Candida. However, it was not as effective as using nystatin (Nystop), an antifungal medication.
If you want to try garlic to treat a yeast infection, add more garlic to your diet. Some websites recommend inserting garlic in the vagina, but burns and significant pain have been reported. Stick with adding garlic to foods instead.
9. Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a bacteria- and yeast-killing antiseptic. Hydrogen peroxide is produced by Lactobacillus bacteria in the vagina and is part of the biological activity against yeast.
While it won’t work on every species of yeast, some people swear by using hydrogen peroxide topically when they get a yeast infection.
There’s no strong research to support the use of hydrogen peroxide to treat vaginal infections. Don’t douche with hydrogen peroxide. Adding it to a bath or diluting in water may help with yeast growing on the genitals.
10. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an immune system booster and also has a role in skin health. A strong immune system allows your body to bring itself back into balance.
Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, has antimicrobial components, so some people add it to their diet to treat Candida overgrowths.
Try increasing your intake of vitamin C to boost your body’s ability to beat the yeast infection. Don’t apply the acidic vitamin C to the sensitive vaginal tissue.
11. Vitamin E
Some doctors recommend vitamin E for certain types of vaginitis. In fact, studies have found vitamin E to help reduce inflammation in Candida albicans in the lab.
Keeping your body healthy with adequate intake of vitamins makes sense when dealing with a yeast infection.
Vitamin E as a suppository in the vagina or vitamin E oil can be used once or twice per day for 3 to 14 days to soothe the mucous membranes of the vagina and vulva.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Does yeast infection go away on its own?
A mild vaginal yeast infection may go away without treatment. If you have mild symptoms, you may want to wait to see if that happens. If you’re not pregnant and you know that your symptoms are caused by a yeast infection, you can treat it yourself with an over-the-counter antifungal medicine.
How do you get a yeast infection?
A yeast infection can happen if your skin gets damaged. Yeast can also “overgrow” in warm or humid conditions. An infection can also happen if you have a weak immune system. Taking antibiotics can also cause an overgrowth of yeast.
What is the main cause of yeast infection?
The main cause of a yeast infection is the overgrowth of yeast on an area of the body. The yeast species Candida albicans causes common yeast infections, but other species of Candida can also cause an infection. They may need different treatment.
Can drinking a lot of water flush out a yeast infection?
Drink plenty of water : Drinking plenty of water ensures that your urine gets diluted, and that you urinate more frequently. This will help flush out the unwanted bacteria from the body. In addition to water, you can also drink cranberry juice, as it is considered to be effective in preventing UTI’s.
How long do yeast infections last?
Mild yeast infections may clear up in as few as three days. Sometimes, they don’t even require treatment. However, moderate to severe infections may take one to two weeks to clear.
What does yeast infection look like?
Yeast infections often cause thick, white, clumpy vaginal discharge that usually doesn’t smell (or only smells slightly different than normal). You might also have a creamy, whitish coating in and around your vagina. Most yeast infections lead to itching, burning, and/or redness in or around the vagina.
Can you smell a yeast infection?
Yeast infections typically don’t cause any noticeable vaginal odors, which sets them apart from other vaginal infections. If there’s an odor, it’s usually rather mild and yeasty.
Can sperm cause yeast infections?
Your partner’s natural genital chemistry can change the balance of yeast and bacteria in your vagina. In rare cases, you can have an allergic reaction to your partner’s semen. Friction from sex, or certain types of lubricants, condoms, and sex toys may also cause irritation.
Can hot water cure yeast?
Yeast infections can sometimes be reduced and soothed by rinsing the area gently with saltwater. Mix a half teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm water.
Is cold water good for yeast infection?
Relieve itching with a cold pack or a cool bath. Don’t wash your vaginal area more than once a day. Use plain water or a mild, unscented soap. Air-dry the vaginal area.
What happens if you let a yeast infection go untreated?
If left untreated, vaginal candidiasis will most likely get worse, causing itching, redness, and inflammation in the area surrounding your vagina. This may lead to a skin infection if the inflamed area becomes cracked, or if continual scratching creates open or raw areas.
Can dirty fingers cause yeast infection?
Girls can have vaginal infections for all sorts of reasons that have nothing to do with sexual contact such as stress, for example. Even if you’re not having intercourse, fingering and oral sex can lead to infection. Ask your boyfriend to wash his hands before touching your genitals.
Can spit cause yeast infections?
The medical expert said it could be worse for women as saliva could upset the vagina environment to cause vaginal or yeast infections. “Saliva cannot even be as slippery as expected which can easily cause tear because it gets dried up easily.
Can shaving cause a yeast infection?
Shaving can create tiny wounds that are highly susceptible to infection. So, going Brazilian might have you going to the doctor. Similarly, pubic hair creates a neutral zone between your skin and clothing. [This] allows the vagina to breathe and better protect against bacterial build-up and infections.”
Do showers help yeast infections?
As a rule, showers are better than baths when you’re in the process of treating a yeast infection. If you do take a sitz bath with Epsom salt, apple cider vinegar, boric acid, or any other home remedy while you’re treating your yeast infection, don’t soak for more than 10 minutes at a time.