Fungal infections: how to avoid them, treat them, and help scare them off

Candida is a fungus that lives happily on our body.

It is found on our skin, in our ears and sometimes in our intestines and in other hard to get to areas like the rectum and birth canal.

When candida becomes a problem

While most of us will get a candida infection or thrush for the first time after taking an antibiotic, or having an infection of the intestine or the birth canal, a small number of us will get fungal infections because our immune system is not working normally either due to medication we are on, or because we have a condition that lowers our immune response.

Candida becomes a problem when bacteria that usually keep the candida population under control, decrease in numbers or become weak.

The most common example of this is taking antibiotics or medication that changes the normal bacteria in our gut leaving room for other fungi and viruses to increase in number.

Less commonly, fungus is introduced to the skin or body from clothing, another person or the atmosphere in warm, humid countries.

Some of us are naturally prone to infections like candida -either due to our genes or our genes plus our diet and environment. So don’t be disheartened if you keep getting repeated thrush or skin fungal infections; it’s not always a result of something you are ‘not’ doing.

Diet

Diets high is refined sugars and refined cardbohydrates like cakes, sweet drinks,biscuits, alcohol, bread and pasta, can upset the natural gut bacteria allowing candida to become stronger and take over. Sugar is also known to stop the cells that fight infection-called phagocytes- from eating up unknown, viruses and fungi.

We don’t fully understand what happens but the bacteria, fungi and viruses in our intestines and skin- also called our microbiome- change with diets high in refined sugars and low in fresh vegetables.

Reducing our food diversity can also reduce the different types of bacteria in our gut, so eating just bread or fruits will change the make-up of our gut bacteria.

Stress

Our microbiome can even be altered by stress and negative thoughts and feelings, it can be affected by body lotions and soaps we use and even the city or town we live in!

So try to relax and accept that you have a fungal infection and that it will get better.

How do we keep our microbiome healthy to help prevent fungal infections?

• Restoring and maintaining our natural gut bacteria

• Diet, Exercise and stress reduction

• Supplements or food

Often, we are quick to think that taking a probiotic will help, and it may, but usually it’s a combination of things.

I’m always cautious of relying too much on probiotics. I’ve heard many scientists say they are concerned probiotics could become overused like antibiotics, and that this potentially could lead to problems with our microbiome.

So instead of a pill eat foods that contain naturally occurring probiotics.

If you don’t exercise regularly, then try and add even ten minutes of walking to your daily schedule.

If you eat lots of refined foods, think about how you could eat more vegetables, beans, whole fruits and nuts every day. Maybe a make a vegetable soup and add some fresh herbs. Keep bananas and other fruit to hand when you feel hungry.

Drink around 3 litres of fresh water each day

Take ten minutes a day to rest and unwind. Deep breathing can help, or, go and do something you enjoy. Laugh and sing your heart-out! 

If you have been on a broad-spectrum antibiotic, multiple antibiotics, antacids for your stomach or drugs that affect your immune system, then taking a probiotic can help restore your natural gut flora/bacteria.

Studies have shown that taking the probiotics while taking antibiotics is more effective than taking the probiotic afterwards.

To date there is evidence to support the use of lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium probiotics. But not everyone will find it changes their gut bacteria. And there are many other types of probiotics available to buy with up to 50 types of bacteria.

Instead of taking a pill there are many naturally occurring probiotics such as fermented yogurts-no sugar of course; fermented cabbages like saurkrauts and kim chi, and fermented drinks such as kefir and kombucha!

Equally, instead of taking a probiotic we can change our gut microbiome by eating a wide range of vegetables, whole fruits, beans, nuts and herbs which are sometimes called pre-biotics.

How do you treat a fungal infections?

• Diet

Sometimes just changing your diet and how you live can restore the skin’s microbiome causing fungi to die off back to low levels; however, more often you will need an anti-fungal cream, and in some cases an anti-fungal tablet.

It depends on each person and how badly the fungal infection is.

• Creams, tablets, pessaries and nail laquers.

Creams should be applied over the affected area twice a day and continued until the rash or redness has completely gone- this can take

·       1-2 weeks for vaginal thrush,

·       4-6 weeks for fungal infections of the skin, so be patient.

 

Tablets are taken for different lengths of time depending on where the fungal infection is

·       1 day for vaginal thrush or 3 days if dose of medication is lower

·       7-10 days for oral thrush

·       6-12 weeks for fungal infections of the nails.

 

Pessaries are given as either a cream or tablets that is inserted into the vaginal canal

·       It can be used for 1 night

·       3 night

·       Or in some cases every month for 6 months if the thrush is persistent.

 

Nail lacquer is a liquid that is painted onto the nail

·       This is applied usually for 3-4 months

If you have fungal infection or the feet or skin or vaginal thrush, then remember to wear natural fibers like cotton underwear or cotton socks.

Fungal infection of the nails sometimes requires an anti-fungal tablet which can potentially affect how your liver works, so your doctor will ask you have a liver blood test done before starting it and during treatment.

This tablet is different to the tablet used for oral or vaginal thrush, which doesn’t have any serious side-effects.

Vaginal thrush is very common. Even after treatment it may return and sometimes a longer course of tablets or pessaries are given. Thrush can be a sexually transmitted infection so if you keep getting it and you are sexually active ask your partner if they have any symptoms and make sure they get treatment too.

Should you be worried if you get repeated fungal infections?

If you are at risk of an infection that can affect your immune system, such as HIV or hepatitis B and C then it’s important to have these blood tests checked.

If you are on medication that affects your immune system like steroids or treatment for an inflammatory condition like rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis, then look at your lifestyle. You may be able to change your diet, exercise and relaxation habits to reduce you getting further infections.

Even if you have an autoimmune condition or infection that increases your risk of fungal infections, making dietary and lifestyle changes will help reduce the fungal infection coming back.

If you are otherwise healthy, then it may be that you simply prone to fungal infections.

Always see a doctor if you are getting repeated infections or if you feel unwell with the infection.