Candida Skin Rashes | Rose Wellness

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1. Symptoms of Candidiasis of the Skin
2. Causes of Candida Overgrowth
3. Treatment for Candidiasis
4. How Can We Help?

Many people are surprised to learn that various fungi and bacteria live on your skin. Some fungi are beneficial while others are harmful. An overgrowth of Candida on the skin is known as cutaneous candidiasis or candidiasis of the skin. Candidiasis causes an itchy red rash. A Candida rashes or infection is one of the most common fungal skin diseases. Each year there are more than 3.6 million outpatient visits and 26,000 hospitalizations in the United States for fungal skin infections. In addition to this, millions of individuals suffer from a skin infection without seeking out medical help.

Symptoms of Candidiasis of the Skin

The primary symptom of a candida rashes or overgrowth on the skin is typically bright red rash and causes extreme itching. If the skin becomes infected, this can lead to-

• Irritation
• Pain
• Blisters
• Cracked skin

Although the rash can occur anywhere, the most typical place is within the folds of your skin. The most common locations include under your breasts, the groin area, the armpits, or between your fingers. In addition to this, a yeast infection can form on the corners of your mouth, along with the sides of your nails, or under the nails.

If left untreated, the rash can spread to other areas of your body. The symptoms of yeast infection of the skin can be treated using anti-fungal powders or creams and good hygiene.

Causes of Candida Overgrowth

Candida is a fungus that lives on the skin; however, when it begins to uncontrollably multiply, it can result in an infection. There are several things that can increase the risk of fungal overgrowth, including:

• A weak immune system caused by pregnancy, diabetes, and other medical conditions
• Antibiotics
• Corticosteroids and other medications that can affect your immune system
• Incomplete drying of wet skin
• Infrequent undergarment changes
• Obesity
• Poor hygiene
• Tight clothing
• Warm weather

Fungi thrive in damp locations, which is why it commonly occurs in the folds of skin. Diapers hold moisture which is why babies can develop candidiasis on their buttocks.

Candidiasis of the skin is not typically contagious; however, those with a weak immune system are at risk of becoming infected if they come in contact with the candida fungus. Furthermore, those who have a compromised immune system are at an increased risk of developing a severe infection.

Usually, your skin doctor will inspect your skin and make a diagnosis. In some cases a skin culture may be needed of the affected area for accurate analysis.

Treatment for Candidiasis

The most important thing you can do for treatment of candidiasis is to practice proper hygiene. Wash the affected area with dye-free and scent-free soap regularly. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry, ensuring the skin is completely dry before getting dressed. Damp or wet clothing like sweaty workout clothes or swimsuits should be removed promptly. Opt for loose fitting clothing and change your undergarments and socks regularly.

Candida feeds on sugar; therefore, you should reduce the amount of sugar you consume. In addition to this, a probiotic supplement, as well as fermented foods, can help to reduce the amount of fungus on the skin and in the body by rebalancing your gut flora. If your fungal infection is severe, your doctor may recommend an antifungal cream or powder. This treatment is applied to the skin and works by eradicating the Candida fungus.

Excess candida on the skin will typically go away with treatment. Typically, it takes one to two weeks to make a recovery, depending on the severity of the overgrowth. There is a risk of a return infection, especially with those with a compromised immune system, including those with HIV or Aids or those undergoing chemotherapy.

How Can We Help?

Our team of skin specialists understand the intricacies of the human body. We provide a holistic approach to treatment of candidiasis that includes improving your immune system, reducing the amount of fungi on the skin, and thereby improving your overall skin health. Food, diet, stress and your gut health all impact the health of the skin. Our integrative practitioners will help uncover the root cause of your skin issues. You do not have to live with skin infections and uncomfortable candida rashes.

About the Author: Rose Wellness

Rose Wellness offers Holistic, Integrative and Functional Medicine services for treating chronic issues as well as for preventive care. Join us and take control of your health, your most important asset.

Do you know, yeast overgrowth can cause this Itchy rash?

There are many kinds of fungus that live in the human body. One of them is Candida. It’s a type of yeast that normally lives in small amounts in places like mouth, and belly, or on your skin without causing any problems. But when the environment is right, the yeast can multiply and grow out of control.

Its main job is to help out with digestion and nutrient absorption.

But when overproduced, it can break down the wall of the intestine and penetrate the bloodstream — releasing toxic by-products into the body and causing leaky gut and candidiasis. This can lead to many different health problems, from digestive issues to depression, sensitivity to various food products.

There are many kinds of fungus that live in the human body. One of them is Candida. It’s a type of yeast that normally lives in small amounts in places like mouth, and belly, or on your skin without causing any problems. But when the environment is right, the yeast can multiply and grow out of control.

Its main job is to help out with digestion and nutrient absorption.

But when overproduced, it can break down the wall of the intestine and penetrate the bloodstream — releasing toxic by-products into the body and causing leaky gut and candidiasis. This can lead to many different health problems, from digestive issues to depression, sensitivity to various food products.

Why does it overgrow?

Under normal circumstances, the healthy bacteria in gut typically keep yeast levels in check. However, a few factors can cause the population to grow out of control:

Eating a diet high in refined carbohydrates and sugar

• Consuming a lot of alcohol regularly
• long term use of oral contraceptives
• Eating a diet high in beneficial fermented foods (like Kombucha, sauerkraut, and pickles, Kefir)
• High-stress lifestyle

Multiple courses of antibiotics which kill friendly bacteria

How to know that you could be having yeast overgrowth:

Skin issues like eczema, psoriasis, hives, and rashes.

Strong sugar and refined carbohydrate craving skin and nail fungal infections, such as athlete’s foot or toenail fungus.

Feeling tired and low on energy, suffering from chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia.

Digestive issues such as bloating, constipation, or diarrhea.

Autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, lupus, psoriasis, scleroderma, or multiple sclerosis.

Difficulty concentrating, poor memory, lack of focus, ADD, ADHD, and brain fog.

Irritability, mood swings, anxiety, or depression.

Vaginal infections, urinary tract infections, rectal itching, or vaginal itching.

Severe seasonal allergies or itchy ears.

How does it cause leaky gut and Autoimmune diseases:

As we know yeast infections and diaper rash are well-known conditions and generally easy to spot, however when it is overproduced in the gut, candida will break down the walls of our digestive tract and penetrate the bloodstream. When left untreated, it’s more dangerous than one could imagine!

It can also be toxic to the system. Essentially, when it breaches the intestinal barrier and enters the bloodstream it releases toxic byproducts such as acetaldehyde into the body. Acetaldehyde is a well-known carcinogen and is responsible for “hangover” symptoms such as nausea, headache, fatigue, and liver damage.

This leads to a condition called leaky gut, leaky gut creates the perfect environment for the yeast to multiply, pass through the intestinal lining, and enter the bloodstream along with the undigested food particles. Meanwhile, it can colonize the gut and damage the intestinal lining. therefore leaky gut and yeast overgrowth compliment each other!

How it adversely affects liver:

Similar to leaky gut syndrome, yeast overgrowth releases toxins into the bloodstream that must be removed by the liver. If there are too many toxins due to overgrowth, it can overload the liver and interfere with its ability to do its job. This means over toxicity and trouble maintaining blood sugar levels, storing vitamins and minerals, and regulating hormones, your anxiety, mood swings, unexplained lack of sex drive are related to this!

The connection between yeast and the liver also explains why many of the symptoms of overgrowth like irritability, fatigue, and brain fog—are similar to those of an overburdened liver. It also explains why many cleanse or nutrition programs include liver support supplements and detoxification support.

Inflammation:

Overgrowth, leaky gut, an overburdened liver, and the physical and mental symptoms they create can trigger the immune system to react, causing CHRONIC INFLAMMATION, this can manifest itself in uncomfortable symptoms like weight gain, skin rashes, or brain fog and can eventually lead to autoimmune disease.

The relationship between the yeast, the liver, inflammation, and gut health is extremely complex, but it’s important to remember that everything in the body is connected, the body is whole. Different organs rely on and interact with each other. Adopting a functional medicine approach instead of treating each symptom individually will give the best results at achieving optimal health. This is a perspective that is often missing in the conventional medical approach, leaving many people bouncing from one specialist to another, with an each of the symptoms which can’t  connect.

Diagnosis can be tricky:

Yeast overgrowth affects everyone differently and symptoms can be diverse and difficult to describe (as they are often closely similar to inflammatory and autoimmune symptoms), making a diagnosis difficult. Some people suffer for years with nonspecific symptoms before they figure out that candida is actually to blame. If you suffer from one, a few, or many of the above-mentioned symptoms it might be an indication that the yeast is the cause.

To further complicate the matter, your doctor might not consider candida when trying to find the root cause of your symptoms and if he or she does, they might not know how to test for it or treat it successfully. It’s often suspected that a chronic overgrowth in the gut is frequently misdiagnosed as diseases like chronic fatigue syndrome or skin disorder and that it might play a significant role in inflammatory diseases like ulcerative colitis.

This makes sense because conditions like IBS have been named to describe chronic, generalizable diseases with no clear root cause or single explanation. Basically, IBS is a blanket diagnosis given to many patients suffering from a chronic upset stomach. So, it’s not too much of a reach to hypothesize that dysbiosis and candida overgrowth could be a major contributor to the problem.

Blood test

You can consider checking your levels for antibodies called IgG, IgA, and IgM. This can easily be done through most medical labs, and high levels can give clues to an overgrowth.

Though I have found in my clinic that these tests can be negative even when a stool or urine test is positive. Which brings me to the next two tests:

Urine Organix Dysbiosis Test

This urine test looks for a waste product of overgrowth that’s called D-arabinitol. Elevated results indicate an overgrowth, and the test can help determine if there is candida in the upper gut or small intestines.

Comprehensive stool testing

This seems to be the most accurate test amongst all. The lab will check for candida in the colon or lower intestines, and can usually determine the species of yeast too, as well as which treatment will be most effective.

How to treat overgrowth?

To successfully treat it, you need to do three things:

Stop the yeast overgrowth,

Build up the friendly bacteria

 Heal gut so that candida can no longer enter the bloodstream.

Getting rid of the overgrowth: which mainly requires switching to a low-carbohydrate diet.Sugar is what feeds yeast. So eliminating sugar in all of its simple forms — such as candy, desserts, alcohol, and flours. At the same time, cut back on the more complex carbohydrates, like grains, rice, beans, fruit, bread, pasta, and potatoes. This will help prevent the candida from growing and will eventually cause it to die.

Eliminate all fermented foods.

Using diet alone could take three to six months before it is back under control. So, Its often recommend that my patients use an anti-fungal medication, such as Diflucan or Nystatin, for at least a month.

Finally, healing gut by eliminating inflammatory foods that can harm  GI tract — and introduce anti inflammatory foods— will prevent the yeast from working its way through gut into the body, and dramatically improve overall health.

If you want to find out if you have overgrowth? Consider seeing a Functional medicne doctor, who is trained in detecting and treating it.

Dr. Kalpana Shekhawat-M.D

Functional medicine specialist

BHRT consultant

Tests for skin problems

Normal human skin has a uniform “healthy” pink color, is smooth, moisturized, without
any obvious changes. In all other cases, we can talk about skin problems. Skin pathologies
are a very common problem in the population. These include: atopic problems, acne (acne
rash), serious dermatological diseases such as psoriasis, eczema, epidermolysis bullosa, etc.,
excessively dry or oily skin. Problems can be accompanied by a variety of clinical manifestations –
various types of rashes, itching and burning, discoloration of the skin, soreness, and so on. In addition, various problems
can affect various parts of the body, including the head and neck, vulva, back, etc.

In case of changes in the skin and undiagnosed pathology, you should consult a dermatologist, as
first you need to examine the skin and make a preliminary diagnosis. After that you can go to
laboratory diagnostic research methods.

Skin problems can have many causes, so the tests that may be helpful vary.

1. Allergological tests

special tests that allow you to evaluate the body’s response to an irritating protein. For this on the skin, less often
the allergen is applied intradermally. After a few hours, sometimes days (depending on the allergen), the
a reaction that can be negative or positive, sometimes indefinite. positive response to
any allergen suggests its possible effect on external changes on the part of the body, such as
rash. In the future, if possible, the allergen should be excluded from life, if this is not possible, then
use special medications aimed at reducing the reactivity of the body. Necessary
monitor rashes and other changes on the skin in order to unequivocally judge the effect of the allergen on
clinical symptoms.

2. Complete blood count

Changes in the skin can be caused by infectious and inflammatory processes, allergic reactions, etc.
a general blood test can assess the general condition and suspect any cause. The research is aimed at
study of the level of basic blood parameters, including cellular composition, hemoglobin level and speed
erythrocyte sedimentation. With any inflammation, including skin inflammation, the number of leukocytes often increases.
blood and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Low hemoglobin levels, indicating anemia, can also
seen in skin problems. With an increase in the level of blood eosinophils of more than 5%, it can be assumed
allergic component of the pathology, however, the concentration of eosinophils can also increase with parasitic infections
(helminthiases). At the same time, it is not possible to determine the exact cause of the change in blood counts without
additional research.

3. Syphilis and HIV test

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by Treponema pallidum bacteria that affects
skin, mucous membranes, connective tissues, etc. HIV infection occurs in people infected with the virus
human immunodeficiency, and can also present with skin lesions along with other serious disorders,
associated with acquired immunodeficiency. Therefore, when changes appear on the skin, it is recommended
testing for these infections.

4. Biochemical blood test

a process that could cause skin disorders is a biochemical blood test. The analysis is based on
assessment of the concentration of various products of biochemical reactions. Plasma proteins are the first to be assessed.
including inflammatory C-reactive protein, glucose, cholesterol and lipoprotein levels, creatinine, various
liver enzymes, etc. Skin problems can occur due to pathologies of the liver and biliary tract,
in which the level of AST, ALT and other enzymes will increase in blood biochemistry. kidney problems,
which increases the concentration of creatinine and urea in plasma, can also be reflected by external lesions
skin covers. In addition, a biochemical blood test allows you to diagnose many other pathologies,
which in one way or another can affect the skin and other body systems and require the appointment of a drug
treatment.

5. Urinalysis

The skin is a good marker of various problems in the human body, as it is not hidden from the eyes. On her
condition, as already mentioned, can be affected by inflammatory processes, including those occurring in
urinary system. Therefore, with an unknown pathology, all patients with problematic skin are recommended
take a general urine test. An external assessment of the biological material and microscopy of the sediment are carried out. Appreciate
the number of leukocytes and bacteria, the presence of which in large numbers characterizes the inflammatory process
and requires treatment. Urinalysis can also be used to suspect serious renal pathologies, up to renal failure.
insufficiency, with an increased content of protein in the urine, glucose, a large number of red blood cells. big
the content of epithelial cells in the sediment may indicate a malignant neoplasm or severe
inflammatory process.

6. Immunological examination

Immune problems – congenital and acquired immunodeficiencies, may be accompanied by skin changes. During
studies evaluate the number of lymphocytes, both total and individual groups. Immune System Disorders
of the human body can lead to acne, as well as to frequent infections accompanied by external
changes in the skin of the face and other parts of the body.

7. Fecal analysis, including helminthic pathogens

Any disorders of the intestinal microflora can be manifested by rashes on the skin, excessive oiliness and other
changes, so a stool test can help identify the cause of the symptoms. When eggs of pathogens are detected
parasitic infections are drug therapy.

In the event that the study revealed a violation of the intestinal microbiota, it is necessary to follow a diet for
restoration of balance, and in the presence of pathogenic microorganisms, the use of chemicals. Except
In addition, with problematic skin, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract cannot be excluded, in the diagnosis of which analysis
feces can also help.

8. Microscopic examination of scrapings

Biological material for this type of examination is obtained by “desquamation” of scales from the site of the lesion.
Then they are placed on a glass slide and examined under a microscope. This method can detect
elements of fungi – spores, yeast cells, mycelium, as well as mites and / or their eggs if scabies is suspected.

9. Histological examination

Histological examination involves the evaluation of a piece of tissue under a microscope. The fabric is obtained by cutting
thin layer of skin. Then you need to make a drug. To do this, it is fixed and stained. Next study
under high magnification under a microscope and evaluate cell layers, tissue growth, uniformity
distribution of cells, their shape and size, the presence / absence of nuclei, cytoplasm, inclusions and the rest. First
In turn, the study helps to exclude / confirm the tumor process.

Listed above are the main laboratory tests that should be done for problematic skin. In case on
based on the examination by a doctor and the results of the tests, it was not possible to make a final diagnosis, there may be
additional research has been carried out. For example, inoculation of material on biological media to detect
pathogen in infectious lesions of the skin, the study of the contents of the rash, if any, serological
methods and more.

The result of any study can only be evaluated by a specialist, so after passing the study
be sure to consult a doctor for the correct interpretation of the results, diagnosis and appointment
timely correct treatment of the problem.

If you have questions about what tests to take for problematic skin, what to do for skin problems
persons, what to pay attention to, how to choose a specialist, etc. , please contact the DCLI laboratory. We are glad to you
we will help and answer any of your questions, as well as help in the selection of the necessary studies.

Miliary dermatitis in cats – Treatment

Contents:

• Symptoms
• Diagnosis
• Treatment

Symptoms.

Miliary dermatitis in cats is manifested by the appearance on the skin of multiple small hard bumps or nodules with redness under them. The lesion can occupy a small part of the body, for example, on the head or in the area at the base of the tail, or spread everywhere. Often this disease is accompanied by unbearable itching. In these cases, the animal can seriously injure itself by scratching the inflamed areas and trying to lick itchy areas.

Diagnostics.

An experienced veterinarian can diagnose miliary dermatitis in a cat with a simple examination. The challenge is to identify the causes of the disease. Here it is important to pay attention to the localization of the lesion on the body of the cat. If the nodules are concentrated in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe base of the tail, then it is likely that fleas became the culprits of the dermatitis. The affected head signals the presence of ticks in the animal. To identify the causes and develop an optimal treatment plan, your veterinarian may order a complete physical examination for your pet. In addition, your personal observations of the animal can help identify the cause of the disease. Since fleas are often the cause of miliary dermatitis in cats, the task of the veterinarian, using a special comb, is to carefully check the animal for their presence. Even if the insects themselves are not found, their feces may remain on the ridge, the peculiarity of which is the ability to color the water red. The reason is that the composition of flea feces is the digested blood of a cat.

The veterinarian should check the animal’s coat and for lice. In addition, a scraping is taken from the skin, which is examined for the presence of ticks in the cat’s body. To determine whether there are intestinal parasites in the animal’s body, a special analysis of feces is also done.

If a food allergy is suspected as the cause of the dermatitis, the animal is given a test diet. This means that for several months the cat only eats special food prescribed by a specialist. If the condition of the animal improves, it is again transferred to its usual diet. Has the disease returned? So, its cause lies precisely in allergenic foods. They must be excluded, and the animal should be fed with special feeds that exclude the occurrence of allergies. It should be remembered that the trial period implies strict adherence to all doctor’s instructions regarding the nutrition of the animal. The cat should not receive any additional food other than that prescribed by the veterinarian.
Sometimes, even the tests and tests carried out do not reveal the cause of the disease. In this case, the veterinarian will resort to additional tests to check the animal’s response to steroid drugs and / or antibiotics. Thus, it becomes possible to determine the bacterial causes of allergies. A biopsy of the skin of the animal is also prescribed.

Treatment.

The method of treating this disease directly depends on the cause of its occurrence. If at the moment the animal is already undergoing treatment for any other disease, it is necessary to stop it if possible, since there is a high probability that the dermatitis causes the body’s reaction to medications. To rid the animal of lice, fleas and ticks, special products are used, which include pyrethrin. As part of the treatment, it is necessary to carry out procedures to decontaminate the animal’s habitat. You can get rid of ringworm with the help of oral medicines and special ointments, which include fungicides. In this case, a number of measures should also be taken to decontaminate the environment of the pet.

When intestinal parasites are found in a cat, the veterinarian will prescribe a special treatment aimed at a specific type of parasite.