YourYeastInfection.com

All About Male and Female Yeast Infections

Treating Yeast Infections - Why Topical Treatments Are Best

Because almost all people are hosts to a population of Candida, your body has developed ways to prevent infection on its own.

Your mucous membranes are usually an effective barrier to infection, and your immune cells search out and destroy yeast cells that appear in the wrong places. Your own beneficial bacteria also work hard to keep the yeast population in check.

If you do get a yeast infection, it means that one or more of these natural defense systems has failed, or your chemical balance has changed. When choosing a treatment option, you should look for a form of treatment that will strengthen your natural defense system and improve your overall health, if at all possible.

A mild infection may go away on its own as your immune system, bacterial population, or hormone balance comes back into balance. Often, however, you will want to take steps to kill off the infectious yeasts in the vaginal area to get rid of the annoying symptoms as quickly as possible. Once this is accomplished, you will want to look at your diet and lifestyle to improve your general health so the infection doesn’t come back.

A shotgun approach to killing the yeast is rarely recommended. There are systemic antifungal medications that can be taken either orally or by IV injection, but most of the time your doctor will prescribe or recommend a topical cream or ointment that affects only the specific area where the infection occurs.

Topical treatments are almost always effective, but should only be used when needed. Some scientists are concerned that drug-resistant strains created by the misuse of over-the-counter antifungal medications may escape into the air, where they can infect other people.

Oral and IV medications are generally used only when a topical treatment doesn’t work. This can happen when the yeast has developed a resistance to the medications in the topical creams, or because the immune system is compromised.

Yeast infections in patients with compromised immune systems will, of course, be treated more aggressively. And if you have chronic yeast infections, your personal yeast population may already be resistant to the topical creams and ointments available in drug stores, or to a “natural” remedy that always worked for you before. In this case, your doctor may need to prescribe something stronger.

To learn more about how to treat yeast infections, please see the following articles:

• Treating Yeast Infections - Introduction
• Natural Home Yeast Infection Remedies You Should Use With Caution
• Using "Systemic Yeast Infection" Remedies for Vaginal and Male Yeast Infections
• Garlic for Yeast Infections
• Using Honey to Treat Yeast Infections
• Common Treatments for Male Yeast Infections, Diaper Rash and Skin Infections Caused by Candida Yeast
• Natural Remedies for Yeast Infections
• Over-The-Counter Yeast Infection Treatments
• Prescription Yeast Infection Medications
• Common Treatments for Oral Yeast Infections - Thrush
• Apple Cider Vinegar for Yeast Infections
• Using Yogurt for Yeast Infections

Important: The information presented on this page and other pages on this site is based upon the opinions of the author, and on the author's interpretation of published reports and articles. It is not intended to replace your relationship with a qualified health care professional, and is not intended as medical advice. 

The author encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon knowledge of the issues of nutrition and health, and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

Article Menu: