Yeast Infection Pictures

 

Sure there are descriptions of what yeast infections look and feel like, but what exactly does thrush look like?  Here are some yeast infection pictures to help you better diagnose if you do indeed have a candida outbreak.

Skin Rash: Clusters of red dots

Oral Thrush: Candida infection of the inner cheeks

Yeast Infection: Infected nails become yellow and will detach from the nail bed.

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Natural Candiasis Cure - Oil of Oregano

Uses of oil of oregano

The health benefits of oil of oregano are numerous.  Oil of oregano has long been used as an alternative treatment and cure of fungal and yeast infections.  This supplement is often taken internally for Candida albicans overgrowth of the intestines, leaky gut syndrome, or oral thrush.  It can be applied topically in diluted form to treat rashes, jock itch, and vaginal yeast infections.

Where does oil of oregano come from?

Oregano is an herb that is found in wilds of Mediterranean regions such as Greece.  Today oregano is cultivated worldwide. Oregano is an aromatic herb that can grow to about two feet in height. The leaves and dried herb as well as the volatile oil of the oregano plant are used medicinally.

What gives oil of oregano its medicinal properties?

Oil of oregano contains several powerful compounds including carvacrol, thymol, and borneol, flavonoids, rosmarinic acid, triterpenoids (e.g. ursolic and oleanolic acid), sterols, and vitamin A and vitamin C. The thymol and carvacrol in oil of oregano are antimicrobials and antifungals. Studies have demonstrated that oil of oregano, and carvacrol in particular, inhibited the growth of Candida albicans.

In addition to its anti-fungal properties, and according to the results of another study from Australia, oil of oregano has a strong anti-microbial action against a wide number of bacteria, including E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella enterica, and Staphylococcus aureus.  Studies have also shown that oil of oregano from Mexican species of the herb are more effective than the prescription medication tinidazol in inhibiting certain parasites such as Giardia duodenalis).

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Olive leaf extract - a natural cure for a yeast infection or thrush

An abundance of scientific information is coming out with evidence of the healing power of plants.  Nature has already provided us with many compounds that fight cancer or protect us from harmful micro organisms.  These natural compounds are found in fruits, vegetables, leaves, stems, and roots.  They are called a variety of names such as polyphenols, flavonoids, pycnogenols, glucosinolates, isoprenoids, carotenoids, flavonols, tocotirenols, and proanthocyanadins. 

One such compound is oleuropein which is found in the olive leaf.  The olive leaf has a long history in the western world.  It is the first plant mentioned in the Bible, regarded as a symbol of heavenly power by the Egyptians, and has been used as a popular folk remedy for curing feavers.  It was even successfully used to cure fever and malaria about 150 years ago.  Daniel Hanbury who discovered the healing recipe conjectured that the healing powers of the olive leaf were due to a bitter substance in the leaves.  That substance is now called oleuropein which is produced naturally by the olive plant to fight insect and bacterial damage.  This substance is present in olive oil, and all olive products.  However, oleuropein is removed from olives when they are cured.

In the 1960s researchers discovered that oleuropein lowered blood pressure, increased blood flow in the coronary arteries, relieved arrhythmias, and prevented intestinal muscle spasms.  It was also discovered at this time that oleuropein is a powerful antifungal and antibacterial and an extremely strong antiviral.  Olive leaf extract can be used internally or applied topically to cure a yeast infection or thrush. 

Olive leaf extract is sold in caplet form and tinctures.  Since this is a bitter tasting compound, many people tend to prefer taking the extract in caplet form.  However, if you wish to use olive leaf extract as a topical application for thrush or a rash, you'll want to get a tincture. 


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Why is Candida albicans resistant to antifungals?

The treatment of Candida albicans is becoming more of a struggle as resistance to the limited number of antifungal drugs increases. Studies at the University of Minnesota have found that a certain chromosomal state, anneuploidy and an isochormosome, were responsible for resistance to azoles, important ingredients in antifungals.



Aneuploidy and Isochromosome Formation in Drug-Resistant Candida albicans


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Skin discoloration caused by yeast?

A problem that's exacerbated by tanning during the summer, white spots on skin can be caused by a type of yeast called tinea versicolor. Unlike other tinea molds that cause jock itch, athlete's foot, and ringworm, the yeasts are not contagious. The yeast doesn't actually cause the skin to be lighter, it just blocks the areas where they live from absorbing light and tanning. Those with oily, damp, or irritated skin are especially susceptible to versicolor yeasts.

During the winter, when skin becomes untanned, the spots can look darker than the surrounding skin or even red. The spots often appear in clusters of white dots. To treat this type of yeast infection you should use a cream for the treatment of athlete's foot or jock itch such as Lotrimin or Tinactin and apply twice daily to the affected area. Another possible treatment is to use a shampoo containing selenium such as Selsun Blue or Head and Shoulders. Of course you should always try natural remedies for curing yeast infections such as those posted earlier here at Yeast Infection Symptoms and Treatments.


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A yeast infection keeps coming back, what should I do?

Chronic yeast infections are the pits. You're not on antibiotics, have a healthy diet and lifestyle, and you don't have a weakened immune system. You may have even been tested for STD's and all your results came back negative. So what's causing this?

• If symptoms start appearing every month before your period, your natural hormone fluctuations could be the cause of your sensitivity to infections. Combat this by eating probiotic products like yogurt with live active cultures of Lactobacillus acidophilus, acidophilus supplements, or kefir. You'll also want to cut down on the amount of sugars and starches you consume. Try natural sweetners like stevia instead.
  
• If you're sexually active, then you and your partner may be passing the infection back and forth. Sometimes yeast infections in men don't show any outward symptoms, othertimes there may be itching and discharge. In any case you'll both want to see a doctor about this to make sure you aren't infecting each other.
• How do you wash your underwear? I know this is weird, but yeast from discharge could live and breed in the fabrics of your clothes. You'll want to wash your underwear with hot water (on an extra long cycle) after a yeast infection. And this is obvious to most people, but change your underwear everyday!
• Again, if you're sexually active, then some condoms may trigger a yeast infection. Condoms with the spermicide nonoxynol-9 may be irritating and it definitely upsets the pH of your system down there. Look for condoms that don't have nonoxynol-9, or use other forms of barrier protection. You may also be getting yeast infections if you're allergic to latex, try using plastic polyurethane condoms.

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