Male Yeast Infections
A male yeast infection is caused by the same organism
that causes vaginal yeast infections in women, oral thrush, and
diaper rash – Candida albicans.
Candida is a tiny one-celled yeast that lives on the skin and in the
intestines of at least 80% of all people. Fortunately, the yeast
rarely causes anyone any problems, but when conditions are just
right for it, it morphs into its infectious form – and then the
itching starts.
A male yeast infection shows up as an itching, red
rash on the penis. While the infection is occasionally shared among
sexual partners, it is not considered a sexually transmitted
disease. Your doctor will prescribe a topical cream to use on the
infected area, and it should clear up within a week.
Once their current itchiness and rash is gone, most people would
prefer to never get another yeast infection. To protect yourself,
keep your penis clean and dry, particularly under the foreskin.
Yeast loves to live in moist, warm areas that don’t get aired out
very often. Since the yeast is more than happy to live on other
areas of your body as well, such the area around your anus and under
your armpits, you’ll want to keep those areas clean and dry, too.
Your doctor may suggest an absorbent powder to help keep your
perspiration from maintaining a nice snug home for yeast.
There are several other things that can increase the risk of a yeast
infection. The use of antibiotics, for instance, can reduce the
numbers of beneficial bacteria in your body and on your skin, and
this can lead to an overgrowth of yeast. Fortunately, the bacteria
come back again, and things will eventually go back to normal. To
speed things up, add a cup of unsweetened yogurt to your diet every
day. Some commercial brands of yogurt don’t help, so be sure the
yogurt container’s label says it contains “active cultures.”
If you seem to get an infection every time you have sex, you and
your partner could be sharing your yeast back and forth. Or, you
could be using a condom that contains a spermicide that kills off
your beneficial bacteria. Check the label, and if it says
“spermicide” anywhere on the package, consider switching to another
brand.
Changes in your hormone balance can also increase the risk of a male
yeast infection. Men are affected by fewer hormone swings than
women, but if you’re overweight, your fat cells could be causing
your yeast infection. Obesity leads to insulin resistance, which
causes your body to produce more insulin in response to rising
glucose levels in the bloodstream. Since insulin is a hormone,
insulin resistance can increase your risk of yeast infections.
Of course, insulin resistance also increases your risk of diabetes,
which is a considerably more serious condition than a Candida
outbreak. If you’re overweight and you get yeast infections, get
yourself to a doctor and ask for a thorough checkup – it could save
your life.
The overall best “cure” to keep male yeast infections from coming
back is to eat a good diet that is low in sugar and fat, get plenty
of exercise, and keep yourself clean and dry.
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Prevent Yeast Infection
Resources
To learn everything you need to know about yeast infections - what
causes them, how to treat them, and how to keep them from coming
back, as well as receive a free report called “4 Important Facts About Yeast
Infections” - visit:
Prevent Yeast Infections
© 2007 Jonni Good - Author of
"17 Things You Need To
Know To Prevent Yeast Infections"
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