Brief Answer:
Information on medication and treatment for skin yeast

Detailed Answer:
Hello Ms. Gettman,

If you have been told by a doctor that your skin rash is caused by yeast (candida), then you can try an over the counter or prescription cream that contains clotrimazole, econazole, ciclopirox, miconazole, ketoconazole, or nystatin. You can get clotrimazole over the counter. Apply it to the area and also to a little bit of the surrounding area.

The thing about yeast is that if the conditions are right for it, it will return. We all have yeast on our skin, but we keep it in check with our immune system, the opposing microorganisms that live on our skin, and not having an environment that allows it to grow and cause trouble.

Yeast like warm, dark, moist environments, and need some sugar too (such as when baking bread). So if there is skin to skin contact in folds of the body, that creates a good environment with darkness, warmth, and moisture for them. Also, if a person has diabetes or borderline/prediabetes, it allows yeast to grow. In addition, a suppressed immune system such as from taking oral steroids can contribute to it too.

So given that, do what you are able to reduce the continued growth of yeast. Use the anti yeast/antifungal cream, but make any changes you can to reduce the risk of a return of it's overgrowth.

Get a bra with good support if yours is older or not providing very good support. At night when you are braless in bed, put a soft cotton cloth under each breast so that there isn't skin to skin contact between the underside of your breasts and the skin below it.

After a shower or bath, after patting dry, separate the skin folds and use a hair blow dryer to thoroughly dry the areas. Use the lowest setting and take care not to burn your skin!

Decrease eating foods with sugars, drinks with sugars, and reduce your consumption of simple carbohydrates such as breads and pastas made with white flour. Increase your consumption of vegetables (slowly) if you can to make up for the food you will not be eating. And avoid or decrease alcohol.

Unlike a bacterial infection which can be knocked out quickly with antibiotics, yeast and fungi can be slower to resolve.

There are also oral anti fungal medications that can be used for yeast, but I would advise against it unless the rashes are very severe. My reason is that the oral medication goes through your whole system and can be hard on the liver. Also, with skin candida, it may return and it would not be safe to keep taking the oral medication.

I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.

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