Yeast Infection Treatment
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
If you are experiencing the unpleasant symptoms of a yeast infection, don’t despair. It is possible to find yeast infection relief! There are plenty of options available for treating yeast infections that will help to clear up the infection and reduce the discomfort associated with the symptoms of a yeast infection.
Yeast Infection Treatment
Yeast infections are usually very treatable. Over the counter, or OTC yeast infection medication is typical. However, it is still always best to check in with your doctor before starting any treatment at home. He or she can offer a professional evaluation of your symptoms and give you personalized treatment advice on how to treat a yeast infection. Your doctor may also prescribe a yeast infection medication in the form of a pill that contains fluconazole (an antifungal medicine). However, the yeast infection medicine most commonly recommended is an antifungal yeast infection cream. Suppositories and ointments are available as well.
When shopping, look for an over the counter clotrimazole or miconazole cream. The active ingredients clotrimazole and miconazole are antifungal. Many of these yeast infection remedies and medications also provide relief from painful symptoms like itching and burning. Products like Monistat cream include an antifungal yeast infection suppository or cream that is designed for internal use to treat the infection, as well as a separate cream and/or wipes designed for external use only to help reduce the discomfort of itching, burning, and irritation on the vulva (the skin outside your vagina). You should never use creams or wipes labelled for external use inside your vagina. If your antifungal treatment does not come with anti-itch cream, you can purchase a separate product designed for reliving external itching and burning, such as Yeast Gard Gel Treatment.
Vaginal yeast infection treatments that are formulated with antifungal ingredients like clotrimazole or miconazole typically work in 1 to 7 days. You should read and carefully follow the directions on your chosen medication package. Contact your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. If you follow the directions on your yeast infection treatment packaging for the full duration of time indicated and still have symptoms, talk to your doctor. It is also important to know that the oils in many yeast infection treatments may make using latex condoms unsafe, because the oils in the cream could damage the latex of the condom. If you rely on latex condoms for safe sex or birth control, you may need to use a different method or skip sex during your yeast infection treatment.
Probiotics for Yeast Infection
Some studies have shown that consuming yogurts with certain active probiotic cultures or taking probiotic supplements may help to slow down the growth of yeast in the vagina, which in turn may help lower the likelihood of getting a yeast infection. However, these studies are not conclusive and some other studies suggest that taking probiotics to help ward off a yeast infection has no effect. It is important to understand that the current research on whether probiotics can help prevent yeast infections is ultimately inconclusive. However, probiotics have other benefits, such as boosting digestive health. You should talk with your doctor if you are interested in trying a probiotic supplement or any homeopathic yeast infection treatments.
What Is a Yeast Infection?
While a yeast infection can occur in many areas of the body, here we are specifically talking about a vaginal yeast infection. A vaginal yeast infection is a type of fungal infection that causes itching and irritation of the vagina and vulva as well as discharge. Yeast infections in women are extremely common and usually very treatable. Yeast infection symptoms include: itching and irritation of the skin in and around the vagina and vulva; redness and swelling of the vulva; vaginal pain and soreness; and/or a vaginal rash.
Additional signs of a yeast infection include burning, particularly during intercourse or urination, and yeast infection discharge. Vaginal discharge resulting from a yeast infection typically appears one of two ways: either it is watery, or it is thick, white, and odorless, often resembling cottage cheese. Symptoms of a yeast infection can range from mild to moderate. However, you should always check in with your doctor to rule out any other possible causes of your symptoms and to get professional treatment recommendations as you may need antibiotics prescribed.
How To Treat A Yeast Infection?
Because you can come down with a yeast infection in any soft, damp area of the body, this fungal infection is quite common and easily treatable. Depending on where your yeast infection presents itself will determine your best course of action to treat it. Thrush, or yeast infections around the mouth, as well as vaginitis or genital yeast infections, are most commonly treated with over-the-counter antifungal medications in varying forms, from creams to tablets and pills to suppositories. Other at-home remedies that may be undertaken along with doctor-recommended antifungal treatments may include salt-water rinses, coconut and tea tree oils, boric acid capsules, and probiotics, each of which should only be utilized after discussing these possible additions to your treatment with your doctor. Depending on the severity of your infection, your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics.
What Does Yeast Infection Medicine Do?
Yeast infection medicine is designed to stop the growth of yeast and allow your body a chance to balance itself out. The active ingredient in the most common over-the-counter antifungal medications is a form of Azoles which are responsible for interfering with the enzyme necessary to create the fungal cell membrane. This allows your yeast infection medicine to weaken the fungal cell membrane, making it unstable and eventually leading to the harmful cell's death, allowing your body to rid itself of the infection.
What You Need To Know About Yeast Infection Treatment
If you're experiencing symptoms of a yeast infection, home yeast infection treatment may be suitable for you. Yeast infections typically cause irritation, itching and soreness near the vaginal opening or vulva and may be accompanied by painful urination or sex, swollen or red vaginal or vulvar tissue, and curd-like or watery discharge from the vagina.
Over-the-counter yeast infection treatment may be in the form of a vaginal tablet or cream that's applied via an applicator inside the vagina, usually at bedtime. Treatment regimens can run from 1 to 7 days, with the severity of the infection determining how many days treatment should last. For more complicated infections that don't respond to standard yeast infection treatment, schedule a consult with a medical professional, as an oral treatment available only by prescription may be necessary.
How Long Does a Yeast Infection Last Without Treatment?
A mild yeast infection may last only a few days, and more severe yeast infections may last a couple of weeks in the absence of any type of treatment. Still, a vaginal yeast infection can worsen if left unchecked, resulting in redness and itching. The area surrounding the vagina may become inflamed, and this inflammation can cause the skin to crack, which may lead to a skin infection. Scratching due to itching may also lead to raw or open areas on the skin, which also pose the risk of infection. For these reasons, if you don't choose to use Monistat or some other brand of yeast infection treatment, setting up an appointment at the Minute Clinic to be evaluated by a doctor is recommended.
Can A Yeast Infection Go Away Without Treatment?
It's possible for mild yeast infections to go away on their own within a few weeks without treatment. More severe infections may resolve themselves within 2 weeks or so. However, most cases of vaginal yeast infection don't go away on their own. Addressing the infection with an over-the-counter yeast infection treatment may help. If you have questions about yeast infection treatment products, pharmacy staff are happy to help.
Is It Normal To Feel Itchy After Yeast Infection Treatment?
Most symptoms of a yeast infection go away within a few days of beginning a yeast infection treatment. Nonetheless, some women may still feel irritated and itchy even once the infection is gone. Anti-itch treatments, such as those by Vagisil, may help. As a general rule, if you don't get better after finishing treatment, reach out to your doctor for advice and assistance.
Shop CVS.com to find yeast infection treatment options from brands you know and trust.