Candidiasis is caused by yeast Candida infection. Candidiasis tends to occur in moist areas of the skin. Candidiasis may cause rash, scaling, itching and edema. The doctor examines the damaged area and looks at the skin specimen under a microscope or performs a fungal culture. Candidiasis can be cured with topical antifungal creams or oral antifungal medications. Candida yeast is resident in the oral, digestive and vaginal tracts and is usually harmless. However, in some cases, Candida can spread to mucous membranes and moist skin areas. Typical sites of infection are the oral mucosa, groin, armpits, under the female breast and abdominal folds. Conditions that encourage Candida to infect the skin include: Warm, moist climates Synthetic, tight-fitting undergarments Poor hygiene, inflammatory diseases in the folds (e.g., psoriasis) Use of antibiotics, corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive agents Certain diseases (e.g., diabetes, immunocompromised) Candidiasis in people taking antibiotics is caused by the antibiotics killing the body’s normal parasitic bacteria, allowing uninhibited growth of Candida. The use of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants after organ transplantation can reduce the body’s ability to fight Candida. Steroid inhalers commonly used by asthmatics can cause oral candidiasis. Pregnant women, patients undergoing oncological treatment, obese people and diabetics are also susceptible to Candida infection. In some populations (usually immunocompromised), Candida can invade deeper tissues and the bloodstream, leading to fatal systemic candidiasis. Symptoms vary depending on the site of infection. Infections in the folds (intertriginous infections) or in the umbilicus often result in a bright red rash, sometimes with softened skin and fissures. Often small pustules may appear around the rash and the rash may itch intensely or have a burning sensation. Candida rashes in the perianal area may occur with peeling of the skin and a white or red, itchy rash. Candida infection may occur in the diaper area of the infant. Vaginal candidiasis is especially common in women who are pregnant, diabetic, and taking antibiotics. Symptoms of these infections include a white or yellow cheese-like discharge from the vagina, and a burning sensation, itching and flushing of the vaginal walls and vulva. Penile candidiasis often occurs in men with diabetes, circumcised men, and women whose sexual partners have vaginal candidiasis. Sometimes the rash may be asymptomatic, but it usually appears at the head of the penis and sometimes in the scrotal area with flushing, tingling, itching, and burning sensations. Thrush is a candidiasis in the mouth. Creamy white patches appear on the tongue and buccal mucosa and may be painful. The patches are not easily removed by scraping with fingers and blunt objects. Thrush is rare in healthy children. Thrush in adults may be a sign of immune deficiency and can be caused by tumors, diabetes, or AIDS. The use of antibiotics to kill competing growths of bacteria will increase the chance of developing thrush. Infectious thrush is a candidiasis that occurs in the corners of the mouth and causes cracks and tiny fissures. It may be due to prolonged mouth licking, finger sucking, uncomfortable braces, or other factors that cause the corners of the mouth to be moist enough for yeast to grow. Candida nail fungus is a candidiasis that occurs in the nail bed and causes pain, redness and swelling. It often occurs in people who are diabetic or immunocompromised or in healthy people whose hands are often rinsed or in a moist state. Usually, doctors make the diagnosis by the typical lesions of candidiasis or the thickened, white, paste-like residue they form. To confirm the diagnosis, doctors often scrape the skin or residue with a scalpel or tongue depressor and place it under a microscope or in a culture medium (a substance that allows the microorganism to grow) to identify the specific fungus. Cutaneous candidiasis is usually easily cured by creams containing miconazole, clotrimazole, oxyconazole, ketoconazole, econazole, cyproheptadine, or gammazine. These creams are usually applied twice daily for 7-10 days. Corticosteroid creams are often used in combination with antifungal medications to provide quick relief from itching and pain (although they are not good for the infection itself and can worsen it if used alone). Candidiasis that does not respond to antifungal creams or solutions can be treated with gentian violet, a purple dye that is applied to the infected area to kill the yeast. Keeping the skin dry is a good way to clear the infection and prevent recurrence. Talcum powder is good for keeping the skin surface dry, and the combination of talcum powder and pseudomycin can further prevent recurrence. Different prescriptions are used to treat vaginal candidiasis, thrush, and Candida nail infections.