Yeast cells, also called candida yeast, are known to naturally exist in our bodies.
Although it is a naturally occurring fungus in our body that helps to regulate your immune, reproductive, and digestive system, a balance must be kept because if it gets out of hand it can cause a yeast infection.
Yeast cells also help break down and eliminate the dead cell that sometimes builds up in your body.
Candida yeast is found under the skin and inside the mouth, gastric tract, and vagina of a healthy woman.
However, they can develop in either body parts, including the anus, esophagus, penis, or throat.
Yeast infections can mostly be found in warm, dark, and moist places on your body including under the breasts.
Yeast infection under breast is also called the BNT (breast and nipple thrush).
Below you will learn the causes, signs and symptoms, treatment, prevention of Yeast infection under breast.
Additionally, you also learn how to differentiate it from other conditions similar to the yeast infection under breast.
What causes Yeast infection under breast?
Sometimes when you wear too tight bras or t-shirts, you may feel irritation on your skin or under your breast that can be a result of sweat that gets trapped in your skin folds.
As earlier mentioned, candida doesn't harm if it's balanced under normal conditions.
However, some people whose existing medical conditions or even the breast size can cause skin rash after the skin has broken down.
Pregnant women or those breastfeeding may also grow yeast infections under their breasts.
Still, certain factors can highly increase the chances of people developing yeast infection under your breast.
These factors include
Candidiasis
Obesity
Chronic diseases
Diabetes
Heat rash
Climate
Large breasts
Hyperhidrosis
Candidiasis.
Since the candida exists under moist areas under the breast, sometimes they can cause itchy rashes that later develop into blisters or even small cracks if you are exposed to yeast infection under breast.
It is caused by the same Yeast that causes vaginal yeast infections, diaper rash, and oral thrush infection.
They mainly occur in babies or people with diseases that weakens their immune systems and those that take antibiotics.
Obesity.
People who have excess body fats are more prone to get the yeast infection under the breast because these fats create skin folds, thus creating a home to these infections.
Obese people sweat more; hence the chances of been exposed to yeast infection under breast are higher than those of people who weigh less.
Chronic infection and medications.
People with existing chronic diseases like HIV have a weakened immune system where the yeast cell cannot balance in the body; hence, yeast infections under the breast are more common in these individuals. .
Diabetes.
People fighting diabetes in their bodies are unable to produce insulin which is a hormone that keeps the blood sugars stable. Since their blood sugar levels aren't well-controlled, the yeast cells tend to overgrow, leading to yeast infection under the breast.
Also, diabetes patients have a weakened immune system; thus, they are more at risk of a yeast infection because their yeast cells cannot fight against viruses, bacteria, and Yeast infections.
Heat Rash.
Also called malaria. It mainly happens when you sweat more than usual due to heat or moisture.
It occurs when sweat glands block and sweat can't excrete through the pore, and the sweat pools under your skin, causing a rash.
Large breasts.
It's hard to keep the area under large breasts dry and well ventilated, hence yeast infection.
Large breasts are often heavy, and sometimes they don't fit in a bra. In addition, they tend to rub against the upper chest; thus, they create an interring rash or maybe even a yeast infection under breast.
Climate.
When you are in a hot or steamy area, there's an increased chance for your skin to get soggy. Thus it's a good chance for the Yeast to multiply under your breast and cause a yeast infection.
Hyperhidrosis.
This is an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases are chronic diseases that can't be cured, but you can treat the symptoms.
It's a condition where the body sweats more than it should to cool off the body. Scientifically, a person has between two and four million sweat glands and perspires up to a quart of the fluid per day.
All this sweating is a chance for yeast infection under the breast to develop.
There are more causes of yeast infections under the breast like:
Taking oral contraceptives that contain estrogen.
Ringworms cause fungal infections that root athlete foot,s that feed on dead keratin, a protein that builds up your skin, nails, and hair.
Regularly taking antibiotics or corticosteroids.
Use of breast pads.
Previous vaginal yeast infection.
High-stress level.
Inadequate diet.
Not drying the area under breast well.
Fractured nipples during breastfeeding.
How do I know if I Have a yeast infection under my breast?
Yeast infections can cause red rashes in skin folds under or around the breast or nipples. These rashes may appear to be…
Red or reddish-brown
Raised
blisters and crusting that discharge a reeking pus
For you to know if it's a yeast infection under breast, you may experience the following signs and symptoms
Pain
Patches of small round bumps
Burning
Itching
Most people with yeast infection under breast hardly spread it to other people, primarily yeast infection transpires where there is an overgrowth of Yeast in the body.
Can Yeast infection under the breast be treated?
Yes, it can be treated because it is a fungus. Mainly yeast infections under the breast are treated with:
Fungal creams
Ointments
Sprays
OTC Antifungals like Mycelex
These drugs are applied straight to the skin and are effective.
However, in severe cases, your doctor may prescribe some drugs to treat the yeast infection under breast and speed up the healing process, and lower the risk of reinfection.
These drugs include:
Econazole
Miconazole
Ketoconazole
Amorolfine
Terbinafine
Tioconazole
Nystatin
Bifonazole
Fluconazole which is taken orally
Mild yeast infections sometimes don't even need treatment because they may clear up quickly in three days.
The severe infections may take up to two weeks under medication to fully heal.
It's also essential to treat yeast infections in babies as early as possible. And if you are still breastfeeding, use a suitable method to do so.
If your baby is detected with oral thrush due to breastfeeding from your infected breast, the baby may need to undergo an antifungal treatment.
Meanwhile, while you and your baby are undergoing the treatment the following steps should be taken so that the infection does not worsen or spread.
Wash your towels, bras, nursing pads in hot, soapy water and let them dry well.
Regularly wash your hands thoroughly after changing baby diapers to prevent the thrush from spreading.
Apply the prescribed creams and lotions to prevent the spread of the thrush.
After using the bottle nipples and pacifiers, carefully clean them by boiling them for at least five minutes and, if possible, replace them weekly.
How do I prevent myself from getting yeast infection under breast?
Prevention is better than cure. If you have previously suffered from yeast infections, you are most likely more at risk of getting these infections again.
To protect yourself from yeast infection under breast and avoid it from coming back. It's recommendable to follow and take the following measure and precautions,
Always shower and dry your body entirely after work out or swimming.
Wear clothes made of natural and breathable fabrics: preferably wear cotton made bras and undies to avoid trapping moisture in your skin
Change your diet by minimizing sugar and carbohydrates and increase your intake of probiotics like those found in yogurts.
Thoroughly wash and clean your tops and bras using bleach if you already have an existing yeast infection under your breast.
If you have diabetes or are overweight, consult your doctor about healthy and sustainable changes that you can take to avoid yeast infections in the future.
Always ensure that you maintain healthy body weight.
Ensure that you manage health conditions: chronic diseases that may promote yeast infections.
Always keep your under-breast areas clean and dry after bathing: two times a day with gentle soap, preferably in the morning and evening.
Ventilate your skin from time to time; don't always wear bras and t-shirts when in private also, avoid sleeping with bras on.
Wear loose-fitting clothes.
Instantly change wet or sweaty clothes after workouts
If need be, lose weight to help reduce breast size and limit skin friction.
Sometimes, people confuse some conditions with the yeast infection under the breast because they might share almost the same signs and symptoms.
Some of these conditions are autoimmune. These are chronic disorders that can't be fully treated, but one can treat the signs and symptoms.
They include;
Eczema.
These are swollen reddish-gray patches found on the skin.
They occur when your skin dries out, and there's irritation and itching over time.
Eczema is mainly found on:
Feet
Hands
Face
Behind the knees
The inner surface of the elbow
No precise cure for this disorder exists but the symptoms can be controlled by keeping your skin fragrance-free and using cortisone creams and gels to control the itchiness.
Inverse psoriasis.
This is a less common disorder and type of chronic disease. It's a yeast infection under breast, armpits, and groin area. It forms in smooth, red patches found in the skin folds part of the body.
Inverse psoriasis is cured using steroids, creams, and gels, but the doctors recommend skin medications to overpower the immune system for more severe cases.
Cancer
Although inflammatory breast cancer is a rare form of cancer it can develop and start to spread rapidly through the breasts.
Although it's a rare chronic disorder its advisable to see a doctor if you experience the following symptoms
Pink or red skin discoloration
Have rashes that look like pimples
Orange peel like skin
If your niples points inwards rather than outwards
These symptoms are only treated through radiation therapy, surgery, and chemotherapy, all combined together.
Hailey-Hailey disease
This is an inherited disease that is rare. It appears by an insistent scorching rash found on the neck, between the buttocks, armpits, or the groin
These rashes make the skin rough and dry, and to some extent, they may develop painful cracks.
The Hailey-Hailey disorder is mainly treated with a corticosteroid cream, antibiotics, and ointment, and if the symptoms persist, they may be treated with laser therapy or photodynamic light therapy.
It is advisable for people suffering from this disease to avoid situations that make you sweat by not exposing themselves to hot weather.
Conclusion
Yeast infections under the breast actively respond well to treatment. However, if your symptoms don't resolve after a week or two of treatment, it's essential to seek medical assistance from your healthcare provider.
Sometimes, maybe the treatment plan you used may not be effective enough to cure the infections, your doctor will opt for another treatment.
If you are breastfeeding and the yeast infection under your breast returns within two months, you will also need to go back and seek further medical attention from your doctor.
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