Candida and clothing

Most women suffer from it at least once in their lives. And it is important to know that adopting the right clothing reduces discomfort and promotes healing.

Vaginal candida infections are very common among adolescents and adults: about 75% of women will sooner or later be affected by candidiasis in life. In addition, about one in five women (20%) tend to develop a recurrent form, so defined if more than 4 episodes of candidiasis (also called recurrences) occur per year.

Relapsing candida is extremely difficult to control and treat permanently.

What is candida?

Candidiasis (commonly called candida) is a fungal infection caused by yeasts belonging to the genus Candida. There are at least 20 species of this fungus that can cause candidiasis in humans, but in most cases it is Candida albicans that causes it.

This microorganism, in physiological conditions, coexists in balance with the body at the level of the skin and on the mucous membranes of the vagina and intestine, without causing any disturbance. However, some factors can cause excessive proliferation and give rise to annoying symptoms.

What are the causes of candida infection?

The excessive proliferation of the fungus can occur as a result of particular circumstances, such as:

• slight reduction of immune defenses
• use of antibiotics
• diets rich in sugar
• diabetes
• stress.

How is it transmitted?

Candida can be transmitted from one individual to another through sexual intercourse or as a result of the promiscuous use of towels and linen used by an infected person.

As mentioned, however, the infection can also arise spontaneously, as a result of a deficit of the immune system linked, for example, to the prolonged use of antibiotics, or to the use of corticosteroids.

What are the symptoms of candida infection?

Symptoms of candidiasis vary according to the anatomical part affected. The areas of the body where a hot and humid environment is created, first of all the external genitalia, are at greater risk.

Vaginal candida infections can cause:

• itch
• cloudy, white vaginal discharge
• reddening
• pain
• swelling
• burning during urination
• Less commonly, white patches on the skin of the vaginal area.

Diagnosis: detect the infection

Women who suffer from relapsing candida, most recognize mycosis from the first signs.

If, on the other hand, it is the first time that candidiasis is suspected, it is important to contact the gynecologist immediately.

To make a diagnosis, the doctor will only need to collect information about the disorders reported by the patient and perform a thorough examination to verify the presence of the typical signs of this infection. In addition, the gynecologist may decide to perform a vaginal swab to accurately identify which species of fungus it is.

How to cure candida

In case of infection, the doctor may prescribe appropriate therapy that eliminates the symptoms in a couple of days, completely eliminating the infection within a week.

There are several drugs on the market with the function of antifungals effective against vaginal candidiasis. Vaginal eggs or topically spread creams are typically used. The duration of treatment varies from one day to one week.

If local approaches are not effective, your doctor may decide to refer you to oral (mouth) therapies. Sometimes a single oral dose of medication is enough to treat mild or moderate infections.

Preventing candida from becoming a chronic disorder

In some people, despite treatment, candidiasis occurs recurrently. In these cases, the strategy must be to make the vaginal environment as “inhospitable” as possible for the fungus. For example, through lifestyle changes, paying particular attention to nutrition.

Reducing sugar intake with diet is the first step. The candida microorganism is in fact “greedy” for sugary substances. The fungus is supplied in the intestine: eating a lot of sugars and carbohydrates favors its proliferation and its passage to the vagina.

Another tool to reduce the likelihood of candidiasis becoming a chronic disorder are probiotics, which work by rebalancing the local bacterial flora.

It is also good not to underestimate the possibility of transmitting the infection to your partner. Men can also develop candida, often asymptomatically. This leads to the possibility that the infection “bounces” from one partner to another, with a real “ping-pong effect”.

That is why it is advisable for both partners to take antifungal therapy and to abstain from sexual intercourse, or at least use condoms, until the end of treatment.

Candida and intimate hygiene

In most cases, it is possible to prevent vaginal candidiasis infections with proper intimate hygiene, avoiding any type of spray or vaginal lavage.

We recommend the use of appropriate intimate hygiene products, with an acidic pH that does not attack the vaginal area and that keeps the bacterial flora intact. It is also better to choose unscented detergents. During hygiene, take care not to use water that is too cold or too hot: warm water is better.

Also avoid too frequent washing: excessive intimate hygiene can be counterproductive as it can alter the vaginal microbiome in favor of pathogenic microorganisms.

Clothing and candida: what to avoid

A separate discussion must be made on clothing. In fact, there are fabrics and types of clothing that favor the proliferation of the fungus, as well as the worsening of the infection. Be careful, for example, not to wear clothing that is too tight, such as skinny jeans.

Synthetic clothing, such as tights or briefs, should also be avoided. If produced with material such as nylon, for example, they can trap heat and moisture and promote the proliferation of fungi. Synthetic fabrics, in fact, promote sweating, preventing perspiration. Result? An environment definitely too humid.

Underwear and white clothing: what to choose

To synthetic underwear prefer cotton underwear, which does not trap moisture and promotes better air circulation. Or, even better, in silk fibroin: it is a natural fiber contained in underwear that helps to counteract the colonization of fungi and prevent the possible reappearance of the disorder.

Fibroin is smooth, does not cause friction on the skin and therefore does not irritate it. In addition, briefs made of this material have the characteristic of staying dry and maintaining body temperature, even in conditions of excessive humidity.

Comfortable pants? Better skirt!

Even if they are comfortable, try not to wear pants all the time. When the first symptoms of candidiasis appear, opt for skirts. Even in this case, in fact, the air circulates better and creates an environment less favorable to the growth of fungi or other pathogenic bacteria.

Clothes hygiene: a golden rule

A fundamental rule for good intimate hygiene is, of course, to change often and wear clean clothes and linen. Especially in case of candida infection.

When practicing physical exercise, especially swimming or activities that make you sweat and involve the use of very tight clothes, it is important to change quickly, taking off your wet swimsuit or reducing as much as possible the contact between the skin and the damp or sweaty tissue.

How to dress during the summer season?

Summer is the season during which it is most common to witness the appearance of candidiasis.

However, it is not the hot climate that favors the onset of candida infections. Rather, the culprits seem to be the increase in local sweating and the change in diet as they alter the local balance and act as a trigger.

Even in the summer season, the rules for clothing are the same: avoid synthetic or too tight clothing. If you take a swim in the sea or in the pool, change your swimsuit immediately. And remember to always use dry and clean towels.

Intimate problems: how to manage them with candida?

When you suffer from candidiasis, your period can become even more complicated to manage.

The rules for intimate hygiene and clothing mentioned so far are still valid. However, a consideration on sanitary napkins is added: both internal and external are fine, but the rule not to be forgotten in any case, especially if internal tampons are used, is to change often.

Again, the reason concerns the need to avoid the formation of an environment conducive to fungal proliferation.