Figure Out If It’s Really A Yeast Infection
As Dr. Brandye pointed out, there are many things that you might confuse for a yeast infection, like BV, a UTI, or STIs like herpes. Here are some telltale signs to help you differentiate, especially if you’re not sure if you should pick up some Monistat, drink cranberry juice, or call your doc.
Yeast infections vs. Bacterial Vaginosis
Yeast infections have lots of itching and irritation and don’t usually have a lot of discharge, but if there is, it’s white and looks like cottage cheese, explains Dr. Brandye. A more severe yeast infection might cause you discharge with a greenish tint to it. On the other hand, bacterial vaginosis will usually have discharge with a fishy odor.
Yeast infections vs UTIs
Dr. Brandye also adds that sometimes urine coming into contact with the vulva may cause burning, which makes women think they’re experiencing a UTI and not a yeast infection, but UTIs have different symptoms, such as pelvic pain, pain when you urinate, and super frequent urination with with only a small amount of pee coming out.
Yeast infections vs STIs
If you notice any new bumps or lesions, it might not be a yeast infection and could be an STI. These bumps might not always be painful, but things like herpes can cause pain and irritation that may mimic a yeast infection, Dr. Brandye says. However, the pain from these lesions would be more localized to where the lesions are.
Safe Remedies For Yeast Itching Before Appointment
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As some extra DIY helps in the meantime, you may find that taking a cool bath with an oatmeal treatment helps. If you cant find that, but have salt in the house, a salt water bath might help.Be sure to also stick to cotton undergarments only, and loose ones, not something like a thong.A plain yogurt poultice can also help. To do that, you just get plain, organic yogurt, and just take a few-fingersful and swipe it on your vulva, then just sit with it for a little while, rinsing off with cool water. In the event this is a yeast infection, the probiotics in the yogurt can also help you get a leg up on treating it before you can get treated by your doctor.
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Before Taking This Medicine
You should not use Benadryl if you are allergic to diphenhydramine.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to take this medicine if you have other medical conditions, especially:
-
blockage in your digestive tract
-
bladder obstruction or other urination problems
-
a colostomy or ileostomy
-
a thyroid disorder or
-
if you take potassium .
It is not known whether Benadryl will harm an unborn baby. Ask a doctor before using this medicine if you are pregnant.
Diphenhydramine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Antihistamines may also slow breast milk production. Ask a doctor before using this medicine if you are breast-feeding.
Older adults may be more likely to have side effects from this medicine.
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What Other Drugs Will Affect Benadryl
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine if you are also using any other drugs, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used together. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.
Taking this medicine with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can worsen these effects. Ask your doctor before taking Benadryl with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.
Benadryl For Hives Itching And Rash
Some topical, over-the-counter Benadryl products are approved for treating hives, itchy skin, and rash. These products include:
- Benadryl Itch Stopping Cream
- Benadryl Itch Stopping Gel
- Benadryl Itch Relief Stick
Oral over-the-counter Benadryl products arent approved to treat hives, itchy skin, and rash. However, these products are sometimes used for these purposes. Theyre effective for this use, but theyre not usually a first-choice treatment because of side effects such as sleepiness.
Newer, second-generation antihistamines are usually preferred over oral Benadryl for treating these symptoms. These newer medications include:
- Benadryl Itch Relief Stick
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Can Benadryl Be Crushed
Benadryl tablets can be crushed. If you have trouble swallowing whole tablets, Benadryl liquid solution and chewable tablets are available.
Benadryl is an antihistamine. If you have allergies or have a cold, your body releases a chemical messenger called histamine. This messenger causes symptoms such as inflammation, edema , itchiness, and runny nose.
Benadryl blocks some of the effects of histamine and decreases some of the symptoms caused by it.
Symptoms Of An External Yeast Infection
Symptoms of this type of fungal infection are easy to spot and include Constant chewing or licking of the paws, or scooting their behind on the floor. Musty, pungent smelling paws or ears Dark rusty coloured hair between toes and the nail beds, and a rust colour around the genitals. Scratching the ears or head shaking, Foul smelling greasy hair called seborrhea caused by a yeast infection of the hair follicle, which may be accompanied by dandruff. Hair loss on the tail and upper back. Black dots on the underbelly, or black patches of skin. Recurring secondary bacterial infections. Fatigue and joint pain may also be present.
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Use Yeast Infection Cream
A lot of women assume they have a yeast infection whenever they get a vaginal itch, but its not always the case, Dr. Streicher says. Still, if youve had a yeast infection before and you know thats what youre dealing with, an OTC yeast infection medication should help. Keep in mind that you can also get a yeast infection in your vulvaand there are creams for that, too.
Definitely see your doc if youre unsure whether the symptoms youre experiencing may be related to a yeast infection.
If You’re Diabetic Always Monitor Your Blood Sugar Levels
People who have diabetes may also have higher risks of yeast infections, says Dr. Sophocles. If yeast infections are persistent for you, it’ll be helpful to manage your blood sugar closely, adds Dr. Sophocles. Why? Well the yeast feed on sugar, so the more sugar that’s in your bloodstream, the more that yeast can thrive.
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Ditch The Tight Pants
Yeast likes warm, moist places, says Dr. Brandye, so you should leave any tight-fitting pants or shorts out of your wardrobe rotation to avoid moisture and heat as much as possible until the situation is all-clear. On vacay with a yeast infection? Switch out of your wet bathing suit ASAP after swimming. And you dont have to skip your workout, Dr. Sophocles says. If you want to keep rocking your Lululemon leggings, just change into a non-sweaty pair right away! You want to aim to keep the area as well-ventilated as you can.
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Does Benadryl Help Candida
So, do Antifungal OTC drugs such as Benadryl help Candida? The answer is Yes.
This article explores the facts and details about Benadryl and whether or not it may actually help you with your Candida.
First, lets look at the antifungal properties of Benadryl itself.
Benadryl, which comes from the name of a chemist, is a derivative of Clindamycin, a powerful antifungal medication.
But, in any case, Benadryl is a safe and effective treatment for oral thrush.
In clinical trials, patients experienced good overall results.
Its most commonly used for children and adults with recurrent thrush symptoms.
However, it can also be used in infants with diaper rash and dermatitis although results in these cases have been less definitive.
The drug has not, however, been recommended for use on patients with a history of drug allergy or sensitivity to Clindamycin.
How does it work?
Unlike pills that get metabolized in the digestive system, it works faster and more effectively in the blood.
In addition, it is absorbed into the cells and transported around the body.
It also has an anti-viral effect, meaning it reduces the level of the bad viruses, such as those caused by herpes and shingles.
Thus, while it cannot cure oral thrush on its own, it can reduce the outbreaks and ease symptoms.
As for the other Candida remedies well discuss here, theyre all applied topically.
The reason is that you can use just a drop or two, and the effects can be felt very quickly.
Benadryl And Other Medications
Below is a list of medications that can interact with Benadryl. This list doesnt contain all drugs that may interact with Benadryl.
Different drug interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some can interfere with how well a drug works, while others can cause increased side effects.
If you take other medications, talk with your pharmacist before taking Benadryl. Your pharmacist can help you avoid potential interactions.
Anticholinergic drugs
Anticholinergic drugs block the action of acetylcholine, a chemical that relays messages between cells in your body. Benadryl also blocks acetylcholine. Because anticholinergic drugs and Benadryl work in the same way, taking them together can increase the risk of side effects. Examples of these drugs include:
Benadryl and Xanax
Xanax is a type of drug called a benzodiazepine, which can cause sleepiness. Taking Xanax with Benadryl can increase your risk of excessive sleepiness. This can make you too sleepy to drive or prevent you from doing other potentially dangerous activities safely.
If you take Xanax, talk with your doctor before taking Benadryl. They may recommend other treatment options.
Benadryl and Zoloft
Zoloft is an antidepressant that can cause sleepiness in some people who take it. Taking Zoloft with Benadryl may increase the risk of excessive sleepiness. This can make you too sleepy to drive or prevent you from doing other potentially dangerous activities safely.
Benadryl and Zyrtec
Benadryl and Motrin
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Can You Take Benadryl And Cetirizine Together
Benadryl should not be taken at the same time as cetirizine because it can increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating. Some people, especially the elderly or children, may also find their thinking, judgement, and coordination impaired. You should also not drink alcohol while taking either of these medications because it can make these side effects worse.
Vaginal Yeast Infection Diagnosis
To help determine the cause of vaginal infection or irritation, the doctor usually asks the woman about her symptoms and performs a physical and pelvic examination. The doctor usually also tests the womans urine and samples of vaginal discharge. Before the exam, sexual intercourse and douching should be avoided for one to two days if possible to avoid complicating the diagnosis.
The doctor may also ask the following questions:
- When did this condition begin? Has the discharge changed during the condition?
- What does the discharge look like? What is the color and consistency? Does it have an odor?
- Do you have pain, itching, or burning?
- Does your sexual partner, if you have one, have discharge from his penis?
- Do you have many sexual partners?
- Do you use condoms?
- What helps relieve the discharge?
- Do you take frequent baths?
- Have you tried over-the-counter medications?
- What other medications do you take?
- Have you changed detergents or soaps recently?
- Do you often wear tight underwear or pants/jeans?
- Have you had similar symptoms in the past?
Most Candidal infections can be diagnosed without laboratory tests. The following diagnostic tests the doctor may be administer at the time of examination.
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Women who have vaginal yeast infections that recur should seek professional medical help. Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis is a condition defined as four or more proven episodes of vaginal yeast infections per year.
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What Complications Might Occur
Vaginal itching is caused by a variety of things and its very important to be able to identify what the cause is in order to treat it appropriately.
Some women experience vaginal itching when they have their period, while others might have it due to having a yeast infection.
It can be uncomfortable for some women to have itching in this sensitive area and some women might need help from a doctor or specialist in order to treat this symptom.
There are many different factors that might cause vaginal itching and if you dont get it treated it can lead to other problems.
There are some complications that can happen when you dont treat vaginal itching at its proper level.
One of the first complications of vaginal itching is the burning sensation that occurs during sex.
Some women who experience vaginal itching might not notice this symptom, but it really can be quite annoying.
Burning can cause a lot of discomfort for a woman and it is important to be able to stop it so that you can enjoy your sexual encounters without having to deal with the discomfort.
You can do various things to stop vaginal itching such as wearing cotton panties and avoiding products that are scented.
Many women find that applying the baby powder directly to the area and then using a clean cloth to wipe it with can relieve the burning sensation and make it easier to enjoy sex.
Another complication of vaginal itching is pain and soreness.
In addition to these complications,
Will Benadryl Help With A Yeast Infection What Can I Use To Cure A Yeast Infection
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Why Am I Getting So Many Yeast Infections
Women come to Dr. Jen Gunters vaginitis clinic in San Francisco and tell her they havent eaten cake or chocolate in two years because they think it will make their recurrent yeast infections worse. Others believe gluten is the culprit , while some think sex is partially to blame. Meanwhile, many of them have been using over-the-counter yeast infection treatments as well as douching and overwashing, all of which could lead to more itching and irritation in the long run. Gunter, a gynecologist and the director of pelvic pain and vulvovaginal disorders at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco, says true recurrent yeast infections, defined as four or more per year, are pretty rare only 5 to 8 percent of women have them, though theyre more common among people with diabetes. But she says she sees patients every week who swear they have them and are desperate for relief.
The problem is that women in the United States have become encultured to believe that any bothersome vaginal symptom is a yeast infection and they automatically go to treat that, when its not, she says.
Take An Oral Antihistamine
If topical creams and ointments dont seem to be helping, an oral antihistamine may be necessary. This will help to reduce the histamine response that is causing the itch. Talk to your doctor before taking any medication. They can recommend the right one and ensure there are no interactions with other medical treatments youre taking.
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Whatever You Do Don’tget Any Vaginal Itch Cream Without Also Getting An Otc Treatment
Using an anti-itch cream is fine, if you also use an OTC treatment. Dr. Brandye notes that she’s seen women use only the anti-itch treatment thinking that it’ll treat whatever is causing the itching, which can delay someone getting treatment for the underlying infection. Anti-itch creams may soothe your symptoms, but you’re going to be using that tube of cream forever and a half if you think it’ll do anything to treat your infection.
Applying Oils Down There Might Not Be The Best Remedy Either
Other natural remedies for yeast infections you may hear about are coconut oil and tea tree oil. But take caution, the docs say. I would suggest you avoid the tea tree oil or coconut oil in the vaginal area because research doesnt suggest they work, and they may cause more harm than good, says Dr. Rainford. Tea tree oil can actually be irritating if you put it near your vulva. And coconut oil, while generally safe for your skin, is not consistently effective at curing yeast, Dr. Sophocles points out.
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