The Fungus Among Us: Different Types of Yeast Infections

Until recently, I thought that because I was a fairly healthy young guy that the words "yeast infection" had absolutely nothing to do with me. I was like so many others in that I just assumed it was a woman thing. Then I went to my doctor for a routine checkup. While I was being examined, the doc happened to look down at my bare feet and gave me a raised eyebrow. He told me to lift up my feet and let him take a look. For years now, I've thought that my rough itchy feet was just a result of too much manual labor and that they were calloused like my hands. Then the doctor informed me that I had Candidiasis on my feet. After seeing my puzzled look he gave it to me in layman's terms; I had a yeast infection.



My bewilderment and confusion was immediate as I thought about having to be a 26 year old guy going into the local drug store and buying some Monistat-7 for myself but the doctor quickly put my mind at ease and told me that unpleasant ordeal was not necessary. However, getting treatment immediately was a necessity if I wanted my poor feet to get any better. When I got home my curiosity was peaked. I had to find out why I of all people was afflicted with something I previously had thought was just a "girlie" disorder.



Candidiasis, more commonly known throughout the world as a yeast infection, is a disorder that is found in people of all ages and races throughout the world. In fact, it is estimated that up to 75% of the world's population will have a problem with yeast infections at some point in time in their lives. Candidiasis can appear on several parts of the body and can even be internal in many cases. It most commonly appears on areas of the body that are exposed to moisture for long periods of time and where skin rubs against skin. The most common areas where yeast infections occur are around the anus, the armpit area, the navel, the upper thighs, between and under the breasts, and the groin. The infection takes the form of a rash and can be bright red and swollen in appearance. A similar form of this is diaper rash found in babies. In this case, the bottom and groin area of a young baby becomes irritated and infected because of overexposure to moisture from urine and feces.



For men, it is possible to get a penile yeast infection (and I thought I had it bad with my feet) and be totally unaware of it. Men will often show no signs of infection, which makes them unwitting carriers in many cases. Uncircumcised males are more susceptible to infection but circumcised males can catch it just as easily through excess moisture or sexual contact. If a penile yeast infection goes untreated it can become swollen and have white spots all over it. Men are also susceptible to nail yeast infections. These are outbreaks on the fingers and feet. This is usually caused by excess moisture and lack of dry air, like in the case of my feet from wearing shoes all the time.



There is also mouth and throat yeast infections, or more commonly known in babies as thrush. This happens in newborns as they acquire the candida albicans (the fungus that causes yeast infections) that are found naturally in the body. Thrush results in white patches in the mouth and throat and is common in newborns. It will often go away without any kind of treatment.



Lastly, there is an internal yeast infection. This kind of infection is a lot more serious than the previous listed above and should be considered a serious threat to someone's health. It can lead to a variety of symptoms both physical and mental, so it is a good idea to see a doctor as soon as possible if you think you may be infected internally.