Yeast normally live on and in various parts of the body. They live on the skin and on the mucous membranes. They usually do not cause infections, but in certain conditions, they can cause rashes and other irritations.
Usually, skin will not be affected by the presence of yeast, but in combination with certain medications or breakdowns of the skin, yeast can cause infections.
Skin yeast infections can be treated with topical creams or systemic drugs, usually coupled with aeration of the affected area to help to control the conditions causing the yeast to grow.
Candida is the most common form of yeast that may cause an infection of the skin or mucosa.
More than twenty different types of candida exist. In addition to skin infections, it also causes thrush and vaginal yeast infections.
When skin is infected with candida the medical term is “Cutaneous Candidiasis”.
Causes
Excessive moisture or sweating can cause yeast-related body rashes.
Lack of movement, restrictive clothing and antibiotics can also be contributing factors.
Moist, warm parts of the body, such as the underarms, are more prone to candida problems.
In people who are overweight, folds in skin also tend to be more affected.
Areas of the body that are covered and do not move much tend to be more prone to candida infection. Candida skin infections are common in people who are hospitalized, especially if they are diabetic and also on antibiotics or corticosteroids.
Contributing Factors
Diapers and occlusive dressings on limbs can also encourage candida growth. Chronic illnesses such as HIV and AIDS can also make a person more prone to certain yeast infections.
The use of systemic corticosteroids may well contribute to developing yeast infections.
Candida diaper rash is a common type of yeast infection. It is caused by the combination of moist conditions, the natural presence of yeast on the skin, and possible breakdown of the skin due to irritation from the diaper and from waste matter.
Most babies experience diaper rash at some point, but it can also occur in people who wear adult diapers. Besides the irritation from waste material, the elastic bands on the legs can cause irritation and chafing, which can lead to an infection developing.
Changing the diapers as soon as they are soiled, cleaning the area, and applying baby powder to soak up excess moisture can help to prevent diaper rash from occurring.
Angular cheilitis is another type of skin infection, affecting the area around the mouth. It causes the skin to soften and form deep creases. It is often reddened and scaly. This is most common in diabetics and people who often lick their lips or drool.
Intertrigo affects mainly creases in the skin as well, but can appear anywhere on the body. It tends to affect the groin, breasts, underarms, and folds of skin in overweight people. These infections usually are red and sometimes surrounded by pustules.
Hand Infection
Candida can also affect the hands and nails. People with diabetes and those who work with water are more at risks for these types of infections.
Exposure to strong chemicals can also contribute due to the irritation of the hands.
Moisture trapped by wearing rings can encourage candida growth, and continued irritation can lead to infections. Sometimes the finger webs are affected. This is called erosio interdigitalis blastomycetica, and causes redness and softening of the area between the fingers.
The area at the base of the fingernail can also develop a candida infection. This can cause pain, redness, swelling, and discharge from the nail base.
More Uncommon Forms
Another type of yeast that can cause skin infections is Pityrosporum ovale. This causes a condition called tinea versicolor. This is most common in hot, humid climates and causes discoloration of the skin, either hyper pigmentation or hypo pigmentation in the form of scaly plaques. The chest, arms, and back are affected most often.
This type of infection can usually be treated with over the counter dandruff shampoos which contain selenium sulfide, since the same yeast can sometimes also cause dandruff.
The effects of tinea versicolor are mainly the cosmetic changes in the color of the plaques, which may be lighter or darker than the surrounding skin. If exposed to sunlight, these areas tend to tan differently and become more visible.
Even with treatment, it may take several weeks for the color of these areas to return to normal.