A range of treatments is available for yeast infections, including many self-administered home remedies. This article explores eight home remedies for a yeast infection to help people find what works best for them.
In many cases, yeast infections can be easily and successfully treated at home. This is done with either over-the-counter products or alternative therapies. Antifungal treatments in the form of creams or pessaries can be purchased over the counter to treat yeast infections. These are available without a prescription and are available to purchase online, or are found in:. Depending on the product, the treatment may be for external or internal use and treat the infection with:.
Treatments that are applied internally have been shown to cure more than 80 percent of vaginal yeast infections. These contain powerful antifungals called azoles. Vaginal boric acid capsules can work for women with a yeast infection.
These may be especially useful for women with recurrent infections. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC suggests a dosage of mg of boric acid in a capsule inserted vaginally once a day for 14 days. Before purchasing any suppositories, consult with a doctor.
Some research reports that topically applied boric acid, along with the antifungal flucytosine, successfully treats approximately 70 percent of women. This study looked at women with yeast infections that did not respond to azole-based antifungal treatments. Tea tree oil has long been prized for its antifungal properties.
A review of research on this essential oil confirmed its ability to kill a range of yeasts and fungi. In the majority of the studies reviewed, tea tree oil was tested on candida albicans , one of the most common yeasts in vaginal infections. Vaginal suppositories containing tea tree oil have been shown to treat vaginal fungal infections.
Some women report relief from adding diluted tea tree oil to a tampon and inserting this into the vagina overnight. However, extreme caution must be used when using tea tree oil, as it can irritate the skin, and the vaginal walls are particularly sensitive.
Tea tree is an essential oil and, as such, needs to be mixed with a carrier oil. People can use drops of tea tree oil in 1 ounce of warmed coconut oil to soak a tampon. It is important to change the tampon regularly.
Also, people can be allergic to tea tree oil. Test the diluted oil on an area the size of a dime on the forearm, and if there is no reaction in 12 to 24 hours, it may be safe to use on the more sensitive genital area. Other research indicates that a component of tea tree oil terpinenol enhances the activity of the common antifungal drug fluconazole.
This is in cases of drug-resistant candida albicans. Some probiotic supplements may offer a natural solution to yeast infection. These are available in pharmacies and health stores, or online. Some brands of probiotic supplements sell specially formulated products for female reproductive health. These aim to restore the balance of bacteria and yeast in the vagina. The supplements are taken orally or inserted vaginally. In a study , women with chronic yeast infections inserted a specially formulated probiotic pill into the vagina.
Nearly 87 percent reported an improvement in their symptoms. An apple cider vinegar bath is not the same as douching, which aims to flush out all bacteria good and bad from your vagina. Doing so leaves you more prone to a reoccurrence of the yeast infection. Vinegar should be diluted in water before touching the skin. In addition, consider adding apple cider vinegar to your diet.
In a lab study , garlic was shown to be an effective Candida killer. While more studies are needed, research from examined the effect of using a garlic solution on sores of the mouth and found it was effective in inhibiting the growth of Candida. However, it was not as effective as using nystatin Nystop , an antifungal medication. If you want to try garlic to treat a yeast infection, add more garlic to your diet.
Some websites recommend inserting garlic in the vagina, but burns and significant pain have been reported. Stick with adding garlic to foods instead. Hydrogen peroxide is a bacteria- and yeast-killing antiseptic. Hydrogen peroxide is produced by Lactobacillus bacteria in the vagina and is part of the biological activity against yeast. Adding it to a bath or diluting in water may help with yeast growing on the genitals. Vitamin C is an immune system booster and also has a role in skin health.
A strong immune system allows your body to bring itself back into balance. Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, has antimicrobial components, so some people add it to their diet to treat Candida overgrowths.
Some doctors recommend vitamin E for certain types of vaginitis. In fact, studies have found vitamin E to help reduce inflammation in Candida albicans in the lab. Keeping your body healthy with adequate intake of vitamins makes sense when dealing with a yeast infection. Vitamin E as a suppository in the vagina or vitamin E oil can be used once or twice per day for 3 to 14 days to soothe the mucous membranes of the vagina and vulva.
Call a doctor if your symptoms worsen or if new symptoms appear at any time during treatment. If your infection goes away with treatment but then returns, contact a doctor for advice. You may need a prescription-strength treatment. The fastest — and most reliable — way to get rid of a yeast infection is to see a doctor if you suspect you have one. They will likely prescribe fluconazole, an oral treatment that may still take a week to get rid of the infection.
Additionally, the vaginal suppository Monistat and generic versions of this medication miconazole will successfully treat most vaginal yeast infections. A mild yeast infection may go away on its own, but this is rare. Bacterial vaginosis BV and vaginal yeast infections have similar symptoms but different causes and treatments, but both cause inflammation of the vagina, or vaginitis. Some of the differences between BV and a yeast infection is that BV produces a foul-smelling, fishy odor, while a yeast infection produces no vaginal odor.
Home remedies may or may not work to treat a yeast infection. Buy from a reputable source. The effectiveness of a home remedy varies depending on the person, the severity of the infection, and the quality of the treatment used. If you have recurring vaginal infections, talk with a doctor about more natural approaches to preventing and treating this. Be sure to keep in mind that any product, natural or otherwise, may irritate sensitive vaginal skin. Stop using the remedy and call a doctor if you experience any irritation or discomfort.
When that itchy, tingling feeling strikes, you may assume that you have a vaginal yeast infection. They will first collect a sample of vaginal discharge with a cotton swab, which will then be sent to a lab for study under a microscope. Instead, there are other factors at play that can throw off Candida balance in the vaginal area.
Vaginal intercourse, as well as penetration via sex toys and fingers, can introduce bacteria. Another possibility is having vaginal intercourse with a man who has a penile yeast infection. The opposite can happen too, where a man might develop a penile yeast infection from a woman who has a vaginal yeast infection.
Oral sex may also disrupt bacteria in the mouth, vagina, and penile areas. There are many underlying risk factors of a yeast infection, with sexual intercourse being just one of them. Bacterial vaginosis BV is the most common type of vaginal infection in women between the ages of 15 and BV is said to have a strong fishy odor, too.
BV has similar symptoms as a yeast infection, including discharge, burning, and itching. This can make distinguishing between the two infections difficult. Among the complications include fertility issues and premature delivery if you get infected while pregnant , and a higher risk of contracting STIs. Your doctor will help you distinguish between a yeast infection and BV. Chances are that you know exactly what led to your yeast infection. For example, some women experience these infections every time they take antibiotics.
Whether you know the exact cause, here are tips to avoid recurring infections. Avoid :. These plant-based products can be powerful, but so far, no research has shown that essential oils work better for yeast infections than conventional methods.
One issue with essential oils is that some people might be allergic to them. Do a patch test on a small area of skin before applying them to larger areas of the body. This is especially important when considering sensitive areas such as the vagina. Confirm with a doctor that your symptoms are indeed caused by a yeast infection before trying essential oils as treatment.
You can also ask about safer oils, such as coconut oil, for your yeast infection. Having both a yeast infection and your period can feel like a double whammy. Yeast infections are most likely to occur in women during the final days leading up to their period. Fluctuations in hormones are thought to be a cause of yeast infections before your period, causing imbalances in healthy bacteria in the vagina.
While a nuisance, early treatment can help clear up your yeast infection before your period starts. Also see a doctor if you continue to get yeast infections before your period every month. Yeast infections are common occurrences, but prompt treatment can help reduce the uncomfortable symptoms within a few days. By recognizing your own risk factors, you can prevent future infections. Read this article in Spanish. Chronic yeast infections can affect your daily life. Learn about yeast infection sores.
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