Fungal infections are more common in places on your body that trap moisture or have a lot of friction. You're at higher risk for infection, especially severe ones, if you have poor circulation or diabetes, or if you have a weakened immune system from: HIV/AIDS. Cancer or cancer treatments.
Anyone can get a fungal infection, even people who are otherwise healthy. Fungi are common in the environment, and people breathe in or come in contact with fungal spores every day without getting sick. However, in people with weakened immune systems, these fungi are more likely to cause an infection.
Taking antibiotics, steroids, oral contraceptives, medicines that cause dry mouth or medicines that turn off healthy bacteria. Feeling stressed. Eating a diet high in refined carbohydrates, sugar or yeast. Having uncontrolled diabetes, HIV, cancer or a compromised immune system.
Antifungals are medicines that kill or stop the growth of fungi (the plural of fungus) that cause infections. They are also called antimycotic agents.
If left completely untreated, your stubborn fungal skin infection may cause some or the other kind of permanent damage and in some cases your fungal infection may eventually lead to death.
Antifungal resistance can occur for many reasons. It sometimes develops spontaneously. Or it may result from antibiotic overuse or misuse of antifungal medicines. People with compromised immune systems are most at risk for developing fungal infections that can lead to antifungal resistance.
Even in healthy people, fungal infections can be difficult to treat because antifungal drugs are challenging to develop, and like bacteria, some fungi are adept at developing resistance to current antifungal agents.
Fungal nail infections typically don't go away on their own, and the best treatment is usually prescription antifungal pills taken by mouth. In severe cases, a healthcare professional might remove the nail completely. It can take several months to a year for the infection to go away.
The most common types of fungi that cause serious or life-threatening infections include: Aspergillus, which causes aspergillosis. It most often affects people with lung disease or a weakened immune system. Candida, which causes candidiasis, also called thrush.
Poor nutrition
Nutrition can have noticeable effect on your susceptibility to fungal infections as well as the severity of your symptoms after you have contracted the skin disease.
Systemic fungal infections affect organs such as the lungs, eyes, liver, and brain and also can affect the skin. They typically occur in people who have a weakened immune system (see Opportunistic fungal infections.
However, major fungal infections can cause severe autoimmune diseases, by decreasing TREG cells and increasing production of interleukin-23, CD4 TH17 T-cells, interleukin-17 and other cytokines, including interleukin-22. Several factors can cause fungal infections, including antibiotic usage.
Fungal infections like meningitis and bloodstream infections are less common than skin and lung infections but can be life-threatening. The more you know about fungal infections and your chances of getting one, the better you can protect your health.
Fungal infections are typically treated with antifungal drugs, usually with antifungal drugs that are applied directly to the affected area (called topical drugs). Topical drugs may include creams, gels, lotions, solutions, or shampoos. Antifungal drugs may also be taken by mouth.
Superficial fungal infections can take anywhere from a few days to a few months to heal. Deep tissue fungal infection can take up to two years to treat. In persons with weakened immune systems, the treatment and management of a fungal infection may take the rest of their lives.
In short, your autoimmune thyroid condition could influence your risk for yeast infections.