While vaginal infections are the most common type of yeast infection to affect women, it is possible to get a yeast infection almost anywhere in the body. Breast yeast infections are common under certain conditions and can be uncomfortable at least and painful at worst. It is important to have such infections treated and to know prevent them.
Basics
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, yeast infections are caused by an overabundance of the naturally occurring fungus Candida. Small amounts of Candida are always present in the body, but in certain circumstances they may overproduce and result in a yeast infection.
How
Yeast infections of the nipple are most common in breast-feeding mothers. The fungus Candida thrives, and overproduces, in warm moist area--like a moist nipple. If her baby has thrush in his mouth, the mother may become infected. Yeast infections are also common under the breasts where the folds of skin come into contact with one another, particularly in women with larger breasts.
Symptoms
Itchy, burning, cracked nipples are signs of a yeast infection. The nipple may appear inflamed, scaly and ooze a clear discharge. Underneath the breast, look for redness and swelling. You may also experience shooting pains in the breast. Breastfeeding.com advises checking your baby's tongue for white spots as this is a sign that he has a yeast infection and can pass it to his mother.
Treatment
Karen Zeretke, an international board-certified lactation consultant, recommends applying an over the counter antifungal cream to the affected area, and advises, to prevent recurrence, that this treatment continue for up to two weeks after the last signs of infection have disappeared.
Fluconazole is a prescription medication that can treat vaginal yeast infections with just one dose. However Zeretke cites Thomas Hale's statement in 'Medications and Mother's Milk' that nipple yeast infections require a series of dosages of up to two weeks.
Breastfeeding.com suggests applying gentian violet solution to the affected area and then leaving the nipples exposed to let the messy purple solution dry without staining clothes.
Karen Zerteke also says that if either mother or baby has a yeast infection, they must be treated simultaneously to avoid passing the infection back and forth.
Prevention
Because Candida flourishes in moist, warm conditions, care should be taken to thoroughly dry the body after bathing. Zeretke additionally advises that tight, synthetic clothing that traps moisture such as sweat and does not allow the skin to breathe can lead to a yeast infection. She recommends reducing sugar intake because yeast thrives on sugar.
Tags: yeast infection, yeast infections, affected area, common under, fungus Candida
