Cutaneous candidiasis is a skin infection also known as candidiasis. This infection is also often referred as yeast infection, an infection caused by a fungus called Candida albicans. These fungi normally reside harmlessly in the body, yet may cause infection when they grow uncontrollably. This is possible if you are taking antibiotics or having a weakened immune system. Warm or moist body area is proven as an effective habitat for these fungi to grow.

Is candidiasis dangerous?

When suspected and treated immediately after occurring, candidiasis should not be a major health problem. Most of the time, it triggers rashes which are visible all over the body. Other than causing discomfort and aesthetic problems, this outbreak is not a harmful health concern. However, continuous candida infection may lead to complications when not properly treated for a long time. The most dangerous complication of cutaneous candidiasis occurs when the fungi infects the bloodstream.

Regarding the outbreak, it is important for people suspecting the occurrence of candidiasis to discuss it with professionals. This is important since the resulted symptoms might be similar to sexual transmittable diseases, such as genital herpes, which should be a concern.

Common types of cutaneous candidiasis

Cutaneous candidiasis is triggered by fungi which in normal environment live harmlessly all over the body parts, including the mouth and genitals. When the immune system is suppressed, it is possible for this fungi to multiply, causing candidiasis outbreak. Based on the affected body parts, there are some types of candidiasis, which include:

• Oral cutaneous candidiasis—affects the mouth, lips, and mouth lining, and is caused by overgrowth of oral fungus.
• Nail yeast infection—generally affects the toe nails, and is triggered by candida fungus infestation from a contact with water.
• Vaginal yeast infection—affects women’s genital and may be recurring. This is triggered by multiplied fungus residing in women’s vagina.

Is cutaneous candidiasis contagious?

• Oral cutaneous candidiasis is signed by white patches on patient’s tongue and other areas of the mouth and mouth lining. Some severe cases might cause the difficulties of swallowing and mouth and throat soreness. Oral candidiasis is commonly treated with prescribed anti-fungal medications. This fungal infection may affect babies, toddlers, and adults. Some patients experience the loss of sense of taste or a feeling of cotton in the mouth. Oral candidiasis may also cause red rashes around the lips and mouth. However, different from a facial and oral herpes, this infection is considered not contagious. Although cannot be transmitted from one person to another, oral candidiasis may be contagious between the body parts. An infection beginning in the mouth may spread into the esophagus and throat, causing fever and inability to swallow.
• Nail yeast infection is signed by yellowish color of the toenail accompanied by swelling and itching which gets worse at night. Some people experience bleeding toenail, although this symptom may be absent in some cases. Similar to the oral cutaneous candidiasis, nail yeast infection is also not contagious. However, people who suffer from this health problem are often associated with high level of alcohol and poor diet. Improving the dietary choices might be able to minimize the effect of candidiasis, while failing to do so might trigger the spreading of the fungus to some other body parts.
• Vaginal candidiasis is the most common type of infection and has become a concern for women’s health. This infection might be triggered by pills and antibiotics which are taken and stopped for a certain period of time. Vaginal yeast infection may be itchy and painful, causing red rashes on the vaginal edges—the vulva. Despite its similar appearance with genital herpes, vaginal candidiasis is not contagious. Hence, this fungal infection is not transmittable from one person to the partner from a sexual intercourse. Otherwise, the disease tends to be recurring, requiring women suffering from it in the past watch their diets and hygiene practices carefully. Few people are reported to catch a vaginal candidiasis infection from their partners, yet these are very rarely, different from that infection of a vaginal herpes. Badly weakened immune system is said to be the culprit which makes it is possible for a vaginal candidiasis to be contagious between partners.