Steroids and some cancer medications weaken the immune system and can allow yeast to flourish. Yeast, which is unaffected by antibiotics, moves into the vacated spots once occupied by bacteria, and starts to grow and multiply. When we take antibiotics to deal with less friendly bacteria, we kill off these harmless ones as well. These bacteria, which live on the skin and in the intestine and vagina, among other places, are harmless but good at fighting off yeast. Yeast must compete for the right to live on us with various other organisms, many of them bacteria. A number of factors can increase the chance of the yeast growing out of control, a common one being the overuse of antibiotics. Nevertheless, candidiasis is a constant nuisance, and sometimes a serious threat to people with AIDS and some cancer patients who lack the immune resources to fight it. These can be bothersome infections, but are not life threatening.Ĭandidiasis can kill if it reaches the bloodstream or vital organs such as the heart, but this is rare even in people with damaged immune systems and is almost unheard of in healthy people. It also is a common cause of diaper rash. By far the most common problems are skin, mouth and vaginal infections. Candidiasis may also infect the blood stream or internal organs such as the liver or spleen. This includes the external surface skin and the skin of the vagina, the penis, and the mouth. Occasionally the yeast multiplies uncontrollably, causing pain and inflammation. We all carry this organism on our skin, in our mouth, in our gastrointestinal tract (gut), and, in the case of women, in the vagina. Candida albicans is an organism that normally makes a quiet home for itself on your skin and doesn't bother anyone. Candidiasis, also called thrush or moniliasis, is a yeast infection.

Pictures of boils on vag lip