We’ve all been there – literally, ¾ women have become itchy and miserable, all due to a yeast infection. But why do yeast infections occur? And how do you get rid of them? This post is going to be the girl’s guide to dealing with the yeast beast and being as comfortable as possible.
Yeast, or candida, is always present in the vagina but kept in balance. When the balance of the vaginal environment is disturbed, the yeast rages out of control and produces funky discharge (smelly, like fish, and think like cottage cheese) and a burning sensation when peeing.
The normal causes of environmental disruption are antibiotics, steroids, pregnancy, periods, sperm and birth control. For a great comprehensive and detailed explanation of all causes, go here!
Yeast thrives in moist, warm environments so even things like staying in a wet bathing suit, sitting for too long (and not letting any air get in there), or getting soap up there can cause yeast infections.
This last one is important—some girls and women often think that a good way to cleanse their vagina is douching or by using soap – but this isn’t the case at all!
Imagine that your vagina is an exclusive nightclub, and the bouncers at the door are bacteria. Using soap knocks out the bouncers and topples over the rope or gates, allowing the crowd to rush in. The bouncers or bacteria, can’t keep the yeast in control, allowing the yeast to move in and rage hard.
So — how can you end the party early? This is complicated. Often, Monistat is recommended to women for treating mild yeast infections. But, the problem is, that yeast infections are difficult to self diagnose and are commonly mistaken for other issues.
Most medical websites offering advice state that women who have had yeast infections before should self- treat.
Because the symptoms include different discharge, a different odor and burning, women often mistake yeast infections for UTIs (urinary tract infections), STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), and BV (bacterial vaginosis). This is a huge problem – most of these conditions are much more serious in nature and require very different treatments.
So, the best thing to do is if you notice something weird, CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR. It’s a quick test with a swab and results are very quick. The scary thing is – if left untreated for a long time, yeast infections can be very hard to get rid of and may develop into chronic conditions.
The other danger is that your yeast becomes more resistant to over the counter medicines, which then means you have to see a doctor for treatment and shell out more money!
To avoid developing infections, wear cotton panties (to let your skin breathe), avoid wearing synthetics and pantyhose, and don’t use any materials down there that are scented (toilet paper, tampons, etc.)
Maxim Hygiene produces fragrance-free, itch-free 100% cotton tampons and pads to ensure that women have an easier time protecting themselves and their health. We’ve been told by women who experienced chronic yeast infections that they found complete ongoing relief when they started using Maxim products instead of the synthetic and fragrance laden conventional products! They “ditched the itch” just by switching to Maxim! So, before you even go to the doctor, or worse, self-diagnose yourself, try Maxim tampons and pads for itch relief. If for some reason that still doesn’t help, at least you know you’re doing something better for your Body, Earth and Health thanks to all the other product benefits!
Check out our entire line of organic and natural products and remember that the fewer chemicals you introduce down there, the fewer headaches (or itches) you may suffer!
And, let us know how you deal with yeast infections and itches!! Cool tips always welcome!