Candida albicansis a punch in of fungus that grows on pretty much everyoneand mostly doesn’t cause a problem.
But sometimes it can get out of control and morph into candidiasis, or candida overgrowth.
And that can trigger a host of seemingly unrelated health issues, from skin rashes to yeast infections.
So how can you tell if you have it?
Here are seven biggies worth paying attention to, plus what to do about them.
What causes candida overgrowth?
It’s usually kept in check by the body’s good bacteria and doesn’t cause a problem.
But certain factors can disrupt the normal balance of good bacteria and fungi.
“That can lead to an increase in candida,” explains functional medicine doctorWendie Trubow, M.D.
7 signs of candida overgrowth
An overgrowth of candida can manifest in a number of symptoms.
A few of them are fairly distinct, while others tend to be vague.
That can make diagnosing candida overgrowth challenging.
Thrush can come on suddenly, and youll know it when you see it.
You might notice redness or soreness around the edges of your mouth too.
Frequent yeast infections
Yeast infections8are because of an overgrowth of candida.
But it might be especially true forinflammatory bowel diseaseslikeCrohn’s diseaseor ulcerative colitis.
Frequent skin infections
Candida normally lives on the surface of the skin.
But sometimes the fungi can make their way beneath the skin’s surface and cause anasty infection.
This might look like scaly dry skin, toenail fungus, or dandruff.
They’re typically marked by an itchy rash that looks like a cluster of tiny red pimples.
However, sore or achy joints alone might not tip you off to a candida problem.
One clue might be if your doctor prescribes antibiotics for your symptoms and they don’t get better.
That could be a sign that you’re dealing witha fungal infection13rather than a bacterial one.
How to test for candida overgrowth
Symptoms can tip you off to a possible candida problem.
The sample is sent to a lab andcultured to test for the candida fungus14.
Is one bang out of test better than the others?
Not necessarily, says Trubow.
The test your provider picks will likely depend on your specific symptoms.
(Frequent yeast infections or UTIs9might warrant a urine test, for instance.)
Sometimes she might opt to confirm the diagnosis with a second test.
“I often use blood and stool tests in conjunction.
Using both together gives me a sense of how pervasive the candida is,” Trubow explains.
For example, Zibdeh says, “Removingsugarfrom the diet will starve the yeast.”
But you’ll need to take other steps beyond changing up what you eat.
