Candida

Candida is the name for a group of yeasts (a type of fungus) that commonly infect the skin. The name ‘candida’ refers to the white colour of the organisms in culture. Candidal infection is known as ‘candidiasis’, ‘candidosis’ or ‘moniliasis’.

Candida depends on a living host for survival. It is a normal inhabitant of the human digestive tract from early infancy, where it lives without causing any disease most of the time. However, if the host's defences are lowered, the organism can cause infection of the mucosa (the lining of the mouth, anus and genitals), the skin, and rarely, deep-seated infection.

The most common Candida (C) species to result in candidiasis is C. albicans. Other species are:

• C. tropicalis
• C. parapsilosis
• C. glabrata
• C. guilliermondii

Candidal skin infections include

• Oral candidiasis (oral thrush)
• Angular cheilitis
• Vulvovaginal candidiasis (genital infection in women) including cyclic vulvovaginitis
• Balanitis (penile infection)
• Intertrigo (skin fold infections)
• Napkin dermatitis (nappy or diaper rash)
• Chronic paronychia (nail fold infection)
• Onychomycosis (nail plate infection)
• Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis

Candida skin problems

Candidal nail infection	Superficial peeling from candida infection	Erosio interdigitalis blastomycetica
Intertrigo	Inflammatory candida causing pustules	Close-up of rash caused by candida

More images of candida infection ...

• Oral candida infection
• Candida intertrigo
• Candida nail infection
• Vulval candida infection

Predisposing factors for candida infection

• Infancy or old age
• Warm climate
• Occlusion e.g. plastic pants (babies), nylon pantyhose (women), dental plates
• Immune deficiencies e.g. low levels of immunoglobulins, infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Broad spectrum antibiotic treatment
• Contraceptive pill or injection, or pregnancy
• Chemotherapy or immunosuppressive medications such as systemic steroids
• Diabetes mellitus, Cushing's syndrome and other endocrine conditions
• Iron deficiency
• General debility e.g. from cancer or malnutrition
• Underlying skin disease e.g. psoriasis, lichen planus

Diagnosis

Microscopy and culture of skin swabs and scrapings aid in the diagnosis of candidal infections. However, candida can live on a mucosal surface quite harmlessly. It may also secondarily infect an underlying skin disorder such as psoriasis.

If you have a candida infection, consult your doctor or dermatologist for an examination and advice.