Patient's question:
How is candidiasis usually acquired? What are its hazards?Doctor's answer:
Hello: The human body itself is a carrier of Candida. As a symbiotic bacterium in the human body, Candida can only cause disease under certain conditions. Therefore, as long as the conditions that may lead to candidal vulvovaginitis are eliminated, the purpose of prevention can be achieved.(1) Exercise regularly, maintain a balanced diet, and avoid excessive consumption of high-sugar foods.
(2) Develop good hygiene habits: Wash your hands before using the toilet; do not use unclean toilet paper; when wiping the external genitalia after defecation, wipe from front to back; clean the external genitalia daily, change and wash underwear, and dry them in a well-ventilated place; use your own basin and towels; wash underwear and socks separately.
(3) Dress appropriately: Do not wear synthetic underwear, and do not borrow others' underwear, pants, or swimsuits.
(4) When using public restrooms, avoid sitting on the toilet; prefer showering instead of tub baths; do not sit directly on the bathroom chair after bathing; do not swim in swimming pools with poor disinfection.
(5) Do not overemphasize hygiene: Some patients claim to pay great attention to hygiene during their visits, washing the external genitalia 2–3 times a day, using a or hands to clean the vagina each time. However, this practice is incorrect. The vaginal environment is slightly acidic and contains a diverse microbiota, where the mutual restraint between different microbial species helps inhibit the overgrowth of certain bacteria, causing disease. This is the body's natural defense system. Cleaning the vagina disrupts the slightly acidic environment and the mutual restraint between microbial species, weakening the vaginal epithelium's disease resistance and potentially causing vaginal infections caused by Candida or other bacteria.