Let’s be honest. When something itches, even if it’s in an awkward place, it is almost impossible not to scratch it. It can be incredibly annoying and embarrassing to be out in public and suddenly it strikes: an unbearable itching. It’s even worse when you’re itchy down there. (You know where I mean!) Fortunately, I’ve got help for you!
Unfortunately, millions of people live with the discomfort of itching in the vaginal or anal areas, jock itch, as well as itching on the nipples or in the ears. This is because they just don’t know what’s causing it or how to eliminate it for good.
Most people turn to over-the-counter or prescription creams and steroid ointments hoping to find relief, only for the irritating itching to return. It’s a frustrating cycle, to say the least.
However, this doesn’t have to be the case. You CAN eliminate that awful itching and keep it from returning!
The Root Cause Of Your Itching Down There
The key is to recognize that despite what you may think (and what conventional doctors may tell you), the itching isn’t actually an external problem. Instead, it’s an outward manifestation of an underlying health issue inside your body.
And in almost every case it’s caused by a condition called Candida overgrowth. This happens when a type of yeast that lives in your gut gets out of control and wreaks havoc on your health. In fact, in functional medicine, rectal, vaginal, and nipple itching are red flags for Candida overgrowth because they’re so closely related.
Fortunately, by overcoming this one simple issue, you can stop that itching for good! So let’s dig into what Candida overgrowth is, why it leads to such terrible itching, and how to eliminate it.
What is Candida Overgrowth?
Candida is a fungus, a form of yeast, which lives in small amounts in your mouth and intestines. It helps with the digestion and the absorption of nutrients from your food. The ‘good’ bacteria in your gut, along with your immune system, usually keep the Candida in check so that all of the species in your gut are thriving together in a balanced ecosystem.
However, if you eat a diet high in sugar, alcohol, or refined carbs (which feed the Candida), take a course of antibiotics (which wipe out your good gut bacteria along with the organisms you want to eliminate), or experience chronic stress (which disrupts your gut balance) the Candida can overgrow. Once out of control, the Candida can disrupt your digestive system and lead to bloating, constipation, or diarrhea. It can even alter your mood because 95% of your neurotransmitters are produced in your gut.
Candida also has the unique ability to change shape in order to protect itself from harsh environments. It responds to a shift in temperature or acidity levels by transforming from a round cell into an elongated hyphal cell. These elongated cells are then able to permeate your gut lining, causing leaky gut. This means Candida can escape your gut via your bloodstream and colonize other areas of your body. This is why Candida can cause a huge variety of symptoms, including brain fog, fatigue, mood issues, bloating, constipation, seasonal allergies, sinus infections, and even autoimmune conditions.
However, some of the most common symptoms of Candida overgrowth are skin issues, including persistent itching, along with eczema, nail fungus, and dandruff. Let’s look at how Candida colonizes your skin and why it can cause itching in particular.
How Does Candida Overgrowth Lead to Itching?
To understand the link between Candida overgrowth and itching, you must first understand how your skin functions. Your skin is your body’s largest organ, and it’s full of nerves that relay important information about your environment by sensing pain, texture, and temperature, among other sensations.
Your skin is made up of three layers: the epidermis, the dermis, and the hypodermis. The epidermis, which is the outermost layer, contains special cells that are a part of your immune system and protect the rest of your body. The second layer of your skin, the dermis, has nerve endings that are responsible for sending signals to your brain so you know if something is itching, hurting, hot, cold, etc. Finally, the hypodermis, which is the innermost layer, contains blood vessels that connect to the rest of your body.
Once Candida has caused your gut to become leaky and then escaped to reach your skin, the blood vessels in the hypodermis become the pathways for it to colonize your outer layers of skin. When it reaches your epidermis the immune cells found there attack it leading to itching and redness, and the nerve endings in your dermis are what relay the itching sensation to your brain.
So while over-the-counter or prescription treatments may target and kill the Candida living on the outer layer of your skin, it can simply be replenished by the yeast that has colonized your gut and is escaping via your bloodstream.
That’s why it’s essential to eliminate the Candida overgrowth itself to finally put a stop to the itching down there – for good.
How to Overcome Candida and Stop the Itching Down There
The good news is that Candida overgrowth and all the embarrassing itching down there can easily be reversed. By stopping Candida overgrowth and repairing your leaky gut, the yeast will no longer be able to colonize on your skin, and you can stop the itching in its tracks.
In my Candida Breakthrough® Program, I use a proven, 3-step approach to help you beat Candida overgrowth.
Step one is to starve the yeast by eliminating the foods that feed it. This includes cutting all sugar and alcohol, and limiting carbohydrates such as fruit, starchy vegetables, grains, and legumes.
Step two is to attack the yeast using supplements that destroy the Candida’s cell walls. I use Candifense™, a powerful blend of plant-based enzymes that break down the cell walls of Candida, and Caprylic Acid, a short chain fatty acid derived from coconut that pokes holes in the yeast cell walls.
Finally, step three is to repopulate your gut with the probiotics, or good bacteria, that usually keep the yeast in check. While dealing with Candida, I recommend a 100 Billion Probiotic, which contains 100 billion colony forming units (CFUs) of high-quality, good bacteria. This will not only help restore your gut’s healthy balance, it will also help repair your gut lining so that the Candida can no longer escape and wreak havoc in other areas of your body.
To make it easy for you, I’ve created a complete 30-day program with all of the supplements, recipes, shopping lists, and support you need to eliminate Candida overgrowth and restore your gut. You can learn more about my Candida Breakthrough® Program by clicking here.
