Chemical causes of thrush

Faith

This could arguably go in the Lady Gardening thread, but I feel it deserves a thread of its own as a resource. Mods, if you disagree, feel free to merge it .

My housemate was seriously afflicted with thrush for several months. Numerous trips to the doctor were made, she was prescribed large doses of Diflucan with no effect, and eventually they told her it just wouldn't go away and she was pretty much stuck with it. One day, she twigged that she'd changed her laundry detergent at about the same time the thrush started. She stopped using that one, and hey presto, the thrush cleared straight up!

It's supposedly common knowledge that chemicals in clothing and detergents and the like can cause thrush, but I'd bet that a lot of women never consider that when they get thrush. Have you ever found a product that seemed to cause you thrush? It might be handy for women prone to thrush to know about, so they can avoid it .

Hers was Bold 2-in-1 detergent and fabric conditioner, by the way.

Storminateacup

I use that fem deo, and intimate wash because I am anal about hygiene, and have found that despite both products designed for that area, that they've caused me to get thrush on a couple of occasions.

Acoshla

Storminateacup wrote: »

I use that fem deo, and intimate wash because I am anal about hygiene, and have found that despite both products designed for that area, that they've caused me to get thrush on a couple of occasions.

Intimate cleaning things and the practice itself destroy the natural balance there, don't they say that they vagina is a self cleaning organ? So by "cleaning" it you're upsetting the balance which can cause infections, discharge and thrush. Often on Embarrassing Bodies they'll have a girl who is obsessed with being clean so keeps cleaning her bits, then sees discharge and feel itching so cleans it more, vicious circle, once they stop the manic cleaning the infections clear up.

Morag

The chemicals don't cause it, they irritate the area which causes the body's normal defensive bacterial to act up and become thrush.

Lavender soap or violet soap is good for cleaning the lady garden but over cleaning can cause issues.

Neyite

Mine would appear prior to my period some months - it would be a few days of discomfort but then when my period arrived it would re-set the PH or whatever there. When my period didnt arrive in August, (getting pregnant) the thrush hung around for a holiday . Thankfully at the end of the first trimester it eased off, as it was obviously hormonal driven and once the placenta took over hormone production it went away. Thank God. Was squirming like a mad yoke and doc would only let me use external cream, no pessary.

I have had Persil trigger a skin itch and cystitis though - that was back in the days of powders so now we use liquid instead of tablets or powders and I'm grand.

Shower gels are another one to watch. Use sparingly, and rinse very very well!

Truley

I haven't used conventional washing detergent in years, I've always used natural brands like Ecover Once you get used to using natural cleaners the smell of something like Persil makes me sick. Don't use shower gels or even soap 'down there'. Warm water is more than sufficient.

Giselle

Hypoallergenic baby wash or Cetaphil wash is good for under the hood, its very gentle and non-irritating. Not too far under the hood though...

Eviledna

Hee hee hee...under the hood.:D

I've found thrush to be very much a sign of how your gut is. I notice if I even get the slightest tummy bug, I'll get a dose. I swear by the acidophilus capsules to solve it, because diflucan't.

Villette

I suppose everyone knows that washing powders can cause skin irritation but I never thought of this before. I have a friend who is very prone to thrush so I must tell her!
The only time I ever got irritation 'down there' was when I sat on a toilet seat that someone had poured bleach on....so don't do that obviously! I used a natural ph rebalancing thing from a health shop and it worked straight away.
Oh and I have to say I use Dove Soap, it's brilliant, it's the only soap or wash that I can use down there without starting to feel weird if you know what I mean!

shinikins

Washing powders trigger it for me, I've used liquid for years now. I find some fabric conditioners can set it off for me, so I wash underwear seperately. And warm water is definitely the only thing that goes near my hood(lol Giselle, thats brilliant!)

Neyite, did the doctor not suggest natural yoghurt to ease the thrush? Its great as a natural treatment for thrush, and obviously isn't harmful to the body. A bit messy, but thats what Granny knickers and panty liners were invented for!!

Giselle

shinikins wrote: »

Neyite, did the doctor not suggest natural yoghurt to ease the thrush? Its great as a natural treatment for thrush, and obviously isn't harmful to the body. A bit messy, but thats what Granny knickers and panty liners were invented for!!

Does it not have to be 'live' natural yoghurt Shinikins?

I tried the yoghurt solution a couple of years ago, combined with probiotics and the thrush cleared up. I'm not 100% sure if it was coincidence or that treatment though.

By god the yoghurt thing is messy though. Its pretty uncomfortable going about the day with what feels like a tub of Yoplait in your drawers

shinikins

I've only ever used Natural Yoghurt, or Greek Yoghurt, not sure about it being "live" AFAIK, its the ph of the yoghurt that helps. I's wonderful stuff-great for sunburn, hair treatments, and marinading meats

Giselle

shinikins wrote: »

I've only ever used Natural Yoghurt, or Greek Yoghurt, not sure about it being "live" AFAIK, its the ph of the yoghurt that helps. I's wonderful stuff-great for sunburn, hair treatments, and marinading meats

I think Greek yoghurt is live.:)

Never tried it for a hair treatment, must give that a go.:)

Neyite

I seriously considered the natural yoghurt Shinkins, but then I got all worried about what live bacteria up there might do to baby! Daft I know, but I just figured my own discomfort was secondary to baby's health.

Littleminx

hi,iv had that problem also i found a cream called canstean and its very good for thrush i found, also shower gels dont help this situation or tight clothing can also makeit worse maybe try loose fitting cotton underwear my doctor has told me cause i used suffer terrible on& off,

stinkle

People might already know about this particular cause of thrush, but a few years back I was staying at my folks house and Mam had bought some kind of scented loo roll (some bargain bin thing). I didn't notice it was scented at first, I thought it was air freshener or something! Once I realised I stopped using it and any irritation went away. Thank goodness I realised quick enough. So avoid that stuff the plague if you're prone to thrush! Bet there's all sorts of chemicals on it

up for anything

Storminateacup wrote: »

I use that fem deo, and intimate wash because I am anal about hygiene, and have found that despite both products designed for that area, that they've caused me to get thrush on a couple of occasions.

That made me laugh.

All the above can cause thrush for me. Also sex when I'm not lubricated enough.