Here at Salcura as, women are well represented within our team and customer base (although our products are made for everyone!). With the ladies, specifically, in mind, we wanted to take this opportunity to take a look at an issue that affects so many women around the world – Thrush. Since intimate health is often still perceived as an embarrassing topic, many women put off seeking treatment and suffer unnecessarily. So let’s talk about it, frankly and openly!
First of all, what is thrush? Thrush is a common condition experienced by almost all women at some point in their lives, young and old, tall and small. It is caused, most of the time, by an increase in a natural fungus that occurs on skin, called “Candida Albicans.” The fungus usually lives harmlessly on the skin in various places around the body, such as in the mouth, in the gut and, of course, on the vagina. This fungus is usually kept in check by bacteria that also occur naturally, called lactobacilli. The two usually live in harmony but, when your immune system is in a weakened state, the candida albicans multiplies, causing thrush.
What are the symptoms? Every woman is unique. We all have different genetic makeup and, as a result, will experience thrush in different ways. Some people experience deep itching and, in the worst cases, pain. Some of the lucky ones don’t even know they have it until their next cervical smear test! Most women get thrush in their 30s and 40s and it can take the form of: vulval itching or soreness, irritation and inflammation, excess discharge (usually white and odourless), a slight swelling of the vaginal lips, and pain or discomfort when passing urine or having sex. However you get it, it doesn’t feel good.
Why do we get it? There are a variety of factors that can lead, as we said before, to a weakened immune system and, eventually, thrush. The most obvious of these is when you’re ill. Your body kicks into gear to fight the alien illness trying to take over your body, which can leave other areas without that natural balance of bacteria that keeps thrush at bay. Other factors include, but are not limited to, taking antibiotics or contraceptive pills, having diabetes, being pregnant, menstruating, undergoing chemo, or even just wearing tight clothing. Some shower and bath products can also irritate the sensitive vaginal area, especially products that are heavy in synthetic material, such as Parfum, SLS or Parabens.
That’s why we’ve developed Topida. Much like the rest of our Salcura range, the emphasis is on natural ingredients, including Eucalyptus extract, Lemon and Peppermint to soothe and cool the inflamed area, Safflower and Rosehip to nourish and moisturise the skin and Tea Tree, Thyme and Sea Buckthorn to bring the bacteria back into balance. With this combination, you can gently treat the skin without causing further irritation down the line. Topida is formulated to provide a safe and practical solution for thrush and other similar fungal infections and is administered through a handy 360° spray bottle, meaning the mechanism even works upside down. Having to rub moisturiser into already inflamed areas can be irritating and painful, so the spray is optimised for absorption, eliminating the need for skin contact.
Topida is unique when compared to other vaginal care products, due not only to its natural ingredients but also to the high-grade essential oils we use to restore the natural PH balance in your skin. The spray is chock-full of Vitamin E, with Lactic Acid to support a healthy vaginal environment. Within minutes, you’ll feel a cooling sensation and relief from itching. In a few days, the inflammation of your vaginal area will be significantly reduced and within two weeks the whole area should be well on its way to recovery.
