Managing Thrush In The Winter Months

Illnesses always get worse over Autumn and Winter. We breathe a sigh of relief, thinking we’re finally done with hay fever for the year and then; ‘snap,’ it’s cold and flu season already. One irritating little recurrence that can get worse and worse as the Autumn months get colder is thrush. It’s itchy and irritating at the best of times, but the winter months can take it to another level if it isn’t treated correctly. If we’re going to treat it in a way that keeps the irritation at bay without further damaging your skin, we need to know more about why thrush gets worse in winter. Let’s take a look.

First of all – what is thrush? The plague of annoyance and itchiness that women worldwide fear, thrush is caused by an overgrowth in “candida albicans,” a type of yeast that lives on the vulva and in the vagina and flourish in warm, wet environments. It is the presence of an excess of these microorganisms that lead to redness and irritation. You might be thinking “if candida love the warmth, then why does thrush get worse in Autumn and Winter?” The answer is all down to your clothes.

When winter comes around, we wrap up warm. We favour long sleeve over short, tight leggings and jeans over loose and free summer dresses, and wind-proofs over t-shirt. Winter clothing is thick, warm, tight and less breathable – the perfect environment for thrush to thrive.

This does not, however, mean that we now have a choice between itchiness down below and not freezing to death when we go to the supermarket. The classic option, for the longest time, has been harsh anti-fungal medication, but we of course prefer a more natural, sustainable solution.

The key to treating thrush effectively, without relying on pills and drugs, is this: use natural treatments, to eliminate fungus and bacteria whilst soothing and cooling the skin, and pick the right clothes from your wardrobe. Loose-fitting clothing is such a big part of dealing with thrush. It allows your vaginal area to breathe, cooling, aerating and drying (but not drying out) the area, thereby reducing the risk of thrush. Even if it’s cold outside, choose loose-fitting clothing, like jackets or thick skirts that suit your style, so the areas that need air can get enough of it. Avoid polyester or other plastic under garments and instead go for soft, absorbent cotton or bamboo (which is actually antibacterial too).

On the other hand – topical treatments. Topida is specifically formulated to instantly soothe the vaginal area while providing healing care in the long run. So many thrush treatments come in oily creams that you have to rub into the affected area. There’s nothing worse, when it comes to dealing with thrush, than rubbing your skin! The spray element removes that, while our natural ingredients, such as rosehip, tea tree, thyme, fennel, lavender and peppermint, go to work, instantly soothing the area, leaving you itch-free and with no need to rub anything at all. Have you tried Topida yet? Think of us next time you get thrush and see if it can’t soothe that itch in the chilly months ahead.