7 Signs You Might Have Candida Overgrowth

Candida albicans is a type of fungus that grows on pretty much everyone—and mostly doesn't cause a problem. But sometimes it can get out of control and morph into candidiasis, or candida overgrowth. And that can trigger a host of seemingly unrelated health issues, from skin rashes to yeast infections.

Small amounts of candida normally live on and in the body, in places like the skin, the mouth, the throat, the gut, and the vagina. It's usually kept in check by the body's good bacteria and doesn't cause a problem. 

Any one of these factors might not necessarily be enough to cause candida overgrowth on its own, but if you're dealing with more than one, the combination could add up to a perfect storm for candida. "For instance, when your defenses are down from a weakened immune system and reduced bacterial diversity, eating sugar can become a problem," explains Nour Zibdeh, M.S., RDN. 

An overgrowth of candida can manifest in a number of symptoms. A few of them are fairly distinct, while others tend to be vague. That can make diagnosing candida overgrowth challenging. "There are a number of symptoms, although someone might not put the puzzle together on their own," says Trubow.   

A white, cheese-like coating on your tongue, inner cheeks, throat, or the roof of your mouth can all be a sign of candida overgrowth in the mouth—usually called oral thrush6. Often, it's triggered by a weakened immune system7 or antibiotic use, but it can also stem from dry mouth or hormonal changes (like those that occur during pregnancy).

Similar to yeast infections, most people will deal with a urinary tract infection at some point. Usually, they're marked by feeling like you constantly have to pee, even if not much actually comes out. You might also feel a burning sensation while peeing or notice that your urine is cloudy, red, or smells extra strong. 

Having any health condition that suppresses the immune system can raise the risk for candida overgrowth. But it might be especially true for inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. 

Candida normally lives on the surface of the skin. But sometimes the fungi can make their way beneath the skin's surface and cause a nasty infection. This might look like scaly dry skin, toenail fungus, or dandruff.

Candida often flares up in the mouth, gut, or vagina, but it can also travel through the bloodstream and spread to other parts of the body. And this type of overgrowth, called invasive candida11, can sometimes settle in the joints and cause arthritis-like pain in the hips or knees12. 

That flu-like feeling is a telltale sign that the body is trying to fight an infection—including invasive candida overgrowth. Still, how can you know that your fever and chills are actually caused by candida instead of something else? One clue might be if your doctor prescribes antibiotics for your symptoms and they don't get better. That could be a sign that you're dealing with a fungal infection13 rather than a bacterial one.

Symptoms can tip you off to a possible candida problem. But the only way to tell whether you have too much of the fungi is to get tested by a health care provider.

The test itself is simple and straightforward: Your provider will check for candida overgrowth by drawing your blood or taking a sample of your urine or stool. The sample is sent to a lab and cultured to test for the candida fungus14.  

Eating the right foods and cutting out ones that promote candida growth can make it harder for the harmful fungi to flourish. While there's no research backing a candida diet as a whole, studies do suggest that individual components can be beneficial. For example, Zibdeh says, "Removing sugar from the diet will starve the yeast." 

Successfully squashing candida overgrowth—and keeping it from coming back—relies on making lifestyle changes that fully address the problem's root cause. "Once it's resolved, it often comes back if the lifestyle issues are not addressed," Trubow says.

Candida overgrowth isn't always easy to recognize, in part because many of the symptoms are vague and can also be signs of other, completely different health problems. But if you're experiencing one or more of them and suspect that candida might be the culprit, talk with your health care provider. Together you can decide if testing for yeast overgrowth makes sense—and if candida is the problem, what you can do to start feeling better.