Candida Protocol

It is important to get the best latch possible when you have sore nipples. Even if the cause of sore nipples is Candida, improving the latch can decrease the pain. Note that with the “ideal” latch, the baby covers more of the areola (brown part of the breast) with his lower lip than the upper lip. Note also that the baby's nose does not usually touch the breast (except when the mother's breasts are very large, and even then). It is not always easy, though, to change the latch of the older baby.

Start with local treatment (applied on the nipple) with:

1. Gentian violet Use once a day for 4 to 7 days. If pain is gone after 4 days, stop gentian violet. If better, but not gone after four days, continue for 7 days. Stop after 7 days no matter what. If not better at all at 4 days, stop the gentian violet, continue with the ointment as below and call. Gentian violet comes as a 1% solution in water. It also usually dissolved in 10% alcohol, as gentian violet is not soluble in pure water. This amount of alcohol is negligible, as the baby will only get a drop of gentian violet. Apparently some pharmacists will dissolve it in glycerine instead of alcohol. 2% gentian violet should not be used.

Plus:

2. APNO (All Purpose Nipple Ointment) as below:

• Mupirocin 2% ointment (15 grams)
• Betamethasone 0.1% ointment (15 grams)
• To which is added miconazole powder so that the final concentration is 2% miconazole. This combination gives a total volume of just more than 30 grams. Clotrimazole powder to a final concentration of 2% may be substituted if miconazole powder is unavailable, but both exist (the pharmacist may have to order it in). I believe clotrimazole is not as good as miconazole, but I have no proof of that. Using powder gives a better concentration of antifungal agent (miconazole or clotrimazole) and the concentrations of the mupirocin and betamethasone remain higher.

The combination is applied sparingly after each feeding (except the feeding when the mother uses gentian violet). “Sparingly” means that the nipple and areola will shine but you won’t be able to see the ointment. Do not wash or wipe it off, even if the pharmacist asks you to. In Canada, Kenacomb (easier to find) or Viaderm KC (less expensive) ointments (not cream) can be substituted for the above combination, but are distinctly inferior. I used to use nystatin ointment or miconazole cream (15 grams) as part of the mixture, and these work well enough, but I believe the use of powdered miconazole (or clotrimazole powder) gives better results. These ointments can be used for any cause of nipple soreness ("all purpose nipple ointments"), not just for Candida (yeast). Use the ointment until you are pain free and then decrease frequency over a week or two until stopped. (See Treatments for Problems 1 under “all purpose nipple ointment” at the website below). If you are not having less pain after 3 or 4 days of use, or if you need to be using it for longer than 2 or 3 weeks to keep pain free, get help or advice.

3. Grapefruit seed extract (not grape seed extract), 250 mg (usually 2 tablets) three times a day orally (taken by the mother), seems to work well in many cases. If preferred the liquid extract can be taken orally: 5 drops in water three times/day (though this is not as effective). GSE can be used before trying fluconazole, instead of fluconazole or in addition to fluconazole in resistant cases. See below for information on grapefruit seed extract used directly on the nipples.

4. If pain continues and it is sure the problem is Candida, or at least reasonably sure, add fluconazole 400 mg loading, then 100 mg twice daily for at least 2 weeks, until the mother is pain free for a week. The nipple ointment should be continued and the gentian violet can be repeated. If fluconazole is too expensive, ketoconazole 400 mg loading, then 200 mg twice daily for same period of time (or grapefruit seed extract can be used). If Candida is resistant, itraconazole, same dose and time period as fluconazole, can be used and has worked, though Candida actually is less sensitive to itraconazole, generally, than it is to fluconazole. (See handout Fluconazole). Fluconazole is apparently now available as a generic product (therefore less expensive). Fluconazole should not be used as a first line treatment or if nystatin alone does not work (which it usually doesn’t). Before using fluconazole, nipple pain should be treated aggressively with good latch, gentian violet, all purpose nipple ointment and grapefruit seed extract. Fluconazole takes 3 or 4 days to start working, though occasionally, in some situations, it has taken 10 days to even start working. If you have had no relief with 10 days of fluconazole, it is very unlikely it will work, and you should stop taking it.

5. For deep breast pain, ibuprofen 400 mg every four hours may be used until definitive treatment is working (maximum daily dose is 2400 mg/day).

Grapefruit Seed Extract

Grapefruit seed extract should be used in conjunction with the APNO (All Purpose Nipple Ointment). Apply the diluted liquid grapefruit seed extract on the nipples, and then follow with the ointment (always after the feeding).

Apply solution directly on the nipples. It does not need to be refrigerated. It may be covered and used until solution is finished.
• Mix very well five to 10 drops in 30 ml (1 ounce) of water (preferably distilled).
• Use cotton swab or Q-tip to apply on both nipples and areolas after the feeding.
• Let dry a few seconds then apply “APNO” (all purpose nipple ointment).
• If using Gentian Violet, do not use GSE on that particular feed but use after all other feeds.
• Should be used in conjunction with oral GSE, either tablets, capsules, or liquid extract (see above)
• Laundry can be treated as well: add 5-20 drops in the rinse cycle of all wash loads
• Use until pain is gone and then wean down slowly over the period of at least a week.
• If pain is not significantly improving after 2-3 days, increase the dose by 5 drops per 30 ml (ounce) of water. Can continue increasing until 25 drops per 30 ml of water.
• If flaking, drying, or whiteness appears on the skin, substitute vitamin E oil for APNO 1x/day.

If not using Gentian Violet, it may be helpful to treat baby with Acidophilus by rolling a wet finger in Acidophilus powder (break open a capsule), and let baby suck on the finger right before a feeding. Use 2x first day, 2x second day only. Mother may want to ingest Acidophilus as well, 3x/day.