Yeast is a microscopic fungus consisting of single oval cells that reproduce by budding. Some yeasts may form filaments (pseudohyphae, or false hyphae) similar to those formed by molds. There about 1,500 species of yeast currently described, estimated to be only 1% of all fungal species.Yeast is capable of converting sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide.
Yeast is very common in environments with sugar-rich material such as the skins of fruits and berries (for example grapes, apples or peaches), and exudate from plants (such as plant saps or cacti). Some yeasts are found in association with soil and insects while others including Candida albicans, Rhodotorula rubra, Torulopsis and Trichosporon cutaneum, have been found living in between people’s toes as part of their skin flora. Yeast is also present in the gut flora of mammals and some insects. Deep-sea environments host an array of yeasts.
Yeast infection is one of the major fungal infections in women all around the world but they are also common among men as well. One of the main reasons why yeast infection get severe is because most people tend to ignore it in the hope that it will disappear on its own. Yeast infections, caused by the Candida are referred to as candidiasis. The infection is horrible given that it is both an uncomfortable and embarrassing condition. Symptoms of yeast infection may include itching, cottage cheesy discharge in case of vaginal infection, sores at the corners of the mouth, swelling or tenderness of the tissue around the toes or fingernails, or a rash in the moist areas of the body such as under the arms or in the groin.