Candida Protocol
By: Dr. Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC

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:

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 Sore Nipples & Sore Breasts). 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 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.

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.
 

About The Author: Dr. Jack Newman is a Toronto pediatrician who has practiced medicine since 1970. In 1984 he established the first hospital based breastfeeding clinic in Canada, at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. He now holds breastfeeding clinics in several Toronto area hospitals. Jack has been a consultant with UNICEF's Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative and has spoken at conferences around the world. He is the father of three children, all breastfed.  Dr. Newman is the author of "The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers"

NOTE: The article above titled "Candida Protocol" was written by Dr. Jack Newman and is the opinion of its author.  "The New Parents Guide" does not guarantee the information to be factual.  Always use the guidance of your personal doctor or your child's doctor over information you read on this site or elsewhere; your doctors know what is best for you and your baby.