Candida is an yeast type of fungus that occurs on the skin and cavities of the body but will not cause an infection in most cases. A candida infection, known as candidiasis, is more likely to occur on the skin although it can also infect the vagina, mouth or intestines. Infection of the latter two sites is usually limited to immunocompromised patients like in HIV/AIDS.
While candida tends to live on the skin without causing a fungal infection of the skin, if the conditions are favorable, it will become pathogenic. Like other skin fungi, it needs the ideal conditions like warmth, moisture and darkness to thrive and if the body’s immune defenses are lowered, this harmless yeast will quickly infect the skin and body.