So, I'm 24. I've had this candida issue for 4 ~ 5 years now.
I've been smoking weed and drinking alcohol(very heavily) since I was 15 or 16. I was coffee drinker too. I stopped all that about 3 years ago but I think by then, it was already too late.

I had this recurrent yeast infection on my scrotum area for a long time by then, but I thought it was because I went snowboard too much. I'd clean that area frequent enough, and it went away by the time summer rolled around. But about 3 years ago, I noticed that it would not go away at all!

First doctor I went to prescribed me hydrocortisone, which is basically steroids. But that ofc made it only worse, so I went to a different doctor, and another, and another. I've used almost all the prescription meds like ketaconazole, nystatin, clotrimazole, and more. Meds worked but soon as I stopped using them, the yeast would come back within days.

So I figured it must be something internal, not a skin problem. So I researched and learn about candida diet. Since, I've been eating only brown rice, vegetables(kimchi, garlic, onion, green beans), some fruits(avocado, little bit of blue/black berries), nuts(walnuts, almonds). I eat beef or lamb every now and then. And my beverages are water and almond/coconut milk only.

I work out 3 ~ 4 times a week.

As for supplements, I take: oregano oil, garlic complex, vitamin E, chlorella, MSN, biotin, grapefruit seed ext, L-orithine(as substitute for L-glutamine), echinacea, elderberry, colostrum, and live flush.
I don't really rotate them, thinking more antifungals the merrier. I've been doing the diet for 8+ months now. Been taking supplements for 2 ~ 3 months now.

I noticed if I use topical medication(antifungal) for too long, the effected area would start cracking and white scabs, very itch, and very sensitive to touch. It almost feels like it's on fire. I swear, it hurts so much, it induces endorphins. I use coconut oil to ease the area, but it only helps for like 10 seconds. And so I'd stop using the meds, and extreme conditions would settle down but itchness would continue. I've been going thru that cycle for 8 months or so, but I havent used any prescription topical meds for over a month, but just two days ago, this symptoms I've described came back with vengeance. My diets been the same, so I have no idea what is causing this.

So my question is, is this die-off symptom? or is this another flare up, and getting worse? How does one differentiate the two? And lastly, anything else I could do? At this point, I'm willing to do anything. Please help.

actually one last question, can I still smoke weed every now and then? someone told me it's potent antibiotic(is this true?), which is why I quit, but I've been really craving it lately, and could use some stress reliever.