Tame Yeast Infections
You worked out at the gym and kept your sweaty clothes on too long. Now your vulva is itching like crazy. Yep, it’s the dreaded yeast infection.
A yeast infection is caused by a fungus and likes to grow in warm, dark moist places, says Michele Curtis, M.D., an associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center Medical School. “It’s characterized by itching and a cottage-cheese type of discharge,” she says.
A yeast infection can be caused by too-tight clothing, antibiotics, stress or illness, Dr. Curtis explains. It can be treated with over-the-counter medications or a prescribed pill that will knock it out in a single dose. But see a doctor if symptoms persist–it may signal something else. “It’s important not to self-diagnose,” she says, “because the itching could signal diabetes, vulvar cancer or other conditions.”
Dr. Curtis suggests several tips to avoid yeast infections:
- Wear 100 percent cotton underwear
- Don’t wear underwear to bed
- Rest and eat a balanced diet
- Eat yogurt several times a week.
– Beverly James
