Surprisingly, many women ask this question. Why is this such a common question? 75% of all women suffer from vaginal candidiasis and are looking for answers and solutions to the problem.

The answer to the question lies in understanding the symptoms and effects that a yeast infection has on the female body. Symptoms include: itching or redness of the vagina and vulva; a thick, white, creamy vaginal discharge; and discomfort and/or pain during sexual intercourse.

If you’ve had a yeast infection, I don’t need to waste time telling you that vaginal itching from a yeast infection can drive you crazy. The discharge that accompanies the infection irritates the skin and causes constant itching. It is the most tormenting itch you can experience and the worst thing is that it can affect all areas of the vulva.

It is extremely difficult not to continually scratch or rub something abrasive on your skin in an effort to get some relief. This is where the additional problems begin. Constant scratching or rubbing irritates and sometimes breaks the skin. As the skin begins to heal, it can develop scabs and this is the rough sensation that many women feel on the outside of the vulva.

If you experience itching near the vaginal opening or your scratching covers that area, you may be breaking the skin and in the healing process, it may feel rough.

Now there are other conditions that can cause vaginal itching and roughness. Dermatitis is the most common cause of chronic vulvar symptoms. In some cases, vulvar dermatitis can be caused by a genetic predisposition to allergies and hypersensitivity. Similar to a yeast infection, the initial symptoms will be itching followed by scratching. However, the difference is that with dermatitis there is no discharge.

If you’re one of the thousands of women asking the question “My vaginal opening feels rough, could it be a yeast infection?” There are four simple self-tests you can do in the privacy of your own home that will answer your question.

1. Make a list of your symptoms. A yeast infection will not only be itchy, it will have discharge and a strange odor.

2. Take note of your clothes. Have you been scratching the area that feels rough so the skin might have broken? If so, scabs may have formed.

3. Check the appearance of your underwear or pajamas. As a consequence of scratching, many times if the skin has been broken, small spots of blood can be seen.

4. Perform a simple self-examination by touching the area after cleaning and drying the area. Does the skin feel rough or does it feel like there are scabs on the skin?

If you have recently treated a yeast infection and still have rough skin, remember that it may take some time for the symptoms to go away, as the skin on the vulva usually takes longer to heal than other areas of the body.

If you suspect you have a yeast infection, don’t just treat the symptoms. Find out what you need to do to permanently cure the cause of your thrush or it’s very likely to happen again.