A yeast infection is a fungal infection of the Candida species. Its technical name is Candidasis. Most people when they think of yeast infections they think of vaginal yeast infections. What many do not know is that yeast is usually located on many people's skin. A yeast infection can break out on different parts of the body including in the mouth. Approximately somewhere between 20-50% of healthy women have yeast in the vaginal area.

What makes an infection so noticeable are the symptoms that come about after an infection. These systems include in women the irritation of the vagina including burning, sever itching, soreness and a whitish discharge that has a curd like look. Many times in women they mistake these symptoms for a yeast infection but instead have bacterial vaginosis. With men they will get red patchy sores near the head of the penis. They will receive severe itching and burning sensations. Men can also have a white discharge.

So if yeast is already present on many of us what causes these infections? Well first let us look on why it doesn't break out more often. Our body keeps the yeast at bay natural microorganisms and the human immune system. So we need to have an imbalance to get things off base. This occurs in a couple of instances. The list includes some detergents, pregnancy and the use of oral contraceptives, and having vaginal sex immediately after anal sex with no cleansing. Also having a weak immune system can also lead to an outbreak. A weak immune system can happen naturally or because of outside influences such as high levels of stress, cancer and AIDS.

With vaginal yeast infections the most common treatment is a 150-mg pill of Difucan. This only takes care of yeast infections though. All other types of yeast infections require different types of treatment.