Usually, yeast infections are not serious.  But they can be an uncomfortable annoyance.  The symptoms of yeast infections are different for different parts of the body.  Symptoms may range from itching and burning of the skin to discharge or white lesions.  Let's take a look at the three most common types of yeast infections:  cutaneous, genital, and oral yeast infections.

1.   Cutaneous yeast infections
Cutaneous infections may manifest as dry or itchy skin.  Or, the skin may appear red and raw in small or large patches with pus-filled lesions towards the end of each patch.  The skin may be inflamed. 

2.  Oral yeast infections - Thrush
White lesions will appear on the tongue, sides of the mouth, gums, tonsils, and roof of the mouth and are usually painful.  Sometimes, oral yeast infections will spread into the esophagus and can cause difficulty swallowing.  Infections can spread from a baby's mouth to a mother's nipple, making nipples painful and red.  There may also be a pain deep inside the breast (a symptom of breast inflammation/infection called mastitis) as well during this type of infection.

3.  Yeast infection of the genital area
Symptoms of a genital yeast infection manifest differently for men and women.  For men, a red rash may appear, along with burning or itching towards the tip of the penis.  For women, itching, pain, very light bleeding and a burning sensation may occur, particular during urination and sexual intercourse.  Additionally, a cottage-cheese like discharge may happen as well, although it may be watery as well, or even not present.

To summarize, symptoms of the most common types of yeast infections include:

• Burning sensation during urination or intercourse (genital)
• Dry, itchy skin (cutaneous and genital)
• Difficulty swallowing (oral yeast infection spread to the esophagus)
• Pain inside the breast (oral yeast infection spread from nursing baby)
• Red, raw, or inflamed skin, perhaps with pus-filled lesions (cutaneous)
• Lesions (cutaneous and oral)
• Vaginal discharge (genital)

Anytime you have a yeast infection, no matter the body location, it's important that you be treated.  Whether it is merely a yeast infection, or may point to a more serious condition (such as a weakened immune system due to HIV), it's important to visit your family physician.  To learn more about how your doctor will make a diagnosis for yeast infection in men or women, read here for more information.