Re: candida or not candida (vulva-vaginal)

The red form of yeast infection is called chronic atrophic erythematous candidiasis (chronic means low grade; atrophic means not feeding, not growing; erythematous means red tissue): In the red form, yeasts are not actively growing. Instead, yeasts invade underlying tissues and penetrate inside epithelial cells. There the yeasts continually release irritating chemicals into tissues, causing chronic inflammation, redness and burning. In this intracellular location, yeasts are protected from antifungals and the immune system. Examples include red, burning gums (denture stomatitis) in people with false teeth, and red, burning vulvas (vulvodynia or vulvar vestibulitis) in women inadequately treated for vaginal yeast infections or who have predisposing conditions for candidiasis. Diagnosis of the red form of yeast infection is usually missed by most physicians. Any red, burning, irritated tissue for which there is no identifiable cause should be considered a candidate for the diagnosis of the red form of candidiasis.