Is this a yeast infection?

I'm 16 and have only recently been thinking that I may have a yeast infection. I have not mentioned it to my mom yet. For about the past year, i've had around my crotch and vaginal area, what almost looks like scabs. It isn't bad or irritating until about a week before i get my period and parts of the area around my crotch will get swollen and sore. My vagina is sometimes itchy (nothing extreme or unbearable.) And only recently i have noticed some white looking stuff in around the lips. I have no un-normal discharge. Can i treat this like a yeast infection?

[Elaine Brown, MD]

Hi!
If you were my patient, I would encourage you to treat for a yeast infection with an over the counter product.  Then, if that didn't work, or only partially worked, I would encourage you to have your mom bring you in to see me.  Sometimes a yeast infection--especially one that has been going on for awhile--needs stronger medications to clear it up.  One that I particularly like is Diflucan--it comes in pills or oral suspension.
Don't continue being miserable!
Good luck!
Dr B