Causes chronic itching and discomfort 9. No cure Some people have the condition and suffer no symptoms at all. Many however suffer agonising itching and discomfort. Women are affected most often around the vulva where the skin becomes white and thickened. It scars making the vulva shrink in size and the vagina tightened.
Similar effects occur around the anus.
This makes normal bowel opening uncomfortable, often resulting in small tears which can be exquisitely sore. Whether these damaged areas are scratched or not they are often accompanied by blisters and sores that are susceptible to the further problems of infection and thrush. For men it's the tip of the penis that is most often affected. It too becomes firm and white and narrowing of the urethral opening makes passing urine difficult. Men may describe passing a very thin stream of urine.