By anal itching is understood itching of the skin in the anal area. This can have mechanical, but also bacterial causes.
What is anal itching?
Anal itching describes itching of the anus and surrounding areas. It is not a disease in its own right, but a symptom. Anal itching describes the itching of the anus and surrounding areas. It is not a disease in its own right, but a symptom. However, anal itching itself can become problematic if it is accompanied by skin irritation or abrasion, and injury to the sensitive anal area. Above all, however, anal itching is an unpleasant, embarrassing problem: sitting still is then no longer possible and the well-being is considerably impaired. Affected people get the immediate problem of having to keep anal itching hidden from the environment, because it is often associated with uncleanliness or sexual practices with which one might not want to be associated in public.
Causes
Anal itching can be due to mechanical irritation, that is, injury to the skin in the anal area. This can happen spontaneously, but it can also be caused by anal intercourse or other sexual practices that involve the anus. Occasionally, hemorrhoids become noticeable through anal itching and are accompanied by other characteristic symptoms. However, short-term anal itching can also occur during diarrhea – some people suffer from irritating diarrhea after very spicy meals, which does not leave the skin of the anal area untouched. In other cases, the causes are to be found in bacterial infections, which can occur, for example, as a result of inflamed wounds or subsequently as a result of diarrhea caused by bacteria. However, they can also be a result of unprotected sexual intercourse. In children (and some adults), worms can also be a reason for itchy “butt”. For more information, see Worms in stool in children, Pinworms, and Roundworms.
Diseases with this symptom
- Hemorrhoids
- Traveler’s diarrhea
- Gastrointestinal flu
- Irritable bowel
- Gluten intolerance
- Food intolerance
- Crohn’s disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Food poisoning
- Lactose intolerance
- Histamine intolerance
- Fructose intolerance
- Appendicitis
- Hyperthyroidism
- Antibiotic-associated colitis
- Salmonella poisoning
- Mushroom poisoning
- Cholera
History
Anus itching usually develops spontaneously and does not know a typical course, as it depends on the cause. A bacterial infection in the anal area develops comparably to other infections:
After a certain incubation period, during which the bacteria multiply, the symptoms initially set in mildly and, without appropriate treatment, become worse and worse until the general well-being suffers and it no longer remains just anal itching. Mechanical irritations such as those caused by hemorrhoids, on the other hand, bring about constant anal itching that no longer changes continuously but remains relatively the same, provided that the hemorrhoids do likewise. In the case of diarrhea and minor injuries, anal itching usually recedes quickly once the cause has also healed.
Complications
Due to the itching of the anus, there is often reflexive scratching of the affected area. This scratching can lead to some complications. For example, lesions of the skin at the anus often occur due to scratching. As a result, bacterial colonization and thus inflammation may occur in the affected area. Furthermore, the lesions caused by scratching are often accompanied by pain, which further reduces the patient’s well-being. For this reason, it is important to point out that scratching should be avoided in any case, as it is the most common reason for complications. Refraining from itching is often difficult for the affected person, since itching is a great burden for the affected person. For this reason, the first goal of therapy is to relieve the itching as soon as possible, even before the cause has been eliminated.This serves to relieve the sufferer of the burden of itching and thus also discourage scratching, which ultimately reduces the risk of complications enormously. Further complications due to anal itching alone are not to be expected. Thus, it should be noted that the possible complications are not directly due to the symptom of anal itching, but to the behavior of the patient.
When should one go to the doctor?
Itching of the anus is usually agonizing for sufferers, even more so where they cannot simply scratch the itchy area in public without bias. In addition, scratching usually only provides short-term relief and tends to make the problem worse due to the mechanical irritation. Besides mechanical effects, anal itching can also be caused by bacteria. The skin around the anus is very sensitive and already reacts to fine injuries with itching. Scratching can turn such a fine injury into a larger wound, which can even become infected by bacteria. In order to get rid of the agonizing itching at the anus and to avoid possible complications, it is recommended to consult the family doctor as early as possible. Typical causes of itching at the anus are violent diarrhea, hemorrhoids, bacterial infections and worms. Sexual practices in the anal area can also trigger itching at the anus. Thus, anal itching represents a symptom and is not itself a disease. Depending on the cause, the general practitioner treats anal itching himself or refers it to a specialist such as an internist. Often, anal itching can be stopped with special ointments and powders. Medications help against worm infestation. In the case of hemorrhoids, it may be necessary to have them surgically removed.
Treatment and therapy
Anal itching is usually treated as a symptom because, regardless of the cause, it is a significant burden in the daily lives of those affected. There are powders and ointments that can be applied directly to put a quick end to anal itching when it gets so bad that you no longer want to go out in public with it without concern. Injuries to the anus do not require further treatment if they do not become infected, they will heal on their own. Bacterial causes of anal itching, on the other hand, are treated with antibiotics, but occasionally also with soothing ointments for improved wound healing. Treatment for mechanical irritation caused by hemorrhoids is more difficult:
First, it must be diagnosed with certainty that they are the triggers of the itching at the anus. In the case of hemorrhoids, there is always also a suspicion of cancer of the rectum causing the symptoms. However, after the exclusion, the treatment of hemorrhoids can be considered, which depends on the stage of the disease and the general condition of the patient and his wishes. However, once the diagnosis is established, it is easy to treat anal itching as a symptom. Ointments and similar applications help in the short term, while sitz baths are recommended in the long term.
Outlook and prognosis
The most common cause of anal itching is enlarged hemorrhoids. These can usually be treated successfully and without complications using modern treatment methods. However, regardless of the treatment method chosen, the hemorrhoids can reappear after a few years and cause the same discomfort as before. Immediately after the surgical procedure, the patient may suffer from significant pain, postoperative bleeding, and urinary dysfunction. However, these symptoms can be quickly resolved in the hospital. In exceptional cases, surgical intervention on hemorrhoids may cause damage to the sphincter muscle. If the itching of the anus is due to fissures and fissures caused by violent pressing during defecation, the success of treatment correlates with the elimination of the cause of the problem. If the patient changes his diet and integrates sufficient exercise into his daily routine, digestion usually normalizes by itself. Once the constipation is gone, the injuries caused by it usually also subside promptly. A prerequisite for this, however, is that the patient actually follows the doctor’s hygiene and care instructions. Lack of hygiene can lead to complications in the form of severe or chronic inflammation.If the itching at the anus is only caused by a contact allergy, for example a too aggressive detergent, the symptoms usually subside as soon as the skin no longer comes into contact with the irritant.
Prevention
The anus is a sensitive part of the body that needs appropriate care. After defecation, it must be cleaned, and in the case of irritating diarrhea, it is best to use wet wipes. Cleaning under the shower is also part of the daily care program. Sexual acts involving the anus should only be done with appropriate protection, or at least ask your partner to wash their hands beforehand, so that you do not contract an infection due to lack of hygiene and it comes to anal itching.
This is what you can do yourself
If there is a serious disease behind anal itching, a visit to the doctor is essential. Self-treatment is not advisable in that case. However, there are a few measures that provide relief or even prevent before the doctor’s appointment. To counteract anal itching, regular and soft bowel movements are recommended. The use of hard or damp toilet paper should be avoided. These additionally irritate the sensitive mucous membrane in the anal region. It is advisable to wash the anus after each bowel movement. Only clear and lukewarm water should be used. The area must then be gently dried. Alternatives are sitz baths or fleece cloths soaked in oil. It is also useful to dry the anal region with cold air from a hair dryer – this protects the skin. Regular washing is assumed. However, pH-neutral washing lotions should be used for body cleansing. Soap and intimate sprays prove to be disadvantageous. Sufferers are advised not to give in to itching and not to scratch. Scratching causes additional irritation and damage to the skin in the anal area. Moreover, scratching makes the skin more permeable to pathogens. If sufferers sweat heavily in the anal area, a cotton ball can help. Anal pads are also worth mentioning. These are to be placed between the buttocks and ensure a dry anal region.
