Bump on the anus

General information

A bump is basically a bulge of skin or tissue, which can have many causes. A bump on the anus can also have several specific causes. Bumps can be both painful and painless and in the latter case are often discovered by chance.

Some bumps are permanent, while others are only present at certain times, such as immediately after bowel movements. Depending on the cause, the therapy is completely different and sometimes completely unnecessary. A doctor should be consulted for clarification.

Causes for a bump on the anus

One possible cause is an abscess. This can occur on the anus as well as anywhere else on the body. Furthermore, inflamed, itchy rashes are also possible.

Haemorrhoids can also appear like dents. Rectal carcinoma is also a possible cause and should be ruled out by a doctor. As everywhere on the body, benign fatty tissue tumours, so-called lipomas, can also occur on the anus.

An enlarged proctodeal gland can also be a possible cause. Another possibility is an intestinal prolapse in which the rectum protrudes outwards. Abscesses are collections of pus in a capsule of connective tissue.

They can occur anywhere on the body and are very painful in most cases. The most common cause of an abscess is a local infection with the bacterium Staphylococcus Aureus. This may have reached the affected area from outside, or may have migrated there via the blood.

Since blood poisoning is imminent if bacteria enter the blood, an abscess should not be touched. Instead, in most cases a surgical opening of the abscess cavity is necessary. The pus and lost tissue is removed and the wound is left open so that pus can continue to drain.

The abscess cavity is also rinsed with disinfectant. The pain often improves significantly immediately after the operation. The operation takes place under local or regional anaesthesia.

Here, for example, the breeches anaesthesia is suitable, which is similar to the spinal anaesthesia. The wound must be kept clean after the operation. There are two typical causes of a bump, which only appears after bowel movement.

The most common is a haemorrhoidal disease, which in the second stage is still able to return to the anus on its own. In the later stage the bump is permanent and not only present after the bowel movement. The other, much rarer, reason is an intestinal prolapse.

In this case the end of the intestine is turned outwards and can also slide back on its own, depending on its severity. An intestinal prolapse is usually painless. Pain is a typical symptom of inflammation.

Without pain, an abscess can be excluded almost immediately. An intestinal prolapse is usually painless, but requires treatment. Even malignant diseases are not always accompanied by pain, so a painless swelling should be clarified by a doctor. Haemorrhoids can also be painless in the beginning, but can also be accompanied by severe pain, which is why an exclusion is not possible here.