Which doctor?
The first point of contact for an anal burning is the family doctor. Many of the illnesses and causes that lead to burning anus can be recognised and treated by him. If he needs a second opinion, he will send patients with an anal burning to a gastroenterologist (gastrointestinal specialist) or proctologist (rectal specialist).
Therapy
Good anal hygiene is important for burning at the anus. After the bowel movement, the anal area should be cleaned with lukewarm water and then dried. It is best to avoid special cleaning lotions, fat creams and moist toilet paper.
These contain scents and preservatives that can cause or worsen an anal burning. A balanced, fibre-rich diet and a sufficient amount to drink are important to have a soft bowel movement, which leads to less irritation of the skin in the anal area. Avoiding hot spices can also help to reduce irritation of the skin in the anal region and thus burning.
In addition to these general measures, it is also important to treat the disease underlying the burning sensation in the anus. Smaller hemorrhoids can be sclerosed with infrared light or medication. Larger haemorrhoids are removed by means of rubber band ligature or minor surgery.
For the treatment of anal eczema, it is recommended to apply a cortisone ointment, which is replaced by a soft zinc paste after some time. Cortisone counteracts an exuberant reaction of the immune system and thus reduces inflammation. The zinc paste has an anti-inflammatory and drying effect, thus treating the inflammation and preventing the skin from softening again.
If the anal eczema is colonized by bacteria, disinfecting ointments or ointments with antibiotics are used. If the pain is severe, an analgesic ointment containing local anaesthetics can be prescribed, which numbs the skin in the anal region. However, this type of ointment should not be used for anal eczema, which has an allergic cause.
If the burning sensation on the anus is caused by a fungal disease of the skin in the anal region, an antimycotic (against fungi) ointment must be used, and anti-worm agents are used in the case of a pinworm infection. An ointment is a drug therapy alternative to a tablet, which can be applied locally to the affected area at the site of the complaints. Ointments can contain a wide variety of active ingredients, which must be selected according to the cause of the burning sensation in the anus.
Homeopathic ointments can also be used. Some ointments contain cortisol as the active ingredient. Cortisol is a substance produced naturally in the body that can reduce and suppress an immune response.
Cortisol can alleviate the inflammatory reaction, especially in inflammatory processes. However, an inflammation as a result of the immune response is primarily a defence reaction of the body against pathogens, toxins and other foreign substances that could harm the body. If there is an infection with certain pathogens, the immune reaction must not be suppressed, but the elimination and elimination of the pathogen must be promoted.
For example, fungal infections may be present in the case of a burning sensation in the anus. As these can be very persistent, the fungus must be eliminated with the help of an antimycotic, an antifungal agent. This also reduces the burning sensation in the anus.
Such an antimycotic ointment can be prescribed by the family doctor, gynaecologist or urologist. Afterwards, permanent care and hygiene of the anus is important. Fungi often settle in regions of the skin that are impure and moist.
More rarely, other pathogens, such as bacteria, can cause burning sensation in the anus. Antibiotic ointments can be used to combat the bacteria. These can stop the burning within a few days.
If there are small open sores on the skin of the anus, these can also cause a burning sensation and also pose a risk of infection for pathogens. In this case, disinfecting ointments help the wound to heal without the risk of additional infection. However, if there is no infection in the anal region, hypersensitive skin reactions may be the cause.
This is known as “anal eczema“. Triggers vary from allergies to certain substances to previous infections. Here, an attempt is made to stop the skin reaction with a cortisone ointment.
Many causes for a burning sensation in the anus are harmless and can be easily remedied. The symptoms often subside by themselves within a few days. In the case of mild symptoms, the healing process can be promoted by home remedies.
If the problems persist for several days or are difficult to bear, a visit to a doctor should nevertheless be considered. First of all, prophylaxis for complaints below the groin is advisable by regular washing and wearing clean underwear. After washing, make sure that the affected area is well dried.
Moisture promotes many types of skin complaints. If there are known incompatibilities with certain fibres, gentle underwear fabrics should be worn. Moist toilet paper can also cause discomfort and should be replaced with dry toilet paper if necessary. Alternatively, the anus can be cleaned with lukewarm water after the bowel movement and then dried well. Sitting baths in combination with certain herbs, for example chamomile, are particularly effective for complaints of the anal region.
