OH NO, my butt itches!

Like bloating and gas, anal itching can be just a nuisance or it can turn into a real pain in the neck. It can become overwhelming and take over your life. The skin around the anal opening is wrinkled and ridged and easily irritated and inflamed.

Once again, there are many reasons why this is so. It is difficult to keep the area clean and dry. Small wrinkles trap moisture from sweat and particles from feces. For women, it can also remain moist due to vaginal lubrication or discharge.

Unfortunately, when it gets irritated, we scratch it. But by doing that, we cause more trouble and get on the itch/scratch merry-go-round. Putting ointments or creams on the irritation can only cause more moisture and more irritation.

The good news is that while the problem is unpleasant and often embarrassing, it rarely means anything serious.

Causes of anal itching
Anal fissure or fistula: An anal fissure is a tear in the lining of the lower part of the rectum (anus) that causes pain during bowel movements.

Dry Skin. As you age, the skin in and around your anus is more prone to dryness. Dry skin can cause persistent and intense anal itching.

Too much humidity. Moisture around the anus from excessive sweating or sticky wet stools can be irritating.

Frequent diarrhea or leakage of small amounts of stool (fecal incontinence).

Pre-moistened female tissues can cause anal itching. The reason is believed to be the preservative, perfume, or alcohol in the wipe.

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins located just below the membrane that lines the bottom of the rectum and anus. they can sometimes be itchy, partly because of the slimy discharge they produce.

Excessive use of laxatives. Excessive or inappropriate use of laxatives can lead to chronic diarrhea and the risk of anal irritation and itching.

Anal tumors. Rarely, benign or cancerous tumors in or around the anus can be the cause of anal itching.

Anal papillae (abnormal local growth of anal skin)

Antibiotics can cause diarrhea and therefore anal itching.

Fungal infections, yeast infections (candida) similar to yeast or athlete’s foot, and diaper rash are another common cause. Fungus loves warm, moist, damaged skin, so if you have an itchy anus for whatever reason and then scratch your skin, fungus can take over and make the situation worse.

Wash too much or not enough. Poor hygiene can be responsible for anal itching, but so can excessive cleaning.

You may be sensitive or allergic to something you are using. The culprit may be soap, bubble bath, ointments (never use more for more than a week), creams, or even scented toilet paper.

Chemical irritants. Certain soaps, colognes, douches, and birth control products contain chemicals that can irritate the skin in and around the anus.

Skin conditions, such as psoriasis or eczema, can affect the skin around the anus and cause itchiness.

Drums

Sexually transmitted infections can cause itching, although they are rarely the cause. Genital (vulva or penile) warts, caused by the papilloma virus, thrive in warm, moist conditions, such as the skin near the anus, and can be very itchy. Genital herpes (caused by the herpes virus) can also infect the anus and cause itching just before the sores appear and also during the healing stage.

Thread worms or better known as pin worms can really irritate and cause incredible anal itching. However, they are very common: there are an estimated 40 million cases in the US alone. They are small, measuring 13 mm long, and live in the lower part of the intestine. The female worms come out of the anus at night; how they know it is night and why they only come out at night is a mystery. They lay thousands of eggs on the skin of the anus, which even while sleeping causes severe itching at night. When you scratch, the eggs lodge under your fingernails and are easy to transfer to the mouth and re-infect the intestine by swallowing the eggs.

Certain foods can irritate the anus during bowel movements. Beer and curry are obvious examples. Some people find that citrus fruits, grapes, tomatoes, salsa, peppers, coffee, or tea can cause problems.

Some foods can directly or indirectly irritate the anus as they exit the colon. Common culprits include chocolate, fruit, tomatoes, nuts, and popcorn.

Being anxious makes your brain and body hyper-alert to sensations, and therefore the itchy symptom that didn’t bother you yesterday now seems magnified and makes the problem worse.

The last cause of anal itching may seem strange to you, but some people without really knowing it, enjoy the pleasure of it. They get an erotic reaction to the act of scratching and thus keep the problem going.