15 causes of anal itching

The article is professionally consulted by resident Doctor Le Thanh Tuan - Department of General Surgery - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.

Anal itching is a common condition that occurs in or around the anus. There are many causes for this condition such as skin diseases, your hygiene habits or your diet that can trigger itching symptoms.

Following are the 15 most common causes of anal itching.

1. Cleaning after defecation

If you don't clean after having a bowel movement, what's left on the anus can cause itching and burning. Gently clean the area with clean, unscented, dye-free toilet paper. Dry with a soft cloth or toilet paper. If the area itches, use a hair dryer set on low to dry it at a safe distance to avoid burns.

2. Cleaning “too clean”

Wiping too hard may cause itching or make it worse. Do not use soap, hot water, powders, perfumed sprays or deodorants as they can destroy the mucus that protects the skin in this sensitive area.

3. Diet

If you drink coffee, you are prone to anal itching because coffee can loosen the anal muscles causing stool to leak out and lead to itching. Other foods that can cause anal irritation or itchiness include:
Tea and coca cola soft drinks Energy drinks and beer Chocolate and nuts Sour fruits and tomatoes Spicy foods Dairy products

Chế độ ăn uống lành mạnh cho tim: 8 bước để ngăn ngừa bệnh tim — Chế độ ăn uống khoa học giúp ngắn ngừa kích hoạt ngứa hậu môn

4. Underwear

If you wear tight underwear or underwear made of synthetic fabrics, you may experience moisture problems in the anal area. Switch to panties that fit the body and are made of breathable, better-absorbing materials. Change your underwear daily or whenever your underwear is damp, like after exercising. Note when you should wash your underwear with a fragrance-free stain remover.

5. Stool problem

Excessive water washing or frequent wiping in this area can also cause irritation. In addition, you may experience itching and pain if constipation is accompanied by constipation, so you should drink plenty of water and eat fiber so that you can have a bowel movement more often. If you have done the above and you are still constipated, it is best to consult your doctor. Your doctor may recommend changes to your diet or medication to get your bowel habits back to normal.

6. Hemorrhoids

This is a condition in which dilated veins in the rectum or anus lead to itching. When you go to the toilet, you have to strain or increase the pressure in the abdomen during pregnancy which can cause hemorrhoids. Take a sitz bath for 15 minutes several times a day or after you have a bowel movement. Drink water and eat enough fiber in your diet to help soften stools and make them easier to pass. Call your doctor if you notice blood in your stool or pain when you have a bowel movement.

Bệnh trĩ cần được phát hiện sớm — Các triệu chứng của bệnh trĩ gây ngứa hậu môn

7. Anal fissure

An anal fissure is a small tear in the skin and lining of the anus that often causes burning pain, anal itching, and bleeding during defecation. You are more likely to get it if you are constipated which is also the cause of anal fissures due to straining and hard stools. Prolonged diarrhea or inflammation of the anorectal area also causes anal fissures.

8. Anal fistula

Anal fistula disease is a disease caused by an infection in the anal gland and the opening of the mouth into the skin near the anus. Fluid can leak out and irritate the skin, causing pain and itching. Crohn's disease, cancer, trauma, and radiation exposure can increase the chance of infection and anal fistula.

9. Infection

Like a vaginal yeast infection, an anal yeast infection also causes itching. In addition, certain types of bacteria also cause itching in the anus, such as staph infections caused by staphylococcus bacteria or streptococcus bacteria, which can cause a red, itchy rash around the anus.

10. Warts

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted disease that causes anal warts with itching as the typical symptom. They develop in and around the anus and can spread to the genitals. If you think you have anal warts, see your doctor. If left untreated, they can grow larger and more numerous, with a high risk of anal cancer.

Mụn cóc sinh dục — Người bệnh không nên chủ quan khi mụn cóc xuất hiện ở hậu môn

11. Pinworms

Pinworms enter the body when you have contaminated food containing pinworm eggs or in children who have a habit of putting dirty hands in their mouths. Pinworms are common in children causing anal itching in children at night, when the female worm lays eggs around the anus. You may see them in your underwear or in the toilet after going to the bathroom because their shape looks like small pieces of white yarn.

12. Scabies

Scabies is a common skin disease, an infectious disease, caused by a parasitic insect on the skin, called Sarcoptes scabiei. Female scabies parasitizes in the stratum corneum of the epidermis, burrows at night, lays eggs during the day. People often get scabies by skin-to-skin contact such as sharing beds, sharing clothes, and by skin-to-skin contact during sex. Sharing clothes, towels, and bedding can also spread scabies.

13. Psoriasis

If you have the disease, the skin around your anus may be red but not scaly, it may itch a lot, and you may also have pain during bowel movements. Other skin conditions, including eczema and seborrheic dermatitis, can also cause anal itching.

14. Antibiotics

When you take an antibiotic to treat an infection, it can also kill the good bacteria that live in your gut. When there is an imbalance in the intestinal microflora, it will lead to diarrhea or you are more susceptible to fungal infections while taking antibiotics. You can eat yogurt or take a probiotic supplement to address this imbalance.

15. Other matters

Other diseases that not only affect the whole body but can affect your anus such as:
Type II diabetes Leukemia and lymphoma Kidney failure or liver disease Hyperthyroidism Anemia Anemia and anxiety Because this symptom is found in many different diseases, if the itching does not go away, you should see a doctor so that the doctor can find the exact cause and give appropriate treatment.
Doctor Le Thanh Tuan has experience in examination, treatment and surgery of abdominal diseases (both open surgery and laparoscopic surgery). In particular, the doctor has strengths in pediatric surgery to treat diseases such as: intussusception, appendicitis, inguinal hernia, postpartum malformations (fetal peritonitis, megacolon, no anus).

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Translation source: Mayoclinic.org

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