Anal itching is common in children, women and men. There are many factors that cause burning in the anus. A person can suffer from bowel diseases, dermatological pathologies, and more.
To get rid of discomfort, you need to find out the cause of anal itching. Treatment must be prescribed by a doctor. Only then will therapy be successful. Additionally (after consultation with a specialist), the use of traditional medicine is allowed.
Why there is a burning sensation in the anus
There are many reasons leading to this phenomenon. Perhaps the patient is suffering from a medical disease or from dermatitis. Sometimes this happens after eating spicy food or due to prolonged and severe diarrhea.
Some believe that burning in the anus can only be due to the appearance of parasites in the rectum. In fact, there are many more factors that provoke such symptoms. Let's take a closer look at them.
Bad hygiene
Human feces contain a huge amount of bacteria. If particles of feces remain on the skin, then this may well cause irritation. Therefore, you need to thoroughly clean the anal area after each trip to the toilet.
In addition, sweat may form on the skin. It is also a favorable microflora for the reproduction of bacteria, the activity of which leads to infection and the fact that a person has anal itching and burning in the anus.
Also, wiping the skin around the anus too hard and for a long time (especially with coarse toilet paper) can also lead to irritation. Therefore, it is better to use special wet wipes.
Spicy food
If a person complains of a burning sensation in the anus after a stool, then most often the problem lies in the fact that he ate spicy or acidic foods. Unpleasant sensations may remain the next day after such a meal.
Studies were conducted in Italy, according to which it was possible to find out that chili peppers and spices significantly increase the chances that a person will have problems. At the same time, itching, pain and severe burning in the anus will be much stronger if a person suffers from hemorrhoids. Therefore, people suffering from such ailments should refrain from such foods, they will only aggravate the condition.
Hemorrhoids
The disease itself can also cause anal itching. ATIn this case, patients complain of both burning in the anus after diarrhea and after a normal bowel movement.
Hemorrhoids themselves are a few swollen veins located in the anus. They become very inflamed, begin to itch and cause pain. In some situations, after going to the toilet in the feces, you can even find traces of blood.
Hemorrhoids are external and internal. In the first case, the passage of feces is difficult. With internal hemorrhoids, there is a risk of anal bleeding.
Anal fissures
If a burning sensation in the anus in women or men occurs after the release of feces and there are quite strong pain sensations, this may indicate ruptures of the anus mucosa. These anal fissures appear due to constipation, prolonged diarrhea, or other disorders of the digestive system.
At the same time, a strong burning sensation can be observed for several hours after going to the toilet. Some patients complain of severe pain and even bleeding.
To alleviate this condition, experts recommend including as much fiber in your diet as possible. It is also worth exercising and drinking as much water as possible.
Fungus
If there is a warm and humid environment around the anus, then there is a high probability of developing a fungal infection. If we are talking about Candida bacteria, then in this case, burning appears in the inguinal folds.
Burning in the anus can provoke a Candida infection. In thatcase, the skin around the anus will change. It will take on a grayish tint and possibly edema.
The appearance of a fungus can provoke the use of antibiotics, a hot climate or a weakened protective functions of the human body.
Eczema
Speaking about the causes of burning in the anus in women and men, it is worth paying attention to this possible cause of the disease. In this case, in addition to inflammation of the skin, there is also dry skin, allergic reactions and infections.
Anal eczema brings a lot of trouble to a person. Due to constant skin irritation, a person cannot function normally. To remedy the situation, it is recommended to use emollients and anti-inflammatory drugs that will help get rid of unpleasant symptoms.
Some patients report that their eczema can be controlled with special diets and the use of natural oils.
Psoriasis
This is a fairly common cause of burning in the anus. With psoriasis, pale red spots form around the anus (they can also appear on other parts of the body). The skin begins to shine and itches a lot. The burning sensation may increase significantly after a bowel movement.
Among the additional symptoms of anal itching in psoriasis, it is worth highlighting pronounced pain during the passage of stool through the rectum and minor bleeding. The general symptoms are very similar to the manifestation of hemorrhoids, which makes it more difficult for specialists to diagnose psoriasis.
Worms
There is another very common cause of burning in the anus. Why does it appear? It's all about the worms - pinworms, which often settle and spread in the human intestine. Infection occurs if a person swallows a food product that contains parasite eggs.
In this case, itching in the anus is the first symptom that a person has worms. The second symptom is severe discomfort around the anus. As a rule, the burning sensation intensifies at night. A rash appears on the skin around the anus.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Speaking about the causes and treatment of burning sensation in the anus in men and women, it is worth paying attention to the inflammatory processes that can occur in the human rectum. In this case, there is also severe itching and blood in the stool.
Such ailments are dangerous because they are the worst to treat. For example, inflammation of the anal canal (doctors call it anusitis) can become chronic. In this case, the patient will not only constantly feel like scratching the anus, but will also begin to suffer from stomach cramps and pain in the ribs during meals.
Fecal incontinence
If a person suffers from the fact that some of the stool periodically seeps out of the anus, then in this case there will also be a burning sensation. This happens due to constipation, diarrhea, as well as damage to the nerves located in the rectum, or weakening of the muscles of the anus.
Itching appears due to the fact that the skin around the anus begins to constantly contact with feces, which contain certain chemical components, which causes irritation. In this case, the burning sensation may spread further to the gluteal zones.
Diagnosis
Since there are a lot of reasons for the appearance of this ailment, it is impossible to independently determine why the anus itches. It is best to contact a specialist - a proctologist.
The doctor will ask the patient how long the problem has been bothering him, and also ask him to remember under what circumstances the burning sensation intensifies. Is the burning sensation most noticeable during the day or at night? How bad is itching? Are there additional symptoms that make the patient uncomfortable?
After clarifying all these nuances, the specialist conducts a visual examination and checks whether the skin around the anus is damaged. He will also determine possible lesions of the epidermis. If the proctologist does not see external signs of the disease, then a digital method for examining the patient's rectum will be required.
Thanks to this, it will be possible to understand whether the muscles of the anus are in good shape, whether there is a foreign body in the intestines, neoplasms (benign or malignant), anomalies and other things.
If the proctologist did not reveal anything suspicious, then the patient will have to be tested for the presence of worms, occult blood, intestinal infection. It is also necessary to perform a biochemical blood test and biopsy a small area of the skin.
In particularly difficult cases, the doctor prescribes a colonoscopy or pelvic angiography. This is necessary in order to identify deep adenomas or hemorrhoids.
Treatment
Therapy is selected depending on the causes of unpleasant symptoms. If we are talking about hemorrhoids, then standard therapeutic measures of local action are usually carried out. To eliminate the cause of the disease, it is necessary to normalize the blood flow. Phlebotonics do an excellent job with this task. Means of this type include Aescusan, Troxevasin, Normoven and others. Additional painkillers and topical ointments may be required.
If medical treatment was powerless, then you can not do without surgery. Fortunately, today these procedures are almost painless, as they are performed using a laser. The rehabilitation period after the operation lasts no more than a few days.
If parasites were found in a person's body, then in this case the doctor prescribes anthelmintic drugs. These include Niclosamide, Levamisole, Albendazole and others. When prescribing a dosage, the age, weight and other parameters of the patient must be taken into account. Means of this type have a paralyzing effect on parasites. At the same time, the preparations contain components that help improve the protective functions of the body. However, in order to completely get rid of parasites, it is also important to follow preventive instructions.
If a person suffers from an allergic reaction, then in this case, the specialist prescribes standard antihistamines. However, in order to completely get rid of such an ailment, you will have to more accurately establish the pathogen and exclude it.
As a rule, doctors prefer complex treatment. At the same time, specialists have nothing against traditional medicine, but only if the patient has no contraindications, and herbal treatment is carried out only as an auxiliary therapy.
Folk remedies
When deciding what to do if the burning sensation in the anus bothers, many people prefer to use homemade medicines. To dry the skin a little, it is worth starting to prepare baths, in which a decoction of oak bark is added. To relieve inflammation while taking a bath, chamomile should be added to the water. In addition, this herb has a calming effect on the nervous system.
Also, enemas that are filled with calendula decoction are considered quite effective means. From badger fat, alcohol (medical) and a small amount of propolis, you can independently make rectal suppositories. And if you mix cranberry juice and Vaseline, you get a wonderful ointment.
If the itching is caused by parasites, some fight them with onions, garlic, papaya seeds and almonds. If a person eats these foods, then in the process of passing through the rectum, they help to remove worms.
When you need to see a doctor
Sometimesanal burning disappears or is greatly relieved after a while with the use of traditional medicine. However, in some cases, when itching is accompanied by pain or accompanied by the release of blood, it is imperative to consult a doctor.
In addition, it is recommended to visit a specialist when:
- Anal incontinence, since in this case it is difficult for a person to live normally.
- Appearance of a rash or swelling.
- Detection of mucus and foul-smelling discharges in the feces.
