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 dominate 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. The small wrinkles trap moisture from sweat and particles from feces. For women, it can also remain moist due to lubrication or vaginal discharge.
Unfortunately, when it gets irritated, we scratch. But by doing that, we cause more problems and get on the itch/scratch merry-go-round. Putting ointments or creams on the rash can only cause more moisture and more irritation.
The good news is that while the problem is unpleasant and usually 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 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 wet, sticky stools can be irritating.
Frequent diarrhea or leakage of small amounts of stool (faecal 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 lower part of the rectum and anus. they can sometimes be itchy, in part due to 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 growths in or around the anus can be the cause of anal itching.
Anal papillae (abnormal local growth of the anal skin)
Antibiotics can cause diarrhea and therefore anal itching.
Fungal infections, yeast infections (candida) similar to thrush 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 damage the skin by scratching, the 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 wearing. The culprit could be soap, bubble bath, ointments (never use more than one 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 itching.
Battery
Sexually transmitted infections can cause itching, although they are rarely the cause. Genital warts (vulva or penis), 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.
Threadworms or better known as pinworms 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, 13 mm long, and live in the lower part of the intestine. The female worms leave 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 get lodged under your fingernails and it is easy to transfer them to your mouth and re-infect your 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 maintain the problem.