Anal pruritus is common in children, women, and men. There are many factors that cause a burning sensation in the anus. A person can suffer from intestinal diseases, dermatological pathologies and much more.
To get rid of discomfort, it is necessary to find out the cause of anal itching. Treatment should be prescribed by a doctor. Only in this case, the therapy will bring success. 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 suffers from a medical illness or dermatitis. Sometimes this happens after eating spicy foods or as a result of prolonged and severe diarrhea.
Some believe that burning in the anus can only be caused by the appearance of parasites in the rectum. In fact, there are much more factors that provoke such symptoms. Let's consider them in more detail.
Poor 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 to the fact that a person has anal itching and burning in the anus.
In addition, too much zeal and long wiping of the skin around the anus (especially with rough 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 day after such a meal.
In Italy, studies were conducted according to which it was found out that chili peppers and spices significantly increase the chances that a person will have problems. In this case, 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
Directly the disease itself can also cause anal itching. In this case, patients complain of burning in the anus after diarrhea, and after the usual bowel movement.
By itself, hemorrhoids are several 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 stool, you can even detect 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 quite strong pain appears, then this may indicate rupture of the mucosa of the anus. Similar anal fissures appear due to constipation, prolonged diarrhea, or other disorders of the digestive system.
In this case, 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 as possible in your diet. It is also worth playing sports 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 candida infection. In this case, the skin around the anus will change. It will acquire a grayish tint and, possibly, edema will appear on it.
The appearance of a fungus can provoke the use of antibiotics, a hot climate or a weakening of the 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, dry skin, allergic reactions and the appearance of infections are also observed.
Anal eczema brings a lot of trouble to a person. Due to constant skin irritation, a person cannot function normally. To correct the situation, it is recommended to use emollients and anti-inflammatory drugs that will help get rid of unpleasant symptoms.
Some patients note that they manage to control the condition with eczema due to special diets and when using 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 itch severely. Burning sensation can increase significantly after a bowel movement.
Among the additional symptoms of anal itching with psoriasis, it is worth highlighting pronounced pain during passage of stool in the rectum and minor bleeding. The general symptomatology is very reminiscent of the manifestation of hemorrhoids, which makes it harder 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 worms - pinworms, which often settle and spread in the human intestines. Infection occurs if a person swallows a food product containing parasite eggs.
In this case, itching in the posterior opening is the first symptom that a person has worms. The second symptom is severe discomfort around the anus. As a rule, 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 in the anus in men and women, it is worth paying attention to inflammatory processes that can occur in the human rectum. In this case, severe itching and the appearance of blood in the stool are also observed.
Such ailments are dangerous in that they are the worst treatable. For example, inflammation of the anal canal (doctors call it anusitis) can go into a chronic form. In this case, the patient will not only constantly feel a desire to scratch the anus, but will also begin to suffer from stomach cramps and pain in the ribs during eating.
Fecal incontinence
If a person suffers from the fact that some part of the feces periodically seeps from the anus, then in this case there will also be a burning sensation. This happens due to constipation, diarrhea, as well as damage to nerves located in the rectum, or weakening of the muscles of the anus.
Itching occurs due to the fact that the skin around the anus begins to constantly come into contact with the feces, which contain certain chemical components, which causes irritation. In this case, burning can continue to spread to the gluteal areas.
Diagnostics
Since there are a lot of reasons for the appearance of this ailment, it is impossible to independently determine why the anus is itching. It is best to consult a specialist - proctologist.
The doctor will check with the patient how long the problem has bothered him, and will also ask you to remember under what circumstances the burning sensation intensifies. Is burning most noticeable during the day or at night? How severe is itching? Are there any additional symptoms that cause the patient discomfort?
After clarifying all these nuances, the specialist conducts a visual examination and checks if the skin around the anus is damaged. He will also determine the possible damage to the epidermis. If the proctologist does not see the external signs of the disease, then a digital method of examining the patient’s rectum is 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 intestine, neoplasms (benign or malignant), anomalies, and so on.
If the proctologist has not revealed anything suspicious, then the patient will have to take tests for the presence of worms, hidden blood, intestinal infection. It is also necessary to perform a biochemical blood test and a biopsy of a small area of the skin.
In especially difficult cases, the doctor prescribes a colonoscopy or angiography of the pelvis. 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 blood flow. Phlebotonics do a great job of this. The funds of this type include Eskuzan, Troxevasin, Normoven and others. Additionally, local painkillers and ointments may be required.
If drug treatment was powerless, then you can not do without surgical intervention. Fortunately, today these procedures are almost painless, as they are performed using a laser. The rehabilitation period after surgery lasts no more than a few days.
If parasites were found in a person in the 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, it is necessary to more accurately establish the pathogen and exclude it.
As a rule, doctors prefer complex treatment. Moreover, specialists have nothing against traditional medicine, but only if the patient has no contraindications, and herbal treatment is carried out only as an adjunct therapy.
Folk remedies
When deciding what to do if the burning sensation in the anus bothers, many prefer to use home-made medicines. In order to slightly dry the skin, 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, which are filled with a decoction of calendula, are considered quite effective agents. Rectal suppositories can be made independently from badger fat, alcohol (medical) and a small amount of propolis. And if you mix cranberry juice and petroleum jelly, you get a wonderful ointment.
If itching is caused by parasites, then 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.
In what situations you need to see a doctor
Sometimes anal burning disappears or is much easier after some time when using traditional medicine. However, in some cases, when the itching is accompanied by pain or accompanied by the release of blood, it is necessary 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.
- Rash or swelling.
- Detection of mucus and fetid secretions in feces.