Anus itching or pruritus ani is a feeling or itching sensation in the anal canal or rectum. The causes can be various, butUsually occurs due to irritation of the skin of the anus.
Anal itching is not a disease, but a symptom of a certain disease or condition. Anus itching generally can heal by itself after the sufferer knows and avoids the trigger. However, in some cases, itchy anus can also be caused by a disease that requires treatment.
Causes of Itchy Anus
The causes of itchy anus are very diverse, ranging from irritation, consumption of certain foods and drinks, use of drugs and supplements, or disease. Here's the explanation:
Irritation
Some conditions that can cause irritation and trigger itching in the anus are:
- Too rough when cleaning the anal area after defecation
- Use of soap, skin cleansing products, feminine hygiene, or wet wipes that are not suitable for the skin
Food and Drink
Consuming certain foods and drinks can also cause itching in the anus. Some of these types of food and drinks are:
- Spicy food
- Tomato
- Orange
- Chocolate
- Milk
- Soft drink
- Alcoholic and caffeinated drinks
Medicines and supplements
Broad-spectrum antibiotics, such as tetracycline and erythromycin can interfere with the good bacteria (normal flora) in the intestines, thereby triggering anal itching.
Infectious disease
Infectious diseases caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses, or parasites can also cause anal itching. Some types of infectious diseases are:
- Pinworm infection
- scabies
- Herpes
- Sexually transmitted disease
Skin disease
Skin diseases that can cause itching in the anus and surrounding areas are:
- psoriasis
- Eczema
- Lichen planus
- Seborrheic dermatitis
- Contact dermatitis
- Lichen sclerosus
Other diseases
Itchy anus can also be triggered by other diseases, such as:
- Diarrhea
- Anal fissure
- Hemorrhoids
- skin tags
- Diabetes
- Fecal incontinence
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Thyroid disease
- Lymphoma
- anal tumor
- Colorectal cancer
In addition, there are several factors that can make anal itching worse, namely:
- Hot, humid, or wet conditions around the anus
- The cloth is not clean, so there is residual dirt on the skin around the anus
- Stress and anxiety
Itchy Anus Risk Factors
Itchy anus can happen to anyone, but the following factors can increase a person's risk of itchy anus:
- Male gender
- 40–60 years old
- Have excess weight
- Easy sweating or excessive sweating
- Often wears tight underwear
Symptoms of Itchy Anus
The main symptom of an itchy anus is the desire to scratch the anus due to unbearable itching. Itchy anus can also be accompanied by other symptoms in the anal area, such as:
- redness
- Swelling
- Heat or pain
- Rash or sores
The itching and irritation can be short-lived or long-lasting, depending on the cause of the itching. The itching may also get worse at night, after a bowel movement, or if you scratch frequently.
When to go to the doctor
Immediately consult a doctor if anal itching is unbearable, lasts a long time, or if anal itching is accompanied by:
- Blood or mucus from the anus
- Bumps appear around the anus
- There are signs of infection around the anus
Itchy Anus Diagnosis
The doctor will ask about symptoms, medical history, medications taken, and the way the patient cleans the anus after defecating. A physical examination will also be done to see if there are growing flesh, hemorrhoids, or sores in the anus. Digital rectal examination can also be done to detect anal tumors.
Doctors can also perform additional tests, such as:
- Protoscopy, to see the condition of the drain by inserting a camera tube into the rectum
- Stool examination, to check for possible anal itching caused by a parasitic infection
- Scotch tape test, to check the possibility of itchy anus caused by a pinworm infection by placing a plaster on the patient's anus
Itchy Anus Treatment
Treatment of anal itching depends on the cause. One method that doctors can do is to give drugs, such as:
- Corticosteroid cream, if anal itching is caused by dermatitis
- Antibiotics, antiviral, antifungal, or antiparasitic, if anal itching is caused by an infection
In cases of itching anus caused by other conditions, the doctor will take further action. For example, in itchy anus caused by hemorrhoids, the doctor will perform a hemorrhoid binding procedure or surgical removal of hemorrhoids.
To help the healing process, patients can take the following independent steps:
- Do not scratch the anus even if it itches, because it will only make the itching go away longer.
- Cut fingernails short and wear cotton gloves to prevent injuries from unknowingly scratching the anus while sleeping.
- Apply a cream containing zinc oxide or petroleum jelly to keep the skin moist.
- Do a sitz bath, which is soaking the anal area in warm water for 20 minutes after defecating. A sitz bath can help relieve itching and irritation.
- Do not forget to dry the anus before wearing underwear.
Itchy Anus Complications
If it lasts for a long time, especially if you scratch it frequently, itchy anus can cause the skin around the anus to become rough and thickened. The habit of scratching the itchy anus can also cause sores and infections in the anal skin.
Itchy Anus Prevention
There are several things that can be done to prevent anal itching, namely:
- Clean the anus after defecation with clean water. Do not use soap and wet wipes that contain fragrance.
- Dry the anal area using a towel gently and do not rub. Make sure the anal area is dry before wearing underwear.
- Avoid consumption of foods, drinks and drugs that can trigger irritation of the anus.
- Use cotton underwear and change every day. Do not wear underwear that is too tight so the anus does not sweat.