Anal Itching

[shuntiv]

I am 30 years old. I have had problems with my anus since I was around 18 years old. I have had two fissure operations. The doctors say that my fissure is healed up. I agree. But I still am having extreme itching and pain after a bowel movement. Thinking it might be pruitus ani I have tried to alter my diet to suit, no permanent help. But I have become very regular with my Bowel Movements. I have also tried an extensive amount of Fiber products and Stool Products. I have tried Bath after Bath, No permanent help.  For years I have used every cream I can think of PH, Anusol, Corticain, Sarnol, Hydrocortizone 2.5 to 0.5, Lanacane and the list goes on. Right now I am using Sarna to give temparary relief when the itching and pain are really bad. I am very hairy so that is not helping either.  I use cotton balls and a hair dryer after all baths and showers. I thought at one time it my be a fungus but doctors have told me that it wasn't a fungus. I am so tired of doctor after doctor not knowing what to do with me I quit going like a year ago and started my diet and bath regiment with no luck.  So now I am looking for any new advice that may help.  Should I just admit that I probably won't ever get better and just continue to suppress the pain?  Also I got a bad allegic reaction to any type of cortizone cream that I used in the past to where the itching would spread up to my tailbone.  So I have not used cortizone in several years.   I need to be normal!!!!
Any advice you can give me will be greatly appreciated.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Anal itch is common, annoying, and not curable.  The cream I usually recommend is vioform-hydrocortisone, which suppresses the symptoms when they flare.  Your doctor can prescribe this.  In between, lubricating with vaseline and gentle cleansing is best.

I'm not sure how to interpret your sensation of pain (as opposed to itch).  Perhaps you're just thinking about the area too much, after all these years.

I assume you've consulted a proctologist (surgeon) to make sure there's nothing within the anus to explain your symptoms.  If not, you should.  If you have, then you need to make up your mind that the best you can do is deal with the symptoms and make them tolerable.  But that you can do.  And you've got lots of company.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[GrahamW]

Just wanted to make a contribution to the "anal itch" debate.

You are right, Dr Rockall, that this seems to be a very common phenomenon.

Wonder if it has anything to do with the move over the past two/three decades to soft white chemically treated paper, at the same time as the Western diet gradually contained less roughage?

Whatever, one solution to try is plain old witchhazel, ideally in gel form – just make sure it ‘s not mixed with alcohol or menthol. It provides good relief most of the time, and unlike most other commercial topical creams and ointments, is harmless.

[nib]

Shuntiv, I also have the problem you are talking about or something similar. I have had problem since I was 16 but it was never too bad - now I am 34 and it is extremely bad. I have recently taken caffeine, alcohol and milk out of my diet. I have increased my dietary fibre. No effect so far. I also think I have a fungus but have not had a diagnosis yet. I have tried Canesten HC, Anusol, Prosectydol, talc, bathing, showering, wet wipes instead of standard toilet roll, and doing nothing. I am making no progress. My anus itches most of the day and while I have learnt not to itch it during the day I find I can't control myself at night. I am having trouble sleeping as I am waking up with the itching. It isn't bad every day but most days it is. I have stopped wearing jeans during the day and that has helped a little bit especially since it is summer here. After a bad nights itching it can feel like I am sitting on a nettle at work and I am reluctant to go to the loo. I am sorry to hear of your plight - it does not fill me with hope. I am on a list to see a dermatologist but do not know exactly when - could be months to a year. I'll keep you updated with any progress. I'd like to hear what else you have tried lifestyle wise and whether you think there could be any psychological reasons.

[breg]

I've suffered it, too, almost everyday. The reason is that I've had an anorectal fistula for close to twenty years. First got it when I was 19. I'm now 37.

Despite the pain, I was absolutely terrified of what it was I had. Didn't even know what it was called.

Somehow I managed to get by all these years, and it's only been last year, because of the Internet, that I finally learned a little about what I have.

I know now that seeing a colorectal surgeon may bring some relief...

But the fear still lingers. Perhaps someday I'll gather enough courage to fix this problem once and for all, and move on with my life.

Perhaps.

[Itchy dude]

I've had this anal itch since I was 20yrs of age..Now I'm 25 and it seems to still bother me...Itz not really itching on my anal..It's actually right beside it and only on one side of my butt cheeks..I've been using cortizone, cortaid, and a few other products as well..Also I've tried to clean it very well each time I shower, but it seems to go away and pop back up..I'm not sure if itz consider anal itching or anything..I'm just a lil too embarrass to go to a doctor and ask for help because I don't knoe how to explain what I have..I just wanted to knoe if anyone has teh same problem and what hey've tried that works the best..

[sleepy66]

Not curable?????????????????????????

*cries*

I've had this problem now since around October.  I've also had general skin rash problems all my adult life, which used to be related to sun, but now seem to be brought out just by heat.  

My anal woes began after several weeks on crutches and Percocet.  I figured it was related to that.  It was really bad, kept me awake and compelled me to the bathroom with ice cubes, which brought temporary relief.  I've tried just about everything, myself, and had many a sleepless night.  One day, it was so awful I couldn't concentrate on anything, and I started taking Benadryl.  That works for sure, but then I fall asleep.  I tried non-drowsy types of antihistamines, but they're just not as effective.

Over a month ago, I added yogurt to my diet and I've seen an AMAZING improvement in both the general rash and the anal itch.  But I can't skip a day, and one six-ounce container doesn't seem to be enough, so I'm trying to eat one in the morning and one at night.  It gets boring, but I know if I skip it, I'll be miserable.  I also recently ended up on Percocet again after a back injury.  That seems to have brought the symptoms back.  One thing I can't help but notice is when it's at it's worst, there is a watery oozing which doesn't smell very good.  It's not a bowel odor and it's not of vaginal origin, either.  I'm no doctor, but I suspect some sort of yeast issue, which is why I think the yogurt is helping.

No cure???  Please...don't let that be true!

[Baphomet]

A related discussion, Anal Itching, Tiny Blisters on Finger Tips was started.