Anal Rednes

I have had a chronic redness on the inside of my butt cheeks about an inch from my anus. I also have what appears to be anal moisture as well. I have no idea what this may be and would greatly appreciate some advice.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Causes of anal rash include moisture(due to sweating or frequent washing), the abrasion caused by clothing,the pressure of sitting,chemical irritants like laundry soaps, colognes and scented toilet paper,certain food irritants,medicines like some antibiotics and laxatives,infections like STD’s and pinworms,anal abrasions and fissures and skin problems such as psoriasis, seborrhea and eczema. Sometimes hemorrhoids will start off as red rash and anal itching.

Treatment of anal rash depends on the cause of the problem. It may include self-care measures, changes to your diet, treatment of infections or, rarely, surgery to correct an underlying problem.So pls get an examination done by a der,atologist to confirm the diagnosis.Till that time,try an over-the-counter (OTC) cream or ointment containing hydrocortisone (Cortaid, Preparation H),but it is to be applied sparingly to the affected area. A protective ointment that contains zinc oxide (Desitin, Balmex) also may help.

I hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional doubts.Kind regards.