anal itching

Hi.
I wonder if someone can help me.?

2 Nights ago i took a bath and washed as normal. About 30 minutes after getting out i had terrible itching around my anus and the inside of my buttocks which carried on for a good hour. I ended up very swollen down there to the point that it looked like i had 2 sets of buttocks and swelling so bad that if i had needed to go to the toilet i dont think i would have been able to. The following day i was still swollen and found it quite difficult walking or sitting. As the day went by the swelling seemed to go down and now on the third day i am pretty much back to vormal except for extreme itching still, that i dare not scratch. There have been a few times that i have noticed that my testicles itch so badly that i cause swelling to the skin, and this is always after a bath, I am wondering if this could be an allergic reaction to a "dove" soap that i used instead of my regular shower gel. I am just worried that it is something more sinister.
Thankyou for any help.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Anal itching is also called pruritis ani. Causes of itchy anal rash include moisture(due to sweating or frequent washing), the abrasion caused by clothing, the pressure of sitting, chemical irritants infections like STD’s and pinworms,banal abrasions and fissures and skin problems such as psoriasis, seborrhea and eczema. Sometimes hemorrhoids will start off as red rash and anal itching.

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 also may help. If your symptoms are worse at night, please take an antihistamine like Benadryl to reduce itching until topical treatments take effect. I hope it helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing. Kind regards.