Anal Irritation

I've been trying to deal with an anal irritation for about a year now. I had some pretty bad constipation for two years, and once I changed my diet it got better. I am allergic to dairy and I'm not consuming any, yet the irritation is still present. I've looked on the web and it says a possibility could be anal fissures, which is caused by constipation for a long period of time, but I'm not so sure. I have been treated for many, many things and nothing has improved. I want the annoyance out of my life. The symptom irritation is an itch, not a pain. It's on the outside, on my skin. Not inside my body. I have tendancies for very delicate skin. Could this be a skin-related issue?

[ggreg]

I think the constipation you used to have has either created some hemorrhoids, which itch like mad, or has irritated your skin, as you suggested.  To get your skin straight, get some plain KY jelly, put it on after every time you shower, and also after every time you relieve yourself.  Keep the area clean and lubricated, to allow the skin to heal.  For hemorrhoids, get some Preparation H ointment and put it on there after you shower (KY second) twice a week.  It'll shrink them down and so they won't itch so much.  Eventually both conditions should subside if you practice these habits for a few weeks.

There's a very remote chance you'll need to give a stool sample to your doc, to make sure you don't have an infection or other process going on.  Also, the fissure idea might be true, but it would sting more than anything else... but if you wind up at the doc's, he can check out that for you when he does the stool sample, too.

[Neo93]

Thanks a lot for your help! I tried treating for hemorrhoids and that wasn't the case. I'm a teen, so it would be very rare for me to get them.

[ggreg]

Just keep the area clean and lubricated with KY, then, to allow the skin irritation to heal up quicker.  If it still bothers you in a couple weeks, go to the doc and have them do a stool sample and draw blood for you.

It is possible the constipation has sort of stretched out where the bowels come out, and it may be leaking a little there for a while, until it gets itself straight again.  That leaking out can make it itch, too.  So, again, keep it clean and lubricated to stop the itching.  You can take baby wipes with you in case it happens while you're out and about.

You could also try switching toilet paper, I like Cottonelle with Aloe.

[Neo93]

There's no leaking (thank God!), so I don't think I have to worry about that. I'm pretty sure it's a skin irritation.

The lubricant helped relieve the itching, but it just got worse.

I've tried switching to natural toilet paper and other brands a number of times, so I know it's not that.

I got my blood drawn and the only thing that was wrong was an allergic reaction to dairy, and I've stopped consuming it for about a month now and I see no improvement.

I've made an appointment with a skin doctor, to see if it's an allergic reaction or if it's something I need to see a gastroenterologist.

[ggreg]

I'm so glad you're going to see a skin doc.  I'm sorry my advice fell short.  But I appreciate you taking the time to write back and forth.  Mostly I try to address fairly simple issues, altho I have IBS caused by some terrible drug I was on at the time.  I'm left with little appetite and lots of controls in place to keep my digestion working smoothly, so I know how awful these things can be and want very much to help.  Well, do let us know how things go at the doc!  

[Neo93]

Thanks again for your support and replies.

I shall!

[wannabepainfree]

What did the doctors find?  I have been suffering from the same type of irritation around my anus, however mine is very painful at times with blood.  I was wondering what the doc's told you.

[Neo93]

I appreciate your response to my post. Mine has blood sometimes after bowel movements, it *****. I haven't gone to the Doctor yet, that will be in March. I will update you on what I find when I happen to go.

My best bet would be to guess it's some kind of strep, because when my old Doctor took a test, they found a form of strep. I think it's caused from continuous constipation, if you had that. Some kind of irritation caused by hard stools. However, when they put me on antibiotics to treat the strep, it irritated it more. Who knows; all we can do is stay hopeful!

[Neo93]

I got some results from the dermatologist. They say it’s peratus ani (I’m not so sure if I spelled that correctly, but that’s how you pronounce it). It turns out to be a very common problem. My skin is naturally more sensitive and that’s a big part of it. They gave me some promazon to apply after showers and before bed. It hasn’t worked very much yet, but I’m hoping it will! I’d go to the dermatologist before the gastroenterologist, but that’s my 2 cents. When I got there, they said “you’ve come to the right place.”

[ggreg]

Neo,
Interesting, thanks for reporting back!  I feel much more educated on the matter now.  At hemmorhoid.net I found this little bit on what you have, here's a quote:

"Pruritus Ani is so common today that it is known as the "Space-age" disease. Occasionally, pinworms, lice, fungus, and hemorrhoids may be responsible. Rarely, food allergies, and allergies to drugs such as antibiotics may be the cause. Pruritus ani is also associated with certain systemic disorders such as jaundice, diabetes, lymphoma, and uremia. Pruritus ani is a self-perpetuating disease: scratching causes further irritation, which becomes a new source of itching. The cause of pruritus ani may be difficult to determine, thus making pruritus ani a potentially difficult conditions to treat."

You were very smart to recognize your own tendency to skin sensitivity, which told you to go to the skin doc, and I'm so glad he gave you some good medicine.  Hope the annoying condition goes away soon, so you can go about being a regular person again!
GG

[Neo93]

Thanks for your ongoing support and kindness. I hope this works!

Another interesting fact about this whole situation is that I had asthma for six years and apparently asthma is linked to sensitive skin conditions. Who would've thought!