Problems in the anal area are common and many people will experience anal itching, pain, or bleeding at some point in their life. Often minor, these problems can go away on their own or with treatment.

Itchy anus is uncomfortable and occurs when the skin around the anus is irritated. They are felt around and just inside the anus, and force the person with the itchy rash to scratch.

Itchy anus can have multiple origins. This is not usually a sign of serious illness, but they should be taken into account to avoid worsening or superinfection.

Common causes of rectal itching include:

• poor cleaning of the area after defecation or poor personal hygiene. Particularly itching and discomfort may be due to pieces of stool in the folds of the skin around the anus;
• taking medicines and in particular those that cause diarrhea or constipation, such as certain antibiotics;
• cleaning the anus with very hot water or aggressive soaps. The anal area is normally oily, which provides a barrier to protect against irritation and infection. Too frequent or too intense cleaning can alter it and leave the skin and anal mucous membranes “raw”;
• the use of scented toilet paper, scented soap or certain unsuitable creams;
• generalized dryness of the skin all over the body (this is especially the case in the elderly);
• a skin disease, such aseczema or Psoriasis ;
• the hemorrhoids. The term refers to the veins that normally supply the rectal area. They can sometimes be swollen and painful and we speak of a hemorrhoidal crisis or more commonly hemorrhoids;
• an infection of the anus or rectum. This can be caused by viruses (such as papillomavirus which causes genital warts), bacteria (staphylococci or streptococci), worms (pinworms are the most common, especially in children), fungi (Candida albicans) or parasites;
• certain foods, such as coffee, tea, alcoholic drinks or spicy foods can also promote pruritus (ie an itch);
• Wearing synthetic underwear;
• or, much more rarely, it may be colorectal cancer.

If anal itching is not taken care of, the skin in the anal area may appear red, itching may make the skin thicker and white. Over time, by dint of itching, lesions of the skin can appear and thus lead to bleeding and promote infections.

In more advanced cases, the irritation may extend from the anus to the scrotum in men or the vulva in women.

Itching from hemorrhoids is likely to be accompanied by bleeding and pain in the stool or on a daily basis.

Treatment for itchy anus depends on the cause of the irritation.

In some cases, it may simply be a matter of undergoing better hygiene by gently cleaning the area after each bowel movement with water or mild soap. It is advisable to avoid in this case using scented soaps or even scented toilet paper. In all cases, careful hygiene is recommended to prevent the appearance or spread of infections (nail pruning, hand washing, etc.).

If the doctor suspects the involvement of intestinal worms (pinworms), he can perform a “scotch test” to check their presence at the exit of the rectum. Worms are sometimes visible to the naked eye, especially in the evening. If the test is positive, treatment consists of a dewormer, most often by mouth, to eliminate the eggs and larvae.

Note also that an adapted diet helps to avoid constipation. On the contrary, reducing the consumption of foods (such as tea or coffee) promotes defecation, and may accompany treatment.