It’s the problem most hemorrhoids sufferers won’t ask their doctors about, anal itch. Itching around the anus that’s especially bad at night is a very common condition, but most people who have it just suffer. Fortunately, you can do some things right now to get relief.
The first thing to know about anal itch is that it’s often an allergy. The mucus that is expelled with bowel movements often contains allergens or irritants. The allergic reaction may be bad enough to cause an itch, but not bad enough to make it absolutely essential for you to see a doctor.
Anal itch is almost never caused by failing to keep the area clean enough. In fact, the itch is perpetuated by efforts to relieve it. Excessive cleaning that removes protective oils from the skin. Scratching aggravates the problem by causing very fine abrasions through which these irritants can enter the skin. Washing the skin with soap, especially with soaps containing deodorants or perfumes, also makes the itch worse.
In a majority of cases, however, anal itch is caused by excessive growth of yeasts in the bowel.
So what can your doctor give you for anal itch? There is no medical treatment for anal itch, but natural therapy consists of (1) not scratching and (2) supplying the friendly bacteria that “crowd out” infectious yeast.
The most important thing to remember about the process of healing anal itch is not to scratch. Apply a moistened, alcohol-free tissue or a warm, moist washcloth to the affected area if immediate relief is required. For longer-term relief, it’s important to reestablish friendly bacteria in the bowel. Lactobacillus and related strains eventually colonize the lower digestive tract so that yeasts literally cannot “take root” around the anus.
When taking any Lactobacillus or any other probiotic supplement, it’s useful to remember that most bacteria will be destroyed by the acid of the stomach. As little as 1 per cent of the probiotic supplement actually reaches the colon and bowel, and these bacteria have a lifespan of just 20 minutes. That’s why it is helpful to eat yogurt, drink kefir, or take probiotics several times a day until itching goes away permanently.
Two herbs, slippery elm bark (tea) and witch hazel (applied with a cotton pad) may also bring relief. Slippery elm bark contains an abundance of complex carbohydrates. Taken by mouth, this herb triggers a reflex causing the stomach to produce large quantities of mucus to coat and protect the entire digestive tract. This dilutes the mucus reaching the skin around the anus and reduces irritation. Since slippery elm bark is a food as well as an herb, it is completely nontoxic.
Witch hazel is an astringent used to treat weeping or sweaty skin that aggravates anal itch. In North America, it is used in several over-the-counter preparations for hemorrhoids, including Tucks medicated wipes.
Are there any serious medical conditions that cause anal itch?
Itching around the anus is usually not a serious medical problem, but it can be an early symptom of two uncommon conditions, Bowen’s disease and Paget’s disease. In Bowen’s disease, a condition related to basal cell carcinoma, anal itch would be accompanied by occasional bleeding of the skin itself and the development of small skin growths. Bowen’s disease usually does not become an invasive cancer. In the more serious bone condition Paget’s disease, anal itch would likely be accompanied by pain in the lower back or face and/or hearing changes. Anal itch may also accompany yeast infections.
Here’s a round-up of how to keep anal itch in check:
After a bowel movement, wipe gently with soft tissues.
Avoid excessive cleansing. Do not use soap of any kind on the anal area. Scrubbing is not necessary. Cold water is more likely to be soothing than warm water.
If you are very sore, using a hairdryer on a low setting is the most comfortable way of drying the perianal area.
After a bowel movement, wash with a washcloth and warm water or any kind of wipes that do not contain alcohol. Blot the area clean; don’t rub the area clean.
Use medicated lotions sparingly. Apply them with a fingertip rather than with a cotton swab.
Keep the skin around the anus clean with corn starch powder. Women should not use talcum powder, since it can cause ovarian inflammation and has been linked to ovarian cancer.
Relieve irritation with a sitz bath, immersing the buttocks in warm water for up to 20 minutes at a time. Do not add antiseptics, bath salts, bath oils, bubble bath, essential oils, or herbs. Be especially careful to avoid chamomile baths. Despite the fact that chamomile is sometimes recommended as a treatment for anal itch, allergies to chamomile are not an uncommon cause of anal itch.
If you have irresistible urges to scratch, try distraction. Suck ice chips. Sit on a tennis ball. Rock back and forth. Lie on your side, try to relax, and then change sides.
Use only white toilet tissue. Colored dyes in toilet tissue can exacerbate the condition.
Make sure all traces of detergent are rinsed out when you launder underwear.
A high-fiber diet makes stools softer, easier to pass, and less likely to leak out and cause perianal irritation.
Homeopathic physicians treat anal itch that is worse at night or that seems to be caused by food allergies with antimonium (6C strength). Severe itching and a crawling sensation around the anus are usually treated with ignatia (6C), and itchiness due to pinworms or that is worse after a bowel movement is treated with teucrium (6C). There have been no scientific tests to confirm the usefulness of homeopathic treatment of anal itch, but the method has been used for nearly 300 years. There are no likely side effects from using homeopathic preparations.
