Can Anything Stop My Anal Itching?

The intense itch and urge to scratch makes anal itchiness a difficult symptom to ignore. This may have you searching the internet looking for any remedy or treatment to relieve your discomfort. 

At Midwest Hemorrhoid Treatment Center in Creve Coeur, Missouri, we understand how you feel. Dr. Betsy Clemens, our board-certified family physician, specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of anorectal disorders like anal itchiness. 

We want to share some of the things that may stop your anal itching.

About your anal itch

Your anal itch, or what we medically call pruritus ani, is a symptom, not a diagnosis. When you’re searching for something to stop your anal itching, you first need to figure out the underlying cause.

You may develop the irritating, itchy, anal discomfort from a variety of causes. In most cases, the itching occurs because of irritation to the sensitive anal tissue from:

• Not wiping all the stool away after a bowel movement
• Consuming foods or drinks that irritate the tissue (spicy foods, alcohol)
• Using toilet paper that has skin irritants (such as perfume or lotion)
• Wiping too aggressively after a bowel movement
• Taking antibiotics

Of course, your anal itchiness may also develop from an underling anorectal condition, such as hemorrhoids, skin tags, or anal fissures. Infections and chronic skin conditions may also cause anal itching. 

Though anal itchiness may be temporary, if the irritation and discomfort aren’t improving, we can help determine the cause and develop a plan to stop it. 

Stopping the anal itching

For immediate relief, over-the-counter (OTC) hydrocortisone or zinc oxide creams, lotions, or gels may help, according to the US National Library of Medicine. If your symptoms are keeping you up at night, an oral antihistamine may do the trick

Doing your best to ignore the urge to scratch may also help stop the irritating sensation. 

For your anorectal condition, we treat the root cause of your symptom to eliminate the discomfort. For hemorrhoids and mild anal fissures, we may suggest adding more fiber and fluids to your diet to help soften stool, or prescribe a stool softener.

We also perform minimally invasive procedures to remove hemorrhoids that don’t respond to lifestyle changes, including infrared coagulation (IRC) treatments for itchy prolapsed hemorrhoids.   

If your anal itching occurs because of a skin condition or a chronic anal fissure, we can refer you to some of the best specialists in the area for help. 

Preventing a recurrence

Once you experience the discomfort of anal itchiness you probably will want to do everything in your power to prevent a recurrence. We recommend you practice good anal hygeine, such as using moist toilet paper to gently wipe or pat away stool after a bowel movement. 

When bathing, don’t use soap to clean the anal tissue: water works just fine. After your bath, gently pat the area dry, and wear cotton underwear and loose-fitted clothing to keep things dry.

Also, avoid foods that may irritate your delicate anal tissue. 

Anal itching is hard to ignore, but resisting the urge to scratch may help stop the itch. If your at-home treatments fail to provide long-term relief, let us help you. 

Contact our office by calling 636-228-3186, or by scheduling an appointment online today.