Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHemorrhoidsStoolDietAnal FissuresContact ExposuresExcessive CleaningSkin ConditionsSTIsRelated SymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Hemorrhoids
Stool
Diet
Anal Fissures
Contact Exposures
Excessive Cleaning
Skin Conditions
STIs
Related Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Common causes of burning anal pain include hemorrhoids, your diet choices, or irritating perfumes and chemicals in toilet paper. A more serious condition also may be at work, and you may need evaluation to rule outcancer, irritable bowel disease, or muscle and nerve damage.
Anal burning and itching can be painful and interfere with work or daily activities. For example,hemorrhoidsaccount for some 2 million outpatient visits each year as people seek relief.Treatments will depend on the cause but can include medications and lifestyle adjustments.
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1. Hemorrhoids (Piles)
Hemorrhoids, sometimes called piles, are a common condition. They can lead to burning anal pain as well as itching,blood in the stool, and hard lumps around the anus when swollen veins place pressure on the anus and lower rectum.
Anal ItchAnal itching affects up to 45% of people at some time during their lives, more often males than females. It may occur more often in people who are overweight.
Anal Itch
Anal itching affects up to 45% of people at some time during their lives, more often males than females. It may occur more often in people who are overweight.
2. Stool
For some people, liquid stool leaks out of the anus and causes burning and itching. This can happen in healthy people who drink a considerable amount of liquids.
Fecal incontinence occurs in 5.9% of the population, and leakage from the anus can lead to burning anal pain. An underlying health condition, or a combination of factors and disorders, may need to be treated.
Using toilet paper to remove stool isn’t always effective. The toilet paper can spread the stool over the anus and surrounding skin. Instead, use toilet paper dampened with water to clean the anal area after a bowel movement.
3. Diet
A person’s diet can cause anal burning and itching. The foods and drinks that tend to cause these symptoms include:
It takes 24 to 36 hours for food to move through thedigestive tract. As a result, it will take that long after eating or drinking something for it to cause anal burning or itching.
4. Anal Fissures
Anal fissuresare tears, sores, or cracks in the anus. They happen when the anus is stretched past its capacity, usually because of hard constipated stool, and tears. Once an anal fissure starts, it is prone to re-injury.
The symptoms associated with anal fissures are pain, burning, blood in the stool, and a cut or tear in the anus.
The greatest risk factor for developing an anal fissure is constipation. Hard, dry stool passing through the rectum and anus can stretch the skin too far and cause a tear. Other risk factors include:
If you have chronic anal fissures, you may need tests to rule out a digestive disease or disorder.
5. Chemicals and Medications
The anal skin area is sensitive and can easily be injured. Using harsh chemicals and medications in the anal area can cause skin irritation and reactions. These irritants can include:
Before using any over-the-counter (OTC) cream or lotion talk, to a healthcare provider. It can cause further anal irritation, burning, and itching.
Certain medications, including broad-spectrum antibiotics, also may cause anal itching and burning.
“Pruritis ani” is the medical term for itching at the anus, often with a burning pain. New laundry soaps or perfumes can cause it, sometimes as part of an allergic reaction.Moisture that leads to pruritis ani can be treated with zinc oxide or a prescription ointment.
6. Excessive Cleaning
One common cause of anal burning and itching is excessive anal cleaning. With the new burning and itching symptoms, some people begin to wipe and clean themselves even more, which creates a vicious cycle of skin irritation and excessive wiping.
This tends to happen to people who feel unclean after a bowel movement and excessively wipe themselves. The vigorous scrubbing and use of medicated wipes irritate the anal area causing skin damage and removing the skin’s natural barriers.
7. Skin Conditions
Psoriasisandeczemaare two skin conditions that can cause itching and burning around the anus.
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes scaly patches on the skin. According to a 2016 study, 5% to 8% of people who went to their colon and rectal surgeon with rectal itching had psoriasis.
8. Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)of the anus and rectum can cause symptoms such as painful burning and itching. Other symptoms may include a feeling of needing to pass stool even when bowels are empty, bowel urgency, anal discharge, anal bleeding, or bumpy growths.
STIs can also be asymptomatic (showing no symptoms). STIs that can affect the anus and rectum include:
Anal infections also occur in people diagnosed withhuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV)infection.
Other tests that may be needed include:
Treatment for anal itching and burning should focus on treating the underlying cause. Sometimes when the cause is not found, treating the symptoms becomes the focus.
Common treatments for anal itching and burning include the following:
Your healthcare provider will treat any STIs with appropriate medications, such as antibiotics or antivirals.
If diarrhea or constipation is contributing to the irritation and burning, correcting these issues with your bowel movements can offer relief. Treatments may include:
When to See a Healthcare ProviderIt’s time to see a healthcare provider when self-care techniques do not resolve anal burning and itching. For example, pruritis ani should clear up in one to three weeks.See a healthcare provider if there is a lump or rash around the anus, a fever, or any bleeding or discharge.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
It’s time to see a healthcare provider when self-care techniques do not resolve anal burning and itching. For example, pruritis ani should clear up in one to three weeks.See a healthcare provider if there is a lump or rash around the anus, a fever, or any bleeding or discharge.
While not every case of anal burning and itching can be prevented, several prevention techniques can help decrease the chances of developing these symptoms:
Summary
Many times anal burning and itching can be prevented. Avoid over-cleaning the anal area and correct any digestive problems like constipation or diarrhea.
A Word From VerywellDiscomfort in the anal region can be a difficult topic to discuss with your healthcare provider. Rest assured that such discussions are very common, and what’s most important is being properly evaluated, getting a correct diagnosis, and starting the right treatment.—JAY N. YEPURI, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Discomfort in the anal region can be a difficult topic to discuss with your healthcare provider. Rest assured that such discussions are very common, and what’s most important is being properly evaluated, getting a correct diagnosis, and starting the right treatment.—JAY N. YEPURI, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Discomfort in the anal region can be a difficult topic to discuss with your healthcare provider. Rest assured that such discussions are very common, and what’s most important is being properly evaluated, getting a correct diagnosis, and starting the right treatment.
—JAY N. YEPURI, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Family Physicians.Benign Anorectal Conditions: Evaluation and Management.UpToDate.Approach to adult patients with anorectal complaints.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Hemorrhoids.Harvard Health Publishing.Anal itch (pruritus ani).MUSC Health.Anal itching.Ansari P.Pruritus ani.Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2016;29(1):38-42. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1570391Johns Hopkins Medicine.Anal fissures.University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.Common causes of anal or rectal pain, and how to treat them.Kinberger M, Werner RN.Aktuelle Leitlinien zur Diagnostik und Therapie von Erkrankungen im Anogenitalbereich [Current guidelines for the management of anogenital diseases].Dermatologie (Heidelb). 2024 Jan;75(1):7-14. German. doi:10.1007/s00105-023-05251-1Department of General Surgery, Kanuni Training and Research Hospital, Trabzon, Turkey, Karapolat B.Could local antibiotics be included in the treatment of acute anal fissure?Turk J Surg. 2018;3(4):286-289. doi:10.5152/turkjsurg.2018.3988Michigan Medicine.Managing perianal itching (pruritus ani).
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Family Physicians.Benign Anorectal Conditions: Evaluation and Management.UpToDate.Approach to adult patients with anorectal complaints.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Hemorrhoids.Harvard Health Publishing.Anal itch (pruritus ani).MUSC Health.Anal itching.Ansari P.Pruritus ani.Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2016;29(1):38-42. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1570391Johns Hopkins Medicine.Anal fissures.University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.Common causes of anal or rectal pain, and how to treat them.Kinberger M, Werner RN.Aktuelle Leitlinien zur Diagnostik und Therapie von Erkrankungen im Anogenitalbereich [Current guidelines for the management of anogenital diseases].Dermatologie (Heidelb). 2024 Jan;75(1):7-14. German. doi:10.1007/s00105-023-05251-1Department of General Surgery, Kanuni Training and Research Hospital, Trabzon, Turkey, Karapolat B.Could local antibiotics be included in the treatment of acute anal fissure?Turk J Surg. 2018;3(4):286-289. doi:10.5152/turkjsurg.2018.3988Michigan Medicine.Managing perianal itching (pruritus ani).
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Benign Anorectal Conditions: Evaluation and Management.UpToDate.Approach to adult patients with anorectal complaints.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Hemorrhoids.Harvard Health Publishing.Anal itch (pruritus ani).MUSC Health.Anal itching.Ansari P.Pruritus ani.Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2016;29(1):38-42. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1570391Johns Hopkins Medicine.Anal fissures.University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.Common causes of anal or rectal pain, and how to treat them.Kinberger M, Werner RN.Aktuelle Leitlinien zur Diagnostik und Therapie von Erkrankungen im Anogenitalbereich [Current guidelines for the management of anogenital diseases].Dermatologie (Heidelb). 2024 Jan;75(1):7-14. German. doi:10.1007/s00105-023-05251-1Department of General Surgery, Kanuni Training and Research Hospital, Trabzon, Turkey, Karapolat B.Could local antibiotics be included in the treatment of acute anal fissure?Turk J Surg. 2018;3(4):286-289. doi:10.5152/turkjsurg.2018.3988Michigan Medicine.Managing perianal itching (pruritus ani).
American Academy of Family Physicians.Benign Anorectal Conditions: Evaluation and Management.
UpToDate.Approach to adult patients with anorectal complaints.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Hemorrhoids.
Harvard Health Publishing.Anal itch (pruritus ani).
MUSC Health.Anal itching.
Ansari P.Pruritus ani.Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2016;29(1):38-42. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1570391
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Anal fissures.
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.Common causes of anal or rectal pain, and how to treat them.
Kinberger M, Werner RN.Aktuelle Leitlinien zur Diagnostik und Therapie von Erkrankungen im Anogenitalbereich [Current guidelines for the management of anogenital diseases].Dermatologie (Heidelb). 2024 Jan;75(1):7-14. German. doi:10.1007/s00105-023-05251-1
Department of General Surgery, Kanuni Training and Research Hospital, Trabzon, Turkey, Karapolat B.Could local antibiotics be included in the treatment of acute anal fissure?Turk J Surg. 2018;3(4):286-289. doi:10.5152/turkjsurg.2018.3988
Michigan Medicine.Managing perianal itching (pruritus ani).
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