Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsRight Way to WipeIf There Is SorenessTreating IrritationWashing Your Hands
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Right Way to Wipe
If There Is Soreness
Treating Irritation
Washing Your Hands
Knowing how to wipe after a bowel movement can prevent the spread of bacteria from feces (stool). This is especially true for people with vaginas who can develop aurinary tract infection (UTI)if wiping improperly.
Wiping properly can also prevent the spread of infections likehepatitis Avia contaminated surfaces andhand-to-mouth exposure.You may also need alternative ways to wipe such as a bidet or wet wipes) if you are healing from anal surgery, have ananal fissure, or are coping withhemorrhoids.
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A Note on Gender and Sex TerminologyVerywell Health acknowledges thatsex and genderare related concepts, but they are not the same. To accurately reflect our sources, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “women,” and “men” as the sources use them.
A Note on Gender and Sex Terminology
Verywell Health acknowledges thatsex and genderare related concepts, but they are not the same. To accurately reflect our sources, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “women,” and “men” as the sources use them.
The Right Way to Wipe
After passing a stool, always wipe fromfront to back. This is especially important for people withvaginasas it prevents feces from entering theirurethra(the tube through which urine exits the body.) Accidental exposure to feces is one of the leading causes of UTIs in women.
While people withpenisesare less vulnerable to UTIs, wiping from front to back can still prevent feces from getting onto the tip of the penis or under the foreskin.
To wipe properly:
Never scrub the skin around the anus (called theperianalarea) as this can cause microtears in the skin. Bacteria can enter through these tears.
If you are unable to reach around behind your back due to weight, injury, or conditions likearthritis, you can reach between the legs instead. However, you will still need to wipe front to back, not back to front.
You can also try wiping while standing. For some people, this may be easier than trying to insert your hand between your buttocks and the back of the toilet seat.
If You Make a MistakeIf you make a mistake and get stool into the urethral area, gently rinse with cool water. Do not spray with a strong shower spray as it can force microbes further up the urethra. Drink plenty of fluids over the next few days to help flush any remaining bacteria from the urinary tract.
If You Make a Mistake
If you make a mistake and get stool into the urethral area, gently rinse with cool water. Do not spray with a strong shower spray as it can force microbes further up the urethra. Drink plenty of fluids over the next few days to help flush any remaining bacteria from the urinary tract.
When Wiping Is Not Enough
Keeping the anus clean can be difficult if you have persistent or severediarrhea. This is especially true if the anus is sore and red.
If gentle wiping still causes discomfort, try using a hand shower or rubber bulb syringe (available at most drugstores). With devices like these, reach between your legs, pointing the water stream toward the back,away from your genitals. Use cool to lukewarm water, which is especially soothing.
You can also use abidet. This is a bathroom appliance that sprays water to clean your anus or genitals. While traditionally installed as a separate unit in bathrooms, some modern toilets come equipped with a built-in bidet feature.
If you experience ongoing rectal pain between bowel movements, try soaking in a lukewarm tub. You can addEpsom saltandcolloidal oatmeal, both of which help reduce inflammation. Avoid hot baths, however, as they can dry the skin and make the pain and itching worse.
When finished, dab the perianal area with a soft cloth and allow to air-dry. You can also apply a fragrance-free barrier cream to help lock in moisture.
Treating Anal Irritation
Wiping too much or too hard can lead toanal itching, a condition also known aspruritus ani. This often occurs when delicate tissues near the anus have been stressed or compromised.
Remedies to try at home include emollient-rich barrier creams, some of which containaloe vera,vitamin E, and other anti-inflammatory ingredients.Petroleum jellyis also a good option. Refrigerating the cream before an application is especially soothing.
Over-the-counter steroid creams, such ashydrocortisone 1% cream, can also help. Apply two to three times a day to affected tissues. Never use OTC hydrocortisone for more than one week without speaking with your healthcare provider.
While healing, you may also want to avoid eating chili, curry, or other spicy foods that cause burning and irritation when you poop.
When to See a Healthcare ProviderSee your healthcare provider if you have persistent itching with pain or rectal bleeding. There are several possible causes of this, some of which may be serious, including:Yeast infectionsProlapsed hemorrhoidsPsoriasisFistulas or abscessesInflammatory bowel disease (IBD)Anal cancer
When to See a Healthcare Provider
See your healthcare provider if you have persistent itching with pain or rectal bleeding. There are several possible causes of this, some of which may be serious, including:Yeast infectionsProlapsed hemorrhoidsPsoriasisFistulas or abscessesInflammatory bowel disease (IBD)Anal cancer
See your healthcare provider if you have persistent itching with pain or rectal bleeding. There are several possible causes of this, some of which may be serious, including:
How to Wash Your Hands
Hand washingis a vital part of bathroom hygiene and infection control. Goodhand washingcan prevent the transmission of highly infectious organisms, like as hepatitis A andHelicobacter pylori(H. pylori), that are commonly spread through thefecal-oral route.
Once you have wiped thoroughly and flushed, wash your hands with plenty of soap and water. Antimicrobial hand washes are useful but not necessary.
There is a right and wrong way to wash your hands. To wash your hands properly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following:
Summary
After a bowel movement, always wipe from front to back. This prevents the spread of bacteria that can cause UTIs and soil hands, increasing the risk of transmission of infections like hepatitis A andH. pylori.
If the skin at your anus is irritated, try using wet wipes. A bidet, bulb syringe, or soaking in a lukewarm bath can also help. Anal itching and irritation can be treated with barrier cream and hydrocortisone 1% cream.
9 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.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Urinary tract infection basics.Whittier CA,Fecal-oral transmission. In:International Encyclopedia of Primatology, Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons; 2017. doI:10.1002/9781119179313Office on Women’s Health.Urinary tract infections.Albuquerque A.Anal pruritus: Don’t look away.World J Gastrointest Endosc. 2024;16(3):112-116. doi:10.4253/wjge.v16.i3.112International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Anal discomfort and how to deal with it.Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL.Anti-inflammatory and skin barrier repair effects of topical application of some plant oils.Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Dec 27;19(1):70. doi:10.3390/ijms19010070National Health Service (UK).How and when to use hydrocortisone for skin.Bui D, Brown HE, Harris RB, Oren E.Serologic evidence for fecal–oral transmission ofHelicobacter pylori. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2016 Jan 6;94(1):82–88. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.15-0297Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About handwashing.
9 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.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Urinary tract infection basics.Whittier CA,Fecal-oral transmission. In:International Encyclopedia of Primatology, Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons; 2017. doI:10.1002/9781119179313Office on Women’s Health.Urinary tract infections.Albuquerque A.Anal pruritus: Don’t look away.World J Gastrointest Endosc. 2024;16(3):112-116. doi:10.4253/wjge.v16.i3.112International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Anal discomfort and how to deal with it.Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL.Anti-inflammatory and skin barrier repair effects of topical application of some plant oils.Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Dec 27;19(1):70. doi:10.3390/ijms19010070National Health Service (UK).How and when to use hydrocortisone for skin.Bui D, Brown HE, Harris RB, Oren E.Serologic evidence for fecal–oral transmission ofHelicobacter pylori. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2016 Jan 6;94(1):82–88. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.15-0297Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About handwashing.
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.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Urinary tract infection basics.Whittier CA,Fecal-oral transmission. In:International Encyclopedia of Primatology, Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons; 2017. doI:10.1002/9781119179313Office on Women’s Health.Urinary tract infections.Albuquerque A.Anal pruritus: Don’t look away.World J Gastrointest Endosc. 2024;16(3):112-116. doi:10.4253/wjge.v16.i3.112International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Anal discomfort and how to deal with it.Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL.Anti-inflammatory and skin barrier repair effects of topical application of some plant oils.Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Dec 27;19(1):70. doi:10.3390/ijms19010070National Health Service (UK).How and when to use hydrocortisone for skin.Bui D, Brown HE, Harris RB, Oren E.Serologic evidence for fecal–oral transmission ofHelicobacter pylori. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2016 Jan 6;94(1):82–88. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.15-0297Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About handwashing.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Urinary tract infection basics.
Whittier CA,Fecal-oral transmission. In:International Encyclopedia of Primatology, Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons; 2017. doI:10.1002/9781119179313
Office on Women’s Health.Urinary tract infections.
Albuquerque A.Anal pruritus: Don’t look away.World J Gastrointest Endosc. 2024;16(3):112-116. doi:10.4253/wjge.v16.i3.112
International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Anal discomfort and how to deal with it.
Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL.Anti-inflammatory and skin barrier repair effects of topical application of some plant oils.Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Dec 27;19(1):70. doi:10.3390/ijms19010070
National Health Service (UK).How and when to use hydrocortisone for skin.
Bui D, Brown HE, Harris RB, Oren E.Serologic evidence for fecal–oral transmission ofHelicobacter pylori. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2016 Jan 6;94(1):82–88. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.15-0297
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About handwashing.
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