Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow It Looks and FeelsCausesWill It Go Away?MedicineWhen It Doesn’t Go Away

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

How It Looks and Feels

Causes

Will It Go Away?

Medicine

When It Doesn’t Go Away

A bump on your anus can occur for several reasons. Your anus is the opening at the end of yourdigestive tract, where stool exits your body.

This article describes the symptoms, causes, and treatment of a bump on your anus. It also explains when a bump is likely to go away on its own and when to contact your healthcare provider.

AndreyPopov / Getty Images

person holding bottom

Describing a Bump on Your Anus

Describing a bump on your anus can help you determine potential causes and whether the problem is a sign of a more serious condition. It can also help in describing the problem to your healthcare provider.

Some key features that can help determine the severity of any growth on your anus include:

Hard or Soft

Most bumps and swollen areas of skin that feel soft and roll easily under your finger occur from benign causes. A painful bump that suddenly appears within 24 to 48 hours is often related to an injury or infection.

A hard lump on your anus may have a defined shape like a small ball or appear irregular in shape. While it’s common to believe that a hard bump is associated with cancer, it can also occur from benign and relatively harmless causes.

Painful or Painless

Since describing a bump as painful or painless is subjective and can vary based on your pain threshold, other characteristics of your pain are also important.

Consider the following information when describing pain related to a bump on your anus:

It’s also important to consider the nature of pain and other sensations it may involve. These feelings can include:

Outside or Inside

A bump can occur inside or outside your anus. In some cases, you may have a sensation of pain or discomfort outside your anus, but the bump may be located inside. Always wash your hands before examining an anal bump to avoid introducing bacteria and other germs to the affected area.

An external bump on your anus is visible and can be felt with your fingers. Internal bumps form in the lining and may not cause a sensation when touched. Depending on the location, an internal bump may cause a feeling of skin protruding during bowel movements, especially during straining.

Anal Sphincter Function, Anatomy, and Complications

How to Narrow Down the Cause of Anal Bumps

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids, also known as piles, are swollen or inflamed veins in your rectum or anus. They form due to increased pressure on the area. They can occur while straining during a bowel movement or sitting for long periods on the toilet. They can also occur during pregnancy when there is extra pressure on these veins.

Internal hemorrhoids are usually not painful. They can cause the following symptoms:

External hemorrhoids appear as bluish-colored swollen lymph near the opening of your anus. They are flat, soft, and covered with a layer of skin or mucus. External hemorrhoids can cause pain when the overlying skin is irritated or deteriorated.

Symptoms of external hemorrhoids include:

Anal Fissure

Anorectal Abscess

Ananorectal abscessis a pocket ofpusin the area of your anus or rectum that occurs from an infection. It can develop if one of your anal glands gets clogged with bacteria or stool.

Anal Warts (Condyloma)

Anal warts(condyloma acuminata) are a type ofgenital wartthat occur from thehuman papillomavirus (HPV), a commonsexually transmitted infection (STI). They can occur from any direct contact to the anal area. Anal warts can cause discomfort though they can also occur without symptoms.

Anal warts have the following symptoms:

Anal Skin Tags

Ananal skin tagis a small growth of excess skin near the opening of your anus. Skin tags can occur from many causes, such as excess skin that remains from prior external hemorrhoids.

Anal skin tags may also be related to irritation or friction. Anal skin tags are harmless and do not have to be removed for health reasons. Symptoms of anal skin tags include:

Anal Pimples

Anal pimples can also occur from:

Molluscum Contagiosum

Molluscum contagiosumis a skin infection passed through direct contact. When it occurs in adults, it is considered a STI. Molluscum contagiosum involves raised, firm bumps on your skin, ranging from the size of a pinhead to a pencil eraser. These bumps are usually painless unless they become infected.

Anal Cancer

Anal canceris a rare form of cancer in which malignant cells form in the anal tissue. Most anal cancer cases are related to HPV. While the following symptoms can occur with anal cancer, they may also indicate other conditions:

Will a Bump on Your Butt Go Away Naturally?

A bump on your butt may go away naturally, depending on its cause. In many cases, other individual factors can also affect the length of time a bump on your butt remains and whether it goes away naturally.

Some types of anal bumps that can resolve on their own include:

What Is Anal Cancer?

Medicine to Heal Anal Bumps

The type of medicine used to heal anal bumps depends on the cause of the bumps. In some cases, surgery may be needed to correct the problem. Getting an accurate diagnosis of anus bumps can ensure that you receive the right treatment. Your healthcare provider may advise the following types of medicine:

Home Remedies for Hemorrhoids

When a Bump Near the Anus Does Not Go Away

A bump near your anus that does not go away may indicate a problem that is too complex for home treatment. Contact your healthcare provider for a diagnosis of a bump near your anus that involves any of the following symptoms:

Seek immediate medical care or call 911 if you have severe anal pain and rectal bleeding, particularly with discomfort or pain in your abdomen, diarrhea, or fever.

Do Hemorrhoids Go Away on Their Own?

Summary

There are many causes of a bump on your anus. Causes can range from somewhat minor cases of contact dermatitis to rare but severe cases of anal cancer. Hemorrhoids are a common cause of the problem.

While most bumps are not serious, getting an early and accurate diagnosis in cases that involve problems like infection or cancer can give you the best chance for optimal results.

28 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.

Mount Sinai.Skin lumps.

Lane Regional Medical Center.3 benign causes of skin lumps and bumps. September 30, 2019.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.How can I describe my pain to my health care provider?January 31, 2017.

Temple Health.Everything you need to know about hemorrhoids. May 24, 2022.

Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical School.Hemorrhoids and what to do about them. March 26, 2024.

American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS).Hemorrhoids: expanded information.

Beacon Health System.Anal fissure. December 31, 2022.

Penn Medicine.What is anorectal abscess?

Cedars Sinai.Anorectal abscess.

American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS).Anal warts.

American Osteopathic College of Dermatology (AOCD).Skin tags.

Reich D, Psomadakis CE, Buka B.Folliculitis.Springer eBooks. Published online December 9, 2016:149-154. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18627-6_24

National Eczema Association.Contact dermatitis.

American Association of Dermatology Association (AAD).Keratosis pilaris: overview.

Mount Sinai.Boils.

American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD).Molluscum contagiosum: overview.

National Cancer Institute.Anal cancer treatment (PDQ) - patient version.

Scripps Health.Can hemorrhoids go away on their own?

American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne-like breakouts could be folliculitis.

Spire Healthcare.Lump on anus. March 16, 2022.

American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD).Molluscum contagiosum: diagnosis and treatment.

Columbia University Irving Medical Center.Rectal problems.

UpToDate.Common at-home treatments for hemorrhoids.

UPMC.Anal warts (condyloma).

Cedars-Sinai.Anorectal abscess.

MedStar Health.5 signs it’s time to seek care for hemorrhoids. March 19, 2021.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment of hemorrhoids.

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?