Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDiseases and ConditionsWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Diseases and Conditions
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Treatment
The perianal area refers to the area of the body surrounding the anus — in particular, the skin. The perianal skin is sensitive and is susceptible to injury and damage fromdiarrhea, constipation, and disease.
Irritation to the perianal area can occur with persistent diarrhea. The diarrhea itself may be caustic andburn the skinand repeated wiping with toilet paper can cause further trauma. Treating the diarrhea and then keeping the area clean and dry areimportant for healing the perianal skin.
This article discusses the diseases and conditions of the perianal area and when you should see a healthcare provider.
Nipitphon Na Chiangmai / EyeEm / Getty Images
Diseases and Conditions of the Perianal Area
Diseases and conditions that can affect the perianal skin include:
Approximately24% of patients with Crohn’s diseasehave diseases in the perianal area. People with Crohn’s disease may also haveskin tags, hemorrhoids, or, in extremely rare cases, cancer in the perianal area.
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What Is the Difference Between Perianal and Perineal?“Perianal” describes the area in front of and behind the anus, while “perineal” specifically refers to the area between the anus and the scrotum or labia.
What Is the Difference Between Perianal and Perineal?
“Perianal” describes the area in front of and behind the anus, while “perineal” specifically refers to the area between the anus and the scrotum or labia.
Pain, swelling, itching, or a lump or a bump in the anal area should prompt a visit to a healthcare provider to determine what could be causing the problem. A physician will want to do a physical exam and potentially a rectal exam to see what’s happening. This is especially true for people who have IBD, and in particular, Crohn’s disease.
Complications in the perianal area can occur, but catching them early and seeking treatment can help prevent more serious outcomes.
Treatment for Pain in the Perianal Area
Treatment will depend greatly on the cause of the symptoms in the perianal area.
For simple hemorrhoids, the treatment might be done at home, but for more invasive problems like a fistula or an abscess, outpatient surgery may be needed.
For people with an underlying digestive disease, getting even simple issues under control quickly is key to avoiding more extensive problems later.
Problems with the perianal area can be painful and difficult to cope with because of the effect it has on going to the bathroom. For mild irritation, soaking in warm water or rinsing off after a bowel movement instead of wiping can be helpful.
However, if there’s a lump, a bump, or severe pain, it’s time to see a healthcare provider and get treatment to avoid further discomfort.
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Summary
The perianal is the outside area around the anus, specifically the skin. The perianal skin is sensitive and easily injured, especially when you have diarrhea, constipation, or another gastrointestinal condition such as hemorrhoids or Crohn’s disease.
See a healthcare provider if you have pain, itching, swelling, or a lump or bump on the perianal area. If the area is irritated or painful, try soaking it in warm water.
5 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.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of hemorrhoids.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for Crohn’s disease.Thomas T, Chandan JS, Harvey PR, et al.The risk of inflammatory bowel disease in subjects presenting With perianal abscess: Findings from the THIN database.J Crohns Colitis. 2019;13(5):600-606. doi:10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjy210Guo Y, Hu B, Huang D, et al.Perianal and perineal rhabdomyosarcomas: A retrospective multicenter study of 35 cases.BMC Surg. 2021;21(1):66. doi:10.1186/s12893-021-01073-xPark MY, Yoon YS, Kim HE, et al.Surgical options for perianal fistula in patients with Crohn’s disease: A comparison of seton placement, fistulotomy, and stem cell therapy.Asian J Surg. 2021;44(11):1383-1388. doi:10.1016/j.asjsur.2021.03.013
5 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.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of hemorrhoids.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for Crohn’s disease.Thomas T, Chandan JS, Harvey PR, et al.The risk of inflammatory bowel disease in subjects presenting With perianal abscess: Findings from the THIN database.J Crohns Colitis. 2019;13(5):600-606. doi:10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjy210Guo Y, Hu B, Huang D, et al.Perianal and perineal rhabdomyosarcomas: A retrospective multicenter study of 35 cases.BMC Surg. 2021;21(1):66. doi:10.1186/s12893-021-01073-xPark MY, Yoon YS, Kim HE, et al.Surgical options for perianal fistula in patients with Crohn’s disease: A comparison of seton placement, fistulotomy, and stem cell therapy.Asian J Surg. 2021;44(11):1383-1388. doi:10.1016/j.asjsur.2021.03.013
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.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of hemorrhoids.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for Crohn’s disease.Thomas T, Chandan JS, Harvey PR, et al.The risk of inflammatory bowel disease in subjects presenting With perianal abscess: Findings from the THIN database.J Crohns Colitis. 2019;13(5):600-606. doi:10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjy210Guo Y, Hu B, Huang D, et al.Perianal and perineal rhabdomyosarcomas: A retrospective multicenter study of 35 cases.BMC Surg. 2021;21(1):66. doi:10.1186/s12893-021-01073-xPark MY, Yoon YS, Kim HE, et al.Surgical options for perianal fistula in patients with Crohn’s disease: A comparison of seton placement, fistulotomy, and stem cell therapy.Asian J Surg. 2021;44(11):1383-1388. doi:10.1016/j.asjsur.2021.03.013
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of hemorrhoids.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for Crohn’s disease.
Thomas T, Chandan JS, Harvey PR, et al.The risk of inflammatory bowel disease in subjects presenting With perianal abscess: Findings from the THIN database.J Crohns Colitis. 2019;13(5):600-606. doi:10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjy210
Guo Y, Hu B, Huang D, et al.Perianal and perineal rhabdomyosarcomas: A retrospective multicenter study of 35 cases.BMC Surg. 2021;21(1):66. doi:10.1186/s12893-021-01073-x
Park MY, Yoon YS, Kim HE, et al.Surgical options for perianal fistula in patients with Crohn’s disease: A comparison of seton placement, fistulotomy, and stem cell therapy.Asian J Surg. 2021;44(11):1383-1388. doi:10.1016/j.asjsur.2021.03.013
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