One bliss for which
There is no match
Is when you itch
To up and scratch.
gden Nash’s little ditty doesn’t include the socially unmentionable, embarrassing, persistent itch that torments the anal area, often incorrectly referred to as the rectal area. Known technically as pruritus ani (anal itch – itching of the anal region), this stubborn condition can cause sleepless nights, loss of work time, and severe emotional distress.
The single, most common cause of anal itch is poor anal hygiene. In most parts of Europe and in many Eastern countries this ailment is almost nonexistent. In these societies many people do not use toilet tissue – they wash the area. (The bidet is a much more distinctive sign of civilization than we would like to think!)
Other causes of anal itch include the following:
- Hemorrhoids (piles) and other rectal disease, such as fissures, fistulas, or discharge after rectal surgery.
- Chronic diarrhea.
- Fungal and yeast infections in the area – often associated with taking antibiotics over long periods.
- Pinworms and other parasitic infestations, such as lice (crabs) and mites (scabies).
- Psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, eczema.
- Warts in the anal area.
- Diabetes or liver disease.
- Certain foods, such as coffee, spicy foods, chocolate, raw fruits and vegetables, citrus fruits, and alcoholic beverages.
- Tight clothing – particularly the non-cotton varieties.
- Irritants that come into contact with the anal area, such as anesthetic ointments and suppositories used for piles; colored, perfumed, “moistened” and coarse toilet paper; soaps (especially the colored and scented varieties); deodorants; feminine hygiene sprays; bath salts; and – believe it or not – even nail polish has been implicated.
- Psychogenic causes. Anal itching occurs twice as often in men in their 40s and 50s than in women of the same age. Physicians believe this to be a result of certain stress situations (monetary for the most part) that develop in middle-aged men.
And then there are those cases where one cannot determine the cause – where painstaking study has failed to reveal any causative factor. This is by far the most common situation, and, as a result, the most resistant to treatment.
If you have prolonged, continuous, intolerable anal itching, see your family physician. For temporary relief, here are a few things you can do:
- Never use dry toilet paper. Instead, use cotton balls soaked in warm water. And never wipe or rub! Blotting or patting is enough. And make sure the area is kept scrupulously dry.
- Never use soap while you have “the itch.” Use a mild cleanser such as Cetaphil Cleanser.
- Avoid irritating substances, such as bath salts, deodorants, sprays, and perfumes. And do not dry your clothes with those fabric softener sheets.
- Avoid tight, underwear, pajamas, and pants. Wear only loose, cotton clothes on your bottom half. Boxer shorts; not jockey shorts for men.
- If you suspect that diet may be responsible for your itch, cut out spicy foods, chocolate, coffee, alcohol, popcorn, and raw fruit and vegetables.
- Avoid antibiotics, laxatives, and mineral oil.
- Don’t apply any over-the-counter salves and suppositories to the anal area, especially those containing benzocaine and other -caine derivatives. These may only aggravate your malady.
- If you find that you itch more at night, wear a pair of soft cotton gloves when you retire.
- If you suspect that emotional stress and tension are the cause, simmer down, stay cool, and relax.
For the severe, acute anal itch, your physician will probably prescribe baths in hot water, a special prescription cream or ointment, and perhaps an anti-itch pill to break that itch-scratch reflex.
How can you prevent anal itching? No problem. Keep the area scrupulously clean at all times and wash with a mild soap and water, or a gentle cleanser, at least once daily (particularly after a bowel movement). Dry the area with soft, white toilet tissue. (Rabelais wrote that wiping the anal skin with the neck of a plump, downy, warm goose was unquestionably “the most lordly, excellent, and expedient technique ever seen.” Soft toilet paper is considerably easier to use, much cheaper, and probably works as well!)
If you follow the cleansing and drying method just described, you may never again have to “up and scratch.”
RECAP
- The single, most common cause of anal itch is poor anal hygiene.
- Anal itching occurs twice as often in men in their 40s and 50s than in women of the same age.
Physicians believe this to be a result of certain stress situations that develop in middle-aged men.
- Don’t apply any over-the-counter salves and suppositories to the anal area, especially those containing benzocaine and other -caine derivatives. These may only aggravate your malady.
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| TREATING RECTAL ITCH |
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For symptomatic relief of anal itching, first follow the rules above.
For anal cleansing while you are troubled with the itch, never use soap or toilet paper. Use either of the following instead:
Cetaphil Lotion
Balneol
Tucks Pre-Moistened Pads
For added relief of the itching, use any of the following every 3 or 4 hours and after each bowel movement:
Cortizone 10 Crème
Cort-Aid Cream 0.5%
Preparation H Cream
Directions: Apply every 3 or 4 hours and after every bowel movement.
For persistent, unbearable itching, see your dermatologist.
