anal itching

Do you suffer from continuous and disabling itching in the anus?

Does the tingling and burning, combined with the itching, give you no respite or relief, and also prevent you from resting peacefully at night?

Would you like to contact dr. troyer quickly?
fill the form and she will call you right back!

I have read and accept the privacy policy*

Anal itching is one of the most disabling proctologic conditions, often completely ignored and underestimated until it becomes a serious obstacle to common daily life.

Read this page to find out what continuous itching in the anus can be caused by, and what can be done to resolve it.

What is anal itching?

In Medicine, anal itching is reported as an uncontrollable instinct that leads to scratching the anus or perianal area, often referred to by patients as impelling and unrelenting.

This urge to scratch, if not properly treated, comes to deeply undermine patients' quality of life in the long run, leading it to be one of the most disabling proctological conditions, along with pathological hemorrhoids.

Although it often has all the hallmarks of a disease in its own right, it should be remembered that anal itching is not a disease in the classic sense of the term, but rather should be seen as a symptom.

The original cause of the itching, thus the upstream problem, is the actual disease, which the Proctologist Physician has a duty to investigate and diagnose.

Are there different types of anal itching?

Yes, at the clinical level anal itching is classified into two distinct categories:

• Idiopathic anal itching;
  
• Secondary anal itching

Idiopathic anal itching is an itch whose pathological reasons are difficult or impossible to explain, and therefore has no certain origin at the physiological level.

This is the most complicated type of itch to treat and is often impossible to eradicate completely.

Secondary anal itching, as indeed the name implies, is instead anal itching that is a symptom of an upstream pathology.

It is therefore possible to identify specific causes of it, which, when treated and resolved, also result in the disappearance of the symptom, namely itching.

What are the possible causes of secondary anal itching?

anal itching caused by a marisca (removed)

Non-idiopathic anal itching has definite pathological causes: it's a real symptom, the nature of which is proctological, related to a specific affection or, at any rate, an altered condition of the anorectal area.

Among the many proctological causes that can lead to anal itching, we must necessarily mention the most common ones:

• Pathological hemorrhoids;
  
• Anal fissure;
  
• Anal abscess and anal fistula;
  
• Anitis and proctitis;
  
• Anal warts;
  
• Diarrhea (acute or chronic);
  
• Fecal incontinence and the open anus

All of these pathological conditions lead, in the long run, to overproduction of mucus and that derivative condition called 'wet anus', which in turn causes maceration of the perianal skin and anal mucosa, thus leading to inflammation and itching.

Anal itching due to dermatitis (an anitis or proctitis) is a very common condition, and statistically results in 20% of total cases of anal itching.

In addition to these more common causes, one must then associate possible bacterial or fungal infections (such as candidiasis), which can often add to an existing condition, aggravating the clinical picture and thus worsening anal itching.

In recent decades, with the advent of cheap, industrially produced and, often, questionable quality intimate cleansers (comparable for little money even in supermarkets) there has been a rapid increase in cases of anal and perianal dermatitis, due to chemical irritation from the very use of these unsuitable cleansers.

This condition is often worsened by the (wrong) habits of many patients, who overdo daily washings causing a thinning of the normal hydrolipid film of the perianal skin, resulting in the onset of dermatitis, and consequently itching.

Also not to be forgotten is the use that some people still make of clothing with synthetic fibers (such as nylon), with colored fabrics or washed with detergents and fabric softeners, which, in predisposed and particularly sensitive individuals, can initiate irritation and dermatitis.

Can certain pathological or temporary conditions promote anal itching?

Yes, there are established cases of diseases or temporary immunodeficiency situations that can promote the onset of anal itching.

Among these, psoriasis for example is a condition that, afflicting essentially the entire skin, can also expand into the peri-anal area, giving rise to itching.

Temporarily immunodeficient conditions, such as patients on long antibiotic treatment who have not supplemented the appropriate milk enzymes during therapy, may manifest an increase in the candida parasite (normally found in our genitals and perianal area), resulting in the onset of candidiasis and subsequent anal itching.

Among occasional bacterial infections, anal itching caused by Corynebacterium minutissimum, Staphylococcal anthrax, Pseudomonas, and Trichomonas are certain.

Genital Herpes Simplex infection can also give frequent episodes of anal itching, as can molluscum contagiosum infection (caused by viruses of the Poxiviridae family).

Regarding idiopathic anal itching, not afferent to any known pathological condition, it is the opinion of the literature to consider this affliction as a psychological disorder, fostered by particular social or family conditions.

What are the symptoms of anal itching?

Anal itching is itself a symptom, manifesting as an overwhelming urge to scratch the anus or peri-anal area.

Often, this violent impulse is also associated with burning and pinprick sensation, which aggravates the disorder.

It is not uncommon for patients suffering from anal itching to experience moments of quiet followed by moments of violent recrudescence, often in direct correlation with the evolution of the pathology that, upstream, is the cause of the anal itching.

What is the diagnosis of anal itching?

The diagnosis of anal pruritus is made by the Proctologist Physician, and requires a perfect history of the patient and an equally perfect etiologic framing.

Given that anal itching is always a symptom of a previous pathology, it is therefore essential for the Physician to understand the origin and nature of this affliction, since resolving the latter will, of course, also resolve the anal itching.

The medical history has to be really thorough: the patient's medical history has to be carefully plumbed, because often, it is where the root of the problem lies.

The patient's diet, lifestyle habits, gastrointestinal activity, whether or not defecation is regular, and previous gynecological, proctological, or even psychiatric illnesses should be carefully weighed.

Information on sexual habits, hygiene habits, the type of underwear worn and the type of towels used for cleaning should also be acquired.

The history is then followed by the proctological examination, with visual inspection of the peri-anal area followed, in the case of female patients, also by gynecological inspection.

The proctologic examination is completed with the Electronic Endoscopic Videoproctoscopy examination where, by means of a proctoscope tube connected to a high-resolution video camera, the Proctologist goes to inspect the entire anorectal canal, looking for lesions or abnormalities triggering anal itching (such as proctitis, pathological hemorrhoids or fissures).

What is the treatment for anal itching?

Therapy for anal itching is directly related to the cause of its origin.

Essentially, therefore, therapy is aimed at solving the root of the problem, since anal itching is, as mentioned, a symptom and never the cause.

While the treatment resolving the origin of itching is implemented, it is still important to keep the anal and peri-anal area clean and dry, giving adequate importance to proper anal hygiene.

Special gentle cleansers should be used, the area should be not rubbed by wiping, but by dabbing with soft pure cotton undyed towels, and too frequent or too aggressive intimate hygiene in general should be avoided.

Cortisone-based soothing ointments should be prescribed only in specific cases, and in any case never for long periods of time.

In severe cases of anal itching that come to affect nighttime sleep, sedatives can be prescribed to allow necessary rest.

However, all of these cautions or prescriptions, it is worth remembering, must be combined with simultaneous resolution of the pathology that is the cause of the anal itching.

In cases of idiopathic anal itching, the treatment of excellence, now used as the first line, is psychological treatment.

This, in very severe cases, can be combined with treatments that essentially destroy the peri-anal nerve ending (on a temporary level), donating valuable time that allows the Psychologist or Psychiatric Physician to investigate the causes of the psycho-somatic disorder.

Which Physician should be referred to in cases of anal itching?

The Physician who specializes precisely in affections of the ano-rectal canal and has deep experience in all diseases that may afflict the anus or peri-anal area is the Proctologist.

It is precisely this Physician who is equipped with not only the right experience but also the right electro-medical equipment suitable for diagnosing the possible causes of anal itching.

A proctological examination performed by a Proctology Physician is therefore the first and necessary step in serially addressing anal itching, and thus embarking on the road to healing.

Are you from Dubai and suffering from anal itching? Contact Dr. Luisella Troyer

Dr. Luisella Troyer is a Proctology Physician who has specialized in diseases affecting the rectum and anus for over 20 years.

At her clinic in Dubai, Dr. Troyer can help you understand the origins of your anal itching, including using state-of-the-art digital instrumentation, such as Electronic Endoscopic Videoproctoscopy.

If you are experiencing uncomfortable anal itching that is severely affecting your quality of life, therefore, call Dr. Luisella Troyer, and schedule a specialized proctological examination now.