Perineal/Anal Irritation, burning, itching, mostly after a bowel movement - Part 2

29/male with same issue as most others... approx 3 months. I am not a doctor and not responsible for anyone's treatment, but what finally has given me relief and a dramatic reduction in inflammation and itch is the following:

1. Gentle warm water only cleaning in the morning shower.

2. (After thoroughly cleaning finger and under the nail) Applying vaseline (generic petroleum jelly) to my anus and lower rectum in the morning before any bowel movement.

3. Non-alcohol baby wipes to clean up a daily, fiber supplemented BM. Pat dry with paper.

4. Using cotton swabs dampened with Bactine (used to soothe and disinfect cuts/burns) antibacterial solution a short while after BM, gently swabbing outside and just inside.

5. Applying a medicated butt cream of choice in the evening before bed.

My philosophy after being so fed up with this was keeping my skin as protected and then as clean as possible during the whole poop process so my body could heal itself, and it seems to be working wonders. I imagined if I had some kind of burn on my butt and rubbed it with a mixture of feces and medication every day, it probably wouldn't heal either! Best of luck to you.

This is the writeup I brought with me to my doctor's visit -- UPDATE is at the bottom!!!!

I'm a 45 year old male - healthy, active, 6' tall 180 lbs and in good shape.

Symptoms: Itching and burning that started around the anus and spread to my buttocks and then to the perineum.

The itching and burning started about 4 - 5 months ago and I thought I just had a hemorrhoid, as I've had occasional bouts (minor) with them over the years but they always went away without use of medicine, but this happened maybe 3x/year. About a 3 months ago the burning sensation appeared on my buttocks but only near the crack. It had a red coloration and reminded me of a diaper rash. I figured it was a jock itch type of condition so I treated with over the counter liquid Lotromin but this did not help so I switched to Oxistat Cream 1% but this was too gooey and then for the past few weeks Naftin 1% Gel. (I had both of these for an athlete's foot condition) None of these anti-fungal medications have done any good, the only one that seems to stop the itching temporarily is the Naftin and I think this is because the alcohol content in the Gel.

 I got to the point where I would wash the area with baby shampoo after every BM, blot dry OR use a hair dryer to dry the area. I don't know If I did more harm than good by trying to rub or cleanse the area more thoroughly, which only seemed to contribute to the condition. Then I apply the Anti-fungal and I even put an anti fungal powder on.....this hasn't seemed to help.

 My savior from the intense itching is the Children's Benedryl Gel. It is essentially alcohol and Camphor, burns like hell when you apply but as soon as you get your breath back you have3-4 hours of relief.

 The itching outbreaks do not normally occur during the day but I may have an occasional “itch” during the day......but the itching is MUCH worse at night. It almost feels like something is crawling around my anus area accompanied by the almost instantaneous itching. I thought it might be pinworms so about 2 months ago I used an over the counter Pinworm medication (Reese's) and 2 weeks after that I followed up with another dose. I have self examined for pinworms at night and did not see any, I also tried the scotch tape method as soon as the itching started at night but there was no evidence of the pinworms.

 No blood in stool or pain with my BM's....only an occasional trace if I just intensely itched an area and broke skin but this does not occur often.

A have also been taking 4tsp of Children's Liquid Benedryl before I go to sleep but this hasn't helped much.

Scratching gives an instant relief, but it has only made thing worse. My sleep has been negatively effected and I've been getting up 2-3 times a night.

UPDATE:  So last week I FINALLY go to the Doctor.  He examines me and thinks I have damaged the skin by over washing, using alcohol based products on the area, possible internal hemorrhoids and or a persistent fungal infection.  He prescribes Anusol Hydro-cortisone Acetate 25mg suppositories (2x day), fluconazole tab 200mg (1x day), and hydroxyzine tab 50mg (up to 3x day as needed for itching).  He also instructed me to STOP washing the area with ANY soap, DO NOT use alcohol based OTC remedies and TO use BALNEOL lotion to wipe and leave a coating of this stuff on all areas that itched....After a week I am seeing very positive results.  So what is the culprit? I'm thinking it started out as hemorrhoids, I aggravated the area by itching and then further aggravated by use of  alcohol based  "remedies".  I am almost itch free now.  It has been hell for the past 3 months.  I'll keep you posted for any new occurrences.

   

Boudreaux's Butt Paste seems to work the best for me. I have both a minor anal fissure and hemmorhoids, and until I found this product the pain used to last for hours after my BM. Thorough cleansing, combined with the butt paste seems to do the trick.

I had very similar symptoms and seeked medical help for 4.5 months before I found an answer. No gynecologist seemed to be able to help me so I went and saw a dermatologist and was sure glad I did. I ended up having vaginal and perianal strep. The doctor swabbed and cultured the area and three days later I got a call saying I had strep. He said it is very rare in adults and usually is only seen in babies. If anyone else is reading this and having similar issues please see a doctor about strep and don't let them convince you it's not worth looking for just because it is rare. My symptoms were cleared up after 10 days of amoxicillin. I hope this helps someone.

I had tried everything suggested in your posts. Doctors had me trying various other prescription remedies.

I did get some relief with frequent showers with no soap. Also, as someone else suggested, menthol. I used spray Gold Bond Triple Action antiseptic, pain reliever and itch reliever. It stung for about 30 sec.  Lasted long enough to get to sleep.The key (for me) was SPRAY. anything that I had to apply and spread around with my finger.. just didnt do it.

My savior was a gynecologist who tested the tissue for cancer. I had the highest level (I dont remember how the rating system worked. ) It was non-invasive, or what is now called pre-cancerous cells. Not sure what that means exactly, but skin on perineal area was removed by surgery. Required a second surgery using cold laser. That was because the tissue too close to my sphincter couldnt be removed without composing bowel movement.

It is surmised to be caused by the HPV virus. Young men and women need to get the vaccination! It wasnt available when I was young.  Unfortunately, the doctors use the wait and see method because it is slow growing. Never mind the pain and irritation. SHEESH.

Good Luck to everyone. Hope you find a good doctor (mine told me to stop being such a baby.)

 

 

Guys i m going through all wat ur going through but ive found grt relief by following

1. Sitting less and less pressure on ur bum.

2. Take a round bucket put 1/4th water in it and 1tsp betadine lotion in it,, Sit in it for 20 min exposing ur bum and messaging it .Do it 2 to 3 times a day,I gurantee ull feel better!

 

Thanks!

 

Hi fellow Scratchers... :) Had to put a little humor in this subject.

I am happy to hear there are more people with the same issues.  I have a little different story for you all.  in the beginning of December (2012) I developed a ring on my side and figured it was ring worm and went to one hospital and they said yes it was, gave me ointment and sent me on my way. It spread, I went to another hospital and that doctor put me on anti-fungal meds and a different ointment.  It got even worse...there were about 200 spots all over the front and back of my body and my arms and was starting to spread to my neck and on its ways down! Finally got into my primary doc and she said, it looks like ringworm AND psoriasis. 4th visit was to a dermatologist and she said I never had ringworm! Its a psoriasis break out from something internal. Blood test showed a Strep antibody , now im on an antibiotic and acidopholis . The itching started before i started the antiboitic but it is only getting worse. Everything is swollen now and i do have hemroids that popped out. I can feel something round and swollen near my vagina but mostly under the "lip" on just one side. I'm very nervous about that. Not sure if anyone else has had that happen. Discharge is really not bad and my BM are fine. Its not painful, just itches right after i use the bathroom. the itching is intense. I do not have multiple sexual partners and I am lesbian so the chances are slim to none to catch anything. I'm so confused and with all the mis diagnoses, im scared. Any suggestions? besides find a doctor who knows what they are doing?

Sincerely,

Scratch addict!

 

I use a product called Analcare. So far it is having good effects. At last I can sleep at night, what I like about it is seems to last for ages. It is a cream that they claim is 99% natural. I ordered it online via their website, if like me you have tried everything else give this a go. What attracted me to it was they offer your money back if it is not for you. Thanks and hope it works for you too :)

Did this help? Could you please advise? Thank you.

Hello,

I am really young for having any type of problem like this.  29 years old, a female.  At the end of December I started having a very itchy anal area, not internal just the outermost area.  Then over the next month and a half the itchy became so bad that it created pain and serious discomfort to the point my only relief was preparation H.  I have finally realized that this problem was completely caused by using the Cottonelle bathroom wipes regularly.  I have very regular bm's, always once a day, sometimes twice.  Thereform I use tons of the wipes.  To give you perspective I purchase them in bulk from Costco.  I have been using the wipes religiously since this past fall, I now have them supplied at work and in my purse.  It took me awhile to put it together because I am a very simple person and don't typically fall into the the mass consumerism trap of eating regular junk food, eating out, using perfumes, etc etc.  But then I realized because it started out as simple dryness and itching that it had to have been something topical or friction to my outer area.  Well now it is starting to bother internally but less than an itch b/c I literally stick those wipes up my butt to make sure i am utterly clean daily.  It is no doubt the wipes.  Now when possible I am trying to use a wash rag and water so that there is less irritation but that is rarely possible since I am constantly on the go.  Guaranteed it is definitely the COTTONELLE WIPES CAUSING THIS PROBLEM.

My wife and I had been buying the Kirkland brand toilet paper for several years. One day she said she would prefer the more expensive Charmin Costco sells and since we were both making a good salary I thought "why not?" Over a period of time my rectal itching and bleeding got worse and worse. I would treat it with Preparation H and a "butt paste" mixture of Rx ointment and diaper rash cream that I got from my GP. These would alleviate the symptoms temporarily but they would always come back. After I lost my job we decided to switch back to the cheaper Kirkland brand and within ONE DAY my symptoms disappeared and I have not had any trouble since. "PooPoo" on Charmin I say.

So i got an anal fistula a few months ago, which is basically an irritated part inside your anus/colon that burrows a tunnel clear through to the inside of your vaginal canal or to the outside of your body. It's not uncommon, not really that big a deal though it can be, and the surgeries can help but can also lead to some degree of incontinence later (ie, pooping your pants, or at least difficulty keeping all of it in). I've had no surgery, and dealt with my fistula after seeing an herbalist who recommended myrrh oil in a calendula salve. it worked, and i continue to just put myrrh oil directly on it with great results. Somewhere along the way I started to develop a perineum inflammation. it's just the perineum (the ridge of skin that's a little darker directly underneath the body) and it seems to just come and go. I've started putting tea tree oil on it, and just make sure to take regular showers, and the condition seems to disappear. It crossed my mind that perhaps it is fungal or bacterial, such as perhaps a staph infection. tea tree is both antibiotic, antimicrobial and antifungal, so that would make sense. But perhaps if your bowel movements are somewhat thin and ropy, and you often have the urge to go but with small movements that are covered in mucus, throw anal fistula into the mixture of possibilities.

Lately after I poop it feels like poop is coming out still a good hour afterwards. So bad that I go and check but nothing. It's been burning like hell and I'm scared to sweat in fear of an odor. Ive never had this problem but it's lasted a week. I'm actually bathing just to relieve the pain. I'm also having to use a lot of toilet paper lately. This sucks.

Has anyone with the Britta filter theory had any success after you stopped using them?  I've had the itchy/raw symptoms for over two years now and have tried so many different things to try to remedy this that I've lost track.  Ironically, it was a little over two years ago that I started using a Brita filter, and when the discomfort started every doctor told me to drink more water... so I did, and always from the Brita filter.  Like a lot of us on this post, you become pretty pessimistic that a treatment will work after you've tried so many other things that didn't work, but I'm willing to give this a shot for sure!

I have been using the Cottonelle wipes for over 5 years. My problem started in the last 6 months. I linked it to the dust in the toilet paper. I usually buy the cheap toilet paper (like Angel Soft, which is quite "scratchy") because I don't use too much of it for a bowel movement as I used the Cottonelle wipes. At my boyfriend's insistence that we get some "soft" toilet paper, I bought the Charmin toilet paper, which I had never used. The dust it creates just being in the bathroom is unbelievable. Think of all of those pieces of paper dust on your bottom and anal area and then add the dampness from the wipes -- sorry to be so descriptive here, but the dust got into the pores of my skin and caused the itching. Once I stopped using the Charmin and went back to other toilet paper, I was fine. I really don't think it is the Cottonelle wipes as I am stil using them and my probleml has cleared up. Perhaps it is different for everyone, though. Whatever the cause is, good luck to everyone. I know how miserable it is.