Anal Itching

Home Remedies for Anal Itching

Petroleum Jelly: This is the quickest way to pacify itching, and is widely accepted by leading gastroenterologists. However, this is not reliable for a permanent relief. When you have a flare up of irritation, apply the petroleum jelly carefully to the area and experience almost immediate relief. This will create a lubricated layer between the cheeks of your buttocks, which will reduce friction and irritation, and will create a cooling sensation for the feeling of burning that often accompanies anal itching.

Wipe Yourself Cleanly:  If you only wipe your anus after bowel movements, the skin can become delicate and it may lead to irritation, so regularly wipe the area to build up tougher skin. After a bowel movement, make sure that there are traces of stool on the toilet paper. If you don’t wipe yourself well, it may lead to severe itching and reddening of the anus. Also, leaving any fecal matter on the skin can result in infection or bad odor. A good tip is to wipe yourself after showering as well as after bowel movements, to build up the toughness or durability of that sensitive skin so it is less prone to inflammation.

Stress Control:  Relieving or managing your stress is one of the best and easiest ways to overcome anal itching. It not only relieves you from itching, but also gives you mental rest. Stress and chronic anxiety can affect the hormones all over your body, which can impact your nerve endings in a variety of ways. Although the exact mechanism of stress in terms of anal itching is not necessarily known, the two have been indirectly associated.

Use Damp Toilet Paper: It is not possible to clean off all of the stool after a bowel movement with dry toilet paper. Dampen it slightly before you use it to clean your anal area. Many times, there will be some sticky stool residue remaining in the area that may not get cleaned off, even though you have wiped it multiple times. In such cases, damp toilet paper is far better and effectively reduces the chances of developing anal itching. After using damp toilet paper, however, be sure to wipe a final time with dry paper to reduce excess moisture in the area that will remain behind, since that can be another cause of anal itching.

Dry your Bottom Well: Always make sure that you dry your bottom well. A wet bottom can also irritate the anus. You can also use baby powder to keep it dry, or even dry it with a throwaway cotton ball. A wet bottom may lead to skin irritation, which will soon result in anal itching.

Wear Underclothes: The layer of fabric between the harsher material of your pants and your anal area is important. Underwear is designed to be soft and non-irritating, so be sure to always wear this item of clothing to reduce the chances of developing anal itching.

Diet Control: If you are suffering from anal itching, you should avoid soda, liquor, beer, and beverages rich in Vitamin-C. You should also skip over spicy foods and those also high in vitamin-C content. Avoid them for at least two weeks, and then reintroduce these food items gradually. If and when you start consuming those foods again, pay attention to what may cause any new itching according to what you’ve recently eaten or drunk. If you find that one specific food seems to result in a flare up, you may have a slight allergy to it, and you can be aware in the future of eating that food, or at least take precautions against it when you do consume it.

Avoid Scratching: Itching and scratching will only exacerbate the condition, so avoid this at all costs, despite the temporary relief that this can cause. Sitting on a cold compress or taking a cold shower to rinse the area thoroughly is often a good way to relieve the inflammation that leads to that undeniable itchy sensation.

Keep Moving: Constant pressure on the area can result in a natural build-up of moisture or sweat in the anal area, and when combined with the pressure of sitting for hours at a time, it can cause clothes to stick to the area and the skin can become inflamed or irritated. If you have a sedentary lifestyle, get up every few hours to walk around, move the area around so the skin near the anal area can get more blood flow to it, and also take this opportunity to wipe yourself dry in the bathroom.