Pruritus  Ani

I.          Definition:
 
Pruritus ani is a chronic itching of the skin around the anus.  The skin of the perirectal area is exposed to irritating digestive products in the stool; this may lead to an itchy rash, especially when stools are frequent.  Often the rash is worsened by vigorous use of toilet tissue or scrubbing with soap and water.
 
 
II.          Causes:

• Anal itching is usually an isolated skin complaint in otherwise healthy people, but in some it's part of a disorder involving other areas of the skin.  Whether pruritus ani is an isolated problem or part of another skin disorder, irritation from stools and from cleansing after bowel movements keeps the rash going. 

 

• You may find that alcohol, coffee, tea and spicy foods make pruritus ani worse.  These foods irritate the digestive tract and increase the number of stools or amount of mucus secreted from the rectum.

 

• Pruritus ani usually occurs in men.  The reason is unknown.

 
 
III.          Treatment:
 
·           Treatment is intended to reduce irritation of the anal skin.  Careful, thorough, gentle cleansing after bowel movements is very important.  Moisten toilet paper with lukewarm water, as dry toilet paper doesn't cleanse as well as wet and also irritates your skin.
 
·           Never use soap on the anal area.  Cleansing with plain water, in either the shower or bathtub, will do the job.
 
·           Pruritus ani is frequently stubborn and requires months of local medication and gentle skin care. 
 
·           Some people need to continue the medication once or twice daily indefinitely since the itching returns whenever they stop.