Due to irritation of the skin around the anus accompanied by a desire to scratch.
Anal itching intensity increases with moisture, pressure, and sitting.
May be associated with bleeding.
Causes include: hemorrhoids, anal fissures, skin diseases, pinworms, foods, medications, and other diseases or conditions.
Additional symptoms associated with anal itching include burning, pain, bleeding if the anal skin is traumatized by scratching.
The diagnosis requires examination of the anus for hemorrhoids or fissures, skin diseases such as psoriasis or cancer, infectious diseases such as pinworms or yeast, and leakage of stool.
Treatment depends on the cause.
May be a reaction to chemicals in the stool, but it often implies that there is inflammation of the anal area.
The amount of inflammation increases from the direct trauma of scratching and the presence of moisture.
Irritant chemicals in food are found in spices, hot sauces, and peppers.
Irritation from continuous moisture in the anus can be caused by frequent liquid stools, diarrhea, or incontinence.
Moisture also increases the risk of infections of the anus, especially yeast, and particularly in patients with diabetes or HIV.
Antibiotic exposure can lead to a yeast infection and irritation of the anus.
Psoriasis can irritate the anus and cause itching.
Fistulae from the small intestine or colon to the skin surrounding the anus can form as a result of inflammatory disease bringing irritating fluids to the anal area.
Other problems that can cause anal itching include:
pinworms,
hemorrhoids
fissures
skin tags