Does Your Anus Burn?

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A fairly common problem we all must have experienced is a burning sensation in the anus while having a bowel movement or after having one.

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If this is happens once in a while, it is generally not a problem; however, if this burning sensation is accompanied by bleeding from the rectum, blood in the stool or mucus in the stool along with chronic constipation or diarrhea, you need to see a doctor.

The anus is the end of the GI (gastrointestinal) tract where it opens to the outside. It begins at the end of the rectum, which is the last part of the large intestine.

If you experience a burning sensation here, it is usually because you have some kind of problem with your stomach and intestinal tract. We will now talk about some of the most common causes of anal burning in detail:

Spicy Foods

The chemicals such as capsaicin found in chillies irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa and set up inflammation, which results in redness and irritation of the mucosa of the anus. The burning sensation may start when a bowel movement is over and may last for some time later. This may also contribute to diarrhea.

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Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids, also known as piles, stem from a weakness or swelling of the rectal veins. These may cause rectal bleeding along with burning and itching. They are made worse by having a bowel movement, but tend to last throughout the day. Hemorrhoids can be internal or external. When they are external, they are palpable at the opening of the anus, but when they are internal, you cannot feel them.

Anal Fissures

These are small tears in the mucosal lining of the anus that occur due to chronic diarrhea or constipation. The pain and burning are usually made worse by a bowel movement and can last for a while after one too. Rectal bleeding and itching of the anus may also be seen. Anal fissures may bleed even when you are not having a bowel movement and there may be some pain as well.

Anal Itching

Pruritis ani or anal itching is often caused by certain foods, skin diseases, and infectious conditions. Repeated scratching of the anus due to itching may lead to burning and is often aggravated after a bowel movement. Anal itching and burning is a common symptom with pinworms, an intestinal parasite. Additional symptoms may include abdominal discomfort and pain. Still, some people with pinworms show no signs or symptoms. The treatment involves oral anti-parasite medications.

Diarrhea

Frequent passage of watery stools along with frequent wiping of the area can cause irritation and anal discomfort.

Constipation

Hard, infrequent, or difficult-to-pass stools can result in anal pain even when they do not cause a fissure or hemorrhoid.

Bowel Problems

A number of diseases that affect the colon, rectum and anus can cause a burning sensation. Conditions like inflammation or ulceration of the bowel lining may also cause a number of other symptoms like rectal bleeding, pelvic and/or abdominal pain, mucus in the stool and abnormal bowel movements like diarrhea or constipation.

Bad Hygiene

If you don't wipe very well or bathe often, this may become a cause for irritation of the mucosa of the anus due to residual fecal matter and bacteria from the bowel.

Incontinence of Stool

If you suffer from an impaired control of your bowels, a small bit of the liquid stool or an entire bowel movement can go through the anus without your control. Hence burning and itching may be caused from fecal matter that isn't wiped away from the anus because the individual isn't aware of it happening.

Skin Diseases

Some skin diseases such as a pilonidal cyst, eczema, psoriasis, and seborrheic dermatitis, may also cause burning sensation in the anus. These skin diseases can affect the anus just as much as it can affect the skin anywhere else.

Infections

STDs such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, or genital herpes, infestation by intestinal parasites, candida species, tinea corporis, tinea cruris and streptococcal dermatitis may all cause itching and burning in the anus.

Proctalgia Fugax

When you have this condition, you have a sharp pain occurring inside the anus that lasts for a few seconds to upto half an hour. There is no pain between the attacks. The pain can be so severe that you get a headache, suffer from dizziness, or wake up from sleep. People who have this condition only have 5-6 attacks every year and may have rectal urgency without any result on trying to have one.

Analyzing a condition is the first step in treating it. So this information is surely going to help you find a cool solution for the heat at your bottom.

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