Anal itching

See also: vaginal itching - itching in pregnancy (hemorrhoids, anal fissures, rectal prolapse, diarrhea, anal fistulas, anitis, papillitis),

infectious (genital herpes, anorectal gonorrhea, candidiasis, oxyuriasis, trichomoniasis, syphilis)

dermatological (dermatitis caused by drugs applied locally or taken systemically, from contact with particular clothing or contraceptive means, use of too aggressive detergents or too rough toilet paper, mechanical irritation caused by work or sports activities, such as cycling or horse riding, poor hygiene, excessive sweating and local stagnation of sweat).

thorough (use of special drugs and ointments, previous illnesses, work, sports, sexual activities ...) followed by a "thorough general, dermatological, gynecological and proctological examination.

The clinical examination provides the doctor with valuable clues as to the nature of the itch (location, extent and characteristics of the lesions, where these are present), but it is often necessary to resort to laboratory tests on secretions, skin fragments, stool samples and / or blood samples.

, helping - in the presence of constipation - with a diet rich in fiber (cereals, wholemeal, fresh fruit and vegetables) and regular physical activity; if it is suspected that anal itching is caused by a food allergy, an exclusion diet is used;

accurate intimate hygiene, to be carried out with warm water and particularly delicate detergents (alternatively, it is better to use only your hands), drying by tamponing with a soft towel and not by rubbing; the toilet paper must be particularly soft, alternatively use water lukewarm;

the control of the urge to scratch, which must be ignored as much as possible or resolved by lightly pinching the skin through clothing (scratching causes the cells to break and the consequent release of substances that aggravate anal itching);

the choice of underwear, which must be loose and breathable (made of cotton).

If at the end of the various diagnostic investigations the anal itch is not attributable to a specific cause, and the indications just reported are ineffective, it is legitimate to hypothesize the psychological nature of the disorder, which as such must be treated with an appropriate psychotherapeutic path.