Anal itching, also called pruritus ani, is a sensation of itching and irritation around the anus. Anal itching is a symptom, not a disease and can have several causes. In most cases, the person with anal itch is not a disease of the anus or the rectum. However, the sensation of itching is a sign that one or more of the following factors have irritated the skin of the area:

- Fecal matter in the skin around the anal opening: the anal area if not properly cleaned after defecation, may be a small amount of stool in the skin. This causes itching. Less commonly, liquid stool can seep through the opening of the anus and cause itching. Sometimes this happens in healthy people whose diets include large amounts of liquid.

- Diets containing foods or beverages that irritate the anus: A lot of foods and drinks can irritate the anus. These include spices and spicy foods, coffee (caffeinated and decaffeinated), tea, cola drinks, milk, alcoholic beverages (especially beer and wine), chocolate, citrus, tablets Vitamin C and tomatoes. When a person eats or drinks something that can irritate the anus, usually takes 24 to 36 hours before it begins to feel the anal itching. Is the time it takes food to pass through the digestive tract.

- Treatment with antibiotics: Some powerful antibiotics that act against different bacterial species can cause anal itching and affect the normal bowel flora. These drugs are called broad spectrum antibiotics include tetracycline and erythromycin.

- Local irritation or allergy on the skin of the anal area by the use of chemicals: In sensitive people, chemicals and medications administered in the anal area can cause local irritation or allergic reactions. Some major culprits include dyes and perfumes used in toilet paper (especially scented toilet paper), feminine hygiene sprays and other deodorants for the area around the anus or genitals, medicated powders and cleaners skin and medicated soaps, especially perfumed soaps. Anal itching can also occur by counter medications (suppositories, creams, ointments) used to treat anal problems.

- Intense cleaning after defecation: Although the anal area should be cleaned after each bowel movement, this cleaning must be delicate. Aggressively scrubbing, especially with soaps or skin cleansers, can irritate skin and cause anal itching.

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