In a small minority of people, bad hygiene can undoubtedly lead to pruritus ani. However, a good surgeon will always have a high level of suspicion that an underlying cause has been missed. When no definite cause of pruritus ani can be found in a patient who has been fully investigated by colonoscopy, examination under anaesthesia of the anorectum, and biopsy of the skin, the condition is labelled as idiopathic. Luckily, there is every chance that pruritus ani will improve if the patient sees a specialist who checks carefully for a secondary cause. However, the leak does occur and perpetuates the itch. ![]() This leak may be so small that it goes unnoticed by the patient when cleaning the area or when it is on their underwear. With all these conditions, faeces may leak from the anus onto the skin outside, causing irritation. All of these conditions are made worse if the person’s bowel motions are looser. These range from serious conditions such as cancer of the bowel through to haemorrhoids, anal fissures, a weak anal sphincter, and internal rectal prolapse. Unfortunately, no specific dietary advice can be given to any individual patient, other than to see what happens when they avoid particular foods.Īny medical condition affecting the lower bowel, anus, and the surrounding skin can cause itchiness in the anal area. In some people, a particular food item may be associated with pruritus ani, possibly because it makes their stools looser. People who are prone to atopic dermatitis may be at increased risk of pruritus ani. Sometimes a skin biopsy is needed to make the diagnosis. However, the appearance of the affected skin around the anus may not necessarily look like the skin areas affected by the same condition on other parts of the body. Looking at the medical literature published over the past century, approximately 100 conditions have been reported to be associated with pruritus ani.Īny skin condition that causes itching, such as eczema or psoriasis, can affect the skin around the anus and cause pruritus ani just as easily as it can cause itching elsewhere on the body. Some surgeons believe that nearly all cases are secondary to another disorder and that the closer they look, the more likely an underlying cause will be found. Most studies suggest an underlying cause in half to three quarters of people with pruritus ani. However, there is recent research suggesting pruritus ani that is initially secondary to another condition causes changes in the nervous system that lead to the itch becoming permanent, even though the original cause of the itch has disappeared. Traditionally, pruritus ani has been thought of as a symptom rather than as a condition in itself. If no abnormality can be found in these areas, then the pruritus ani is considered to be primary (or idiopathic, meaning “no known cause”). If a condition is found in the lower bowel, anus, or on the skin surrounding the anus that is suspected to lead to anal itching, pruritus ani is classified as secondary to that condition. Pruritus ani can be classified as secondary or primary. There is no obvious reason why this should be the case, and more research is needed to look into this. It occurs more often in men, with some research suggesting that men are up to four times more likely than women to develop the condition. Pruritus ani can occur at any age, but seems to be more common in people aged 40–60 years. It can be minor and go away of its own accord or be so severe and long-lasting that it can have a severe impact on the life of its sufferers. 22, 2022.Pruritus ani is the medical term for any itch in or around the anal area (from the Latin words pruritus, meaning “itch” and ani, meaning “of the anus”). Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. ![]() In: 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. In: Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. ![]() In: Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology. Often the cause of anal itching isn't known. These include diabetes, thyroid disease and hemorrhoids. Sometimes anal itching is the result of a specific skin condition, such as dry skin, psoriasis or contact dermatitis. These include sexually transmitted infections, pinworm infections and yeast infections. Examples include using harsh soaps or wiping too hard and too often. Or your skin care routine may include products or behaviors that irritate the skin. Fecal incontinence and long-term diarrhea can irritate the skin.
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