Itchy bottom - tried everything

[Soannoyingititchessobad]

I’ve been to the doctors 3 times about this, pharmacist once and googled it 100s of times. This is a sort of last resort to see if anyone has any advice from a similar experience.

for the last 3 years I have had the most itchy anus. It’s driving me mad! 2 different GPs have looked. First, when I was only 1 year or so in to the itchiness said the area looked really healthy. 2nd (2.5 years into itchiness) said she could see a small skin flap. I had also see this and it’s quite new but I think it’s because of all the itching. She gave me and anti fungal cream to try. It helps for a few hours and itching starts again so I don’t think it’s fungal as surely it would go away?

I have tried:

• sudocrem
• aqueous cream
• the honey and olive oil moisturiser recommended by menopause book I read
• aloe Vera gel
• witchhazel
• worming tablets

i have massively reduced my alcohol intake as thought that could be irritating it. I do drink coffee but not all day.

i don’t use any scented shower gels - have tried the dry skin washes, aveeno etc.

i am clean - generally shower twice a day and if I feel I need it I wash after a bowel movement

i look in mirror regularly and I do agree with the doctor- it does generally look healthy. No white patches or obviously irritated skin.

help!

thanks so much

Over washing? I was suffering with utis so was washing twice a day plus before and after sex and ended up so itchy and sore. I’d wash once a day personally and use wet wipes after a bowel movement. Plus moisturiser before bed such as diprobase ointment.

id also re try ovex, one dose two weeks apart.

How many times have you tried the worming tablets? And how spaced apart did you take them? I had what I now believe was recurring worms, I tried everything and there was no physical evidence of them, the Dr said there was no sign of piles or worms multiple times. After a lot of googling I read that Papaya enzyme kills worm eggs and the worms. I then took Papain (Papaya enzyme) in a strong dose for a couple of weeks and other mix enzymes which also contains Papain. The itching seems to have stopped for the past 6 months. I do occasionally still take it just to be sure nothing is growing in there. It could be worth a try.

I'd try a thrush tablet and the daktarin gold for at least 2 weeks. Look up jock itch, try those treatments.

How old are you?

Have you tried not drinking coffee for a few days? Mine definitely started up at the same time I started drinking coffee. It’s not as bad these days but when it does flare up the only thing that helps me is daktakort, which I suspect your doctor has already made you try for the fungal (but also it may have been more obvious that’s what mine was?)

Sorry you are suffering, it was the bane of my life for years.

I agree its worth trying the worm tablets again, especially if you have young kids. Is it worse at certain times?

Could it be stress? I have had severe itching which I think was due to stress, both on my back and my vulva. The back was treated with strong antihistamines at one point which stopped it. The dr explained you can get into a cycle where you release histamine because you are stressed , you start scratching, you release more histamine.

Hi OP. I had this and the only thing that worked was steroid cream prescribed by the doctor. It worked like a dream though, really wish I’d got it sooner. I can’t remember which one it was.

I’d suggest buy some 1% hydrocortisone cream or ointment over the counter and see how that goes. Use morning and evening after drying completely, and try hard not to scratch. If it works but the itch comes back when you stop using it, go back to the GP and explain that it worked and can you discuss a prescription.

Good luck, I know how annoying it can be!

I don’t think you would have worms for three years without seeing other signs (?) although it could be a back to back reoccurrence if you’re scratching and not hand washing.

I did wonder if it could be in your head? As I read your posts I thought my arse felt itchy. Like when someone mentions nits.

It was likely the “cort” component of the daktacort that did it. It’s hydrocortisone. (The other component being the anti-fungal).

Haemorrhoids can make your anus itchy, and if they're inside, might not be visible. Did any of the doctors actually lookinside your anus?

Try anusol - I'd suggest the suppositories to start with, but then the cream - making the effort to get it at least a little inside.

I have suffered with haemorrhoids off and on mildly since I had some significant digestive issues 20 years ago, itching is usually the main symptom I experience.

How old are you? Vaginal atrophy can do this and once on the oestrogen pessaries it stops

I agree that a combined antifungal and steroid would be helpful. Canesten with Hydrocortisone or Daktacort. Plus an antifungal pill fluconazole.

Anusol HC (with Hydrocortisone steroid) may also provide relief.

Steroids thin the skin, so should be used according to the instructions - for a week or so.

Have you tried changing your toilet paper? Also I find spicy foods and chilli cause this for me.

This can also happen with prolonged breastfeeding if your hormones drop below a certain level.

There have also been multiple threads on here about scented toilet paper and even papers with things like shea butter that are meant to be gentle/sensitive so worth a search.

I had this too and tried all sorts. The first time I had ointment from the GP but the second time that didn’t work but eventually Anusol 4 way cream did it, apply every single time you go to the loo and avoid over wiping with loo roll.

Another one who would recommend thinking about toilet paper, and that includes the stuff you are provided with at work.

If you’re peri- or menopausal then ask for topical estriol or estradiol to try. Vulva, anus, whole undercarriage. Good luck, it sounds miserable

Raw organic coconut oil works wonders for me. It’s antifungal (particularly against candida), anti microbial and very moisturising. And (unless you’re allergic to coconut) there’s no ill effects, so there’s no harm in trying.

www.nhs.uk/medicines/hydrocortisone-for-piles-and-itchy-bottom/about-hydrocortisone-for-piles-and-itchy-bottom/

Yes I agree - although hydrocortisone on its own would mean the itch would come back after a few days.

mine apparnetly ‘looked’ fungal and if I do start itching again the Daktakort means I don’t get it again for months, maybe up to a year, at a time now.

I had this. It was leakage from a small pile. Anusol sorted it

Have you tried germaloids? It numbs the area and for me broke the pitch/ scratch cycle.

Do you have any other symptoms? Ask them to run full blood tests, could be something underlying like diabetes

I was going to ask this. I heard the other day that this is yet another bizarre perimenopause symptom for some people.

Yes it's the drop in oestrogen that causes it.
Also histamine release sets up the stress/anxiety/ itch/scratch/ itch cycle

It can definitely be caused by anxiety as well