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Original poster

Itchy bottom - tried everything

76 replies

Soannoyingititchessobad · 21/02/2025 08:48

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

OP posts:
Original poster
Soannoyingititchessobad · 21/02/2025 12:46

Thanks all! I’m 46. In on HRT - 3 pumps of oestrogen and progesterone for 12 days of the month. I do have a vaginal oestrogen that I have to insert with a syringe but because I haven’t had any problems with vaginal dryness I haven’t been great at using it - do you think it would help with the bottom itching?

OP posts:
Original poster
Soannoyingititchessobad · 21/02/2025 12:47

HouseFullOfChaos · 21/02/2025 08:55

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.

Only once. I could try again. Have given poo sample and all came back clear . Would worms show up on these tests?

OP posts:
Original poster
Soannoyingititchessobad · 21/02/2025 12:48

AmusedBouched · 21/02/2025 09:01

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 might have to give up the coffee to see if it makes a difference. Gonna be a tough one but worth trying

OP posts:
Original poster
Soannoyingititchessobad · 21/02/2025 12:50

FumingTRex · 21/02/2025 09:02

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.

Could be stress. I have a child with SEN. She has an eating disorder, OCD, relies on me for lots of support. Marriage slightly suffering from that, although my husband is good considering how little attention he gets from me because of our daughter

OP posts:
Original poster
Soannoyingititchessobad · 21/02/2025 12:50

Unopenedpackofmenssocks · 21/02/2025 09:07

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!

Thank you, I will try this

OP posts:
Original poster
Soannoyingititchessobad · 21/02/2025 12:52

Sunat45degrees · 21/02/2025 09:13

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.

Yes they looked inside. I did try anusol (forgot to write that in my OP). It felt like it burned and really irritated the skin for a few days which is why I thought it wasn’t piles

OP posts:
Original poster
Soannoyingititchessobad · 21/02/2025 12:53

BedBathAndBeyonce · 21/02/2025 09:23

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

Edited

Would this be different to the vaginal oestrogen I’ve been prescribed to syringe internally 3 times a week

OP posts:
Original poster
Soannoyingititchessobad · 21/02/2025 12:54

Thanks again all. What toilet paper would you recommend please?

OP posts:
WaitingForMojo · 21/02/2025 13:06

Have you treated the whole family with ovex, two does two weeks apart? Hot washed all bedding, showers in the morning etc?

Original poster
Soannoyingititchessobad · 21/02/2025 13:07

WaitingForMojo · 21/02/2025 13:06

Have you treated the whole family with ovex, two does two weeks apart? Hot washed all bedding, showers in the morning etc?

I haven’t but no one else has any itching. My kids are teens so not the usual little kid in nursery worms that my so did have when he was little!

OP posts:
Mischance · 21/02/2025 13:31

Have you tried not using any soap or shower gel on that region? Just water.

I too think that washing it twice a day in the shower is too much.

BedBathAndBeyonce · 21/02/2025 14:16

Soannoyingititchessobad · 21/02/2025 12:46

Thanks all! I’m 46. In on HRT - 3 pumps of oestrogen and progesterone for 12 days of the month. I do have a vaginal oestrogen that I have to insert with a syringe but because I haven’t had any problems with vaginal dryness I haven’t been great at using it - do you think it would help with the bottom itching?

OP if you’ve got it, blooming well try it! Think you use daily initially then can switch to a few times a week. Honestly—try it externally over the whole area, front to back (why is my ridiculous brain singing “from sea to shining seeeea” as I type this Hmm)

Bloop1986 · 21/02/2025 14:59

Soannoyingititchessobad · 21/02/2025 08:48

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

What type of underwear do you wear? I find synthetic underwear drives my skin mad so i stick to loose cotton underwear normally ones that dont have any added pattern that may have dye in them

Sunat45degrees · 21/02/2025 15:04

Anusol always burns at forst I find - especially when it's at its worst. Usually feels better after a fre minutes and with regular application burning stops..

OneCoralHare · 21/02/2025 15:04

Try timodene cream.

Original poster
Soannoyingititchessobad · 21/02/2025 15:27

OneCoralHare · 21/02/2025 15:04

Try timodene cream.

Thank you I haven’t seen this one

OP posts:
Original poster
Soannoyingititchessobad · 21/02/2025 15:28

Sunat45degrees · 21/02/2025 15:04

Anusol always burns at forst I find - especially when it's at its worst. Usually feels better after a fre minutes and with regular application burning stops..

It made the skin so sore and dry for a few days

OP posts:
Original poster
Soannoyingititchessobad · 21/02/2025 15:30

Bloop1986 · 21/02/2025 14:59

What type of underwear do you wear? I find synthetic underwear drives my skin mad so i stick to loose cotton underwear normally ones that dont have any added pattern that may have dye in them

Show quote history

Not cotton. I should change. Good point

OP posts:
singswithitsfingers · 21/02/2025 15:32

I found aloe Vera gel useful.

StartleBright · 21/02/2025 15:39

It's the worst. Had similar symptoms . Saw three different specialists and my GP twice and they were clueless. Finally I saw a worm. Took de- worming tablets (mebendazole? Sold as vermox maybe...) and it was relief in 24 hours (after 18 months of pain, as worms had set up an inflammatory response that caused me to friction burn every time I walked fast...)
There was possibly a bit of a psychological response as I every time I twitched for the next 6 months I imagined the worms were back. I think the inflammation lingered (and I am peri now, which none of the specialists even considered as contributing to the pain 🙄 - and now use sudocrem after I work out or do a long walk to prevent the 'friction burn' feeling. If it's good enough for babies it will work for my tush.

User7288339 · 21/02/2025 15:41

Is the itchiness worse in the evening/night?

I have often thought it was something else- thrush, piles (and I think the piles do seem to get larger but I think that's as a result of itching) and every time mine has been worms as I've either spotted them 🙈 and/or tablets has sorted it out.

Sometimes they've been very persistent and I've had to take two doses about 4 days apart to properly get rid.

Now every time I feel the slightest itching starting I go straight for the worm tablets. Seems to be every 2-3 months or so so clearly in our house we don't quite get rid of them.

Aloeveraplants · 21/02/2025 15:58

User7288339 · 21/02/2025 15:41

Is the itchiness worse in the evening/night?

I have often thought it was something else- thrush, piles (and I think the piles do seem to get larger but I think that's as a result of itching) and every time mine has been worms as I've either spotted them 🙈 and/or tablets has sorted it out.

Sometimes they've been very persistent and I've had to take two doses about 4 days apart to properly get rid.

Now every time I feel the slightest itching starting I go straight for the worm tablets. Seems to be every 2-3 months or so so clearly in our house we don't quite get rid of them.

Do you have pets?

LondonJax · 21/02/2025 15:59

I had this and switched to Panda toilet paper (I now have it on subscription via Amazon as it was not always available in our local supermarket). It's made from bamboo so doesn't 'shred' as much as paper does.

When we had lock down for Covid and everyone went mad on loo paper, I had to take what was available, we had a brand I'd never heard of but the itching stopped. Then I found out on lots of forums that the little fibres from paper can irritate and a few people recommended Panda - so I gave it a try.

I still occasionally get itching and have come to realise it could be coffee related as it only came back after I started drinking more coffee. I'm currently 'tea-ing' all the way to see if that makes any difference.

stepfordwifey · 21/02/2025 17:25

It took me months to get rid of the itching. The pharmacist who sold me worm tablets said just keep taking them as I couldn't seem to stop it. No physical signs although grand kids had worms earlier. It drove me crazy until I took a double dose rather than a single tablet. (Boots own). A combination of sudocrem, anusol and 2 tablet doses finally stopped it. The relief was unbelievable. No problems since.

AlteredStater · 21/02/2025 17:32

Are you eating any foods that are high in oxalate? I expect you won't know what they are. Here's a sample:

Spinach, nuts, wheat, potatoes, rhubarb, beetroot, soy, dark chocolate, quinoa. Green 'smoothies'.

There are a lists available online of the highest oxalate foods. You might think everyone eats from those foods, yes, but not everyone's body starts to fail to deal with the oxalate. I developed problems a few years ago and began to get symptoms, one of which was that itching you describe. It varies between people how they 'dump' the oxalate from their body.

It's worth considering at any rate, since you have come up with no solution as yet.

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