Treatment

Treatment for itchy bottom usually involves following simple self-care measures for a few months. I f necessary, medication may be prescribed to help ease the symptoms.

Self-care for itchy bottom

If you still have an itchy bottomafter two months, or if it returns, you may need to follow this self-careadvice for longer.

Keeping clean and dry

If you have anitchy bottom, you should keep your bottom as clean and dry as possible.

The best way to do this is touse water to gently clean your anus and the surrounding skin. Clean your bottom inthis way after every bowel movementand before going to bed each night.

You canuse soap to clean your bottom, but make sure it's mild andunperfumed soit causes less irritation to your skin. Wash all of the soap away afterwards.

After washing, gentlydry your bottom. Avoid rubbing the area vigorously, as this may irritate yourskin. Instead, gently pat the skin dry using a soft towel. You can also dry your bottomusing a hairdryer on a low heat setting.

When you're away from home, you can use damp toilet paperafter passing stools, before gently patting your bottom dry.

If youhave a tendency tosweat, or ifyour bottom becomes very moist, putting a cotton tissue in your underwear willhelpabsorb the moisture around your anal area.

Other self-care measures

As well as keeping your bottom clean and dry, there are a number of other self-care measures you can undertake. For example, you should:

• use soft toilet tissue
• bath or shower daily
• wear loose-fitting cotton underwear and change it daily
• only put underwear on when your bottom is completely dry
• avoid wearing tight clothing; women should wear stockings instead of tights
• use a light duvet at night soyou don't get too hot
• avoid using scented soaps, bubble bath, perfumes or powders around your anus
• keep your fingernails short to try to keep your skin being damaged from scratching
• wear cotton gloves while sleeping so that you cause less damage to your skin if you scratch

It may be difficult, but you should try to resist the urge toscratch your bottom, as scratching will only make the problem worse.

Diet

Somefoods maymake your itchy bottom worse. Ifthe urge to scratch your bottom is greater after eating certain foods, try cutting them out of your diet completely or reducing the amount you eat.

Foods that may make your itchy bottom worse include:

• tomatoes
• spicy foods
• citrus fruits, such as oranges
• nuts
• chocolate
• dairy products
• coffee
• excessive amounts of liquids, such as milk, beer or wine

Fibre

Your GP may recommend that you follow a diet that keeps your stools regular and well-formed.

This meansyour stoolswon't be loose (runny), but you won't need to strain when you go to the toilet.

Loose stools can irritateyour anus. Straining to passhard stools may cause haemorrhoids (piles) to develop. Piles are swellingsthat contain enlarged and swollen blood vessels in and around your anus.

Including more fibre in your diet will make your stools softer and easier to pass. Fibre can befound in:

• grains such as wholegrain bread
• pulses edible seeds that grow in a pod, such as peas, beans and lentils
• oats which are in some breakfast cereals
• fruit and vegetables

You'll usually have to apply it in themorning andat night, as well asafter eachbowel movement.

Topical corticosteroids

If the skin around your anus issore and inflamed due to Pruritus , your GP may prescribe a mild topical corticosteroid (an ointment that contains steroids). Applying this directly to the affected area will help relieve the inflammation and ease the urge to scratch.

In most cases, using a topical corticosteroid will help ease the itch. However, it can sometimes make theitching worse. Speak to your GP immediately if your itchy bottom gets worse after using topical corticosteroids.

Antihistamines

If your sleep is disturbed duetoitching at night, using an antihistamine may help.

Antihistamines are medicines that work by counteracting the action of histamine (a chemical released during an allergic reaction). Some antihistamines also have a sedating effect (they make you drowsy).

Your GPmay prescribechlorphenamine or hydroxyzine. These should be taken at night and shouldn't be used for longer than two weeks, because after this time the sedating effect may no longer work.

You need to be aware that sedating antihistamines can affect your ability to drive or operate machinery, andthe sedating effect may be stronger if you drink alcohol .

Treating an underlying cause

When diagnosing itchy bottom,your GP will try to determine an underlying cause.

If they identify the cause, such as a bacterial infection or skin condition, itwill also need to be treatedfor your itchy bottom to be properly managed.

For example, a bacterial infection may need to be treated with antibiotics . If the underlying cause is left untreated, your itchy bottom may return.

An itchy bottomin children is often caused by worms. If treatment for worms is recommended, other family members with the same symptom should also be treated.

Further treatment

Go back to your GP if your itchy bottom doesn't improve afterfollowing self-care measures, such as keeping your bottom clean and dry, and using medication to provide relief from the itching.

Your GP may then refer you to a dermatologist (a specialist in treating skin conditions) or a colorectal surgeon (who specialises in conditions that affect the large intestine and anus).