Anal Itch
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Itchy anus
Anal itching
Itchy anus at night
Anal pruritus
Anal fissure itch
About the Symptom
Pruritus ani (anal pruritus) descibes an itchy sensation in the area around the anus. It has many possible causes such as skin conditions, excessive washing and hemorrhoids.
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Hematochezia (rectal bleeding)
- Swelling of the affected area
Possible Causes
Generally, Anal itch can be related to:
- Anal Pruritus
This refers to itching on the skin around the anus, where feces is passed.
- Anal Fistula
This condition involves a tunnel forming between the anus and the surrounding skin. Patients are at risk for recurrent infections, often connected to inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's disease.
- Anal Skin Tag
This condition involves small growths of excess skin that can occur around the anus, primarily due to friction, hemorrhoids or anal fissures.
- Anal Fissure
- Anal Cancer
- Rectal Prolapse
- Hemorrhoid
- Anal Varices
- Anal Polyps
Related Serious Diseases
Sometimes, Anal itch may be related to these serious diseases:
- Perianal Abscess
A buildup of pus near the anus, more common in patients with diabetes, obesity, or certain conditions causing gut ulcers.
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Do you have anal itching?
- How long have you had anal itching?
- Have you experienced anal itching before?
- How has the itching of the anal region changed since it started?
Reviewed By:
Samantha Nazareth, MD (Gastroenterology)
Board-certified gastroenterologist. Experience managing gastrointestinal conditions (GERD, IBS, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s, celiac disease, NASH) within healthcare organizations (three ambulatory surgical centers, single-specialty practice, multi-specialty practice and solo practice).
Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal Medicine)
Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.
Content updated on Feb 6, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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With a free 3-min Anal Itch quiz, powered by Ubie's AI and doctors, find possible causes of your symptoms.
This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
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- Itchy around the anus
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FAQs
Q.
Over 65: is clear mucus from the rectum serious—and when should you get checked?
A.
Over 65, clear rectal mucus is often not an emergency and may come from hemorrhoids, fissures, or IBS, but because cancer risk rises with age you should be checked if it is frequent or high volume or if any red flags appear. Red flags include blood, unexplained weight loss, a new persistent change in bowel habits, significant abdominal or rectal pain, fever, or signs of anemia, and seek urgent care for heavy bleeding, severe pain with distension, high fever, or fainting. There are several factors to consider, including possible colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, proctitis, rectal prolapse, and special concerns if you have liver disease, so see below for complete guidance on when to get checked, what to monitor, and safe home measures.
References:
Hamilton W, Round A. (2005). Clinical features of colorectal cancer before diagnosis: a population-based case–control study… Br J Cancer, 16136066.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16136066/
Kamath PS, & Wiesner RH. (2001). A model to predict survival in patients with end-stage liver disease… Hepatology, 11157951.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11157951/
European Association for the Study of the Liver. (2014). EASL clinical practice guidelines for the management of patients with decompensated cirrhosis… Journal of Hepatology, 24986678.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Sahnan K, Lever L, Philips RK. Anal itching. BMJ. 2016 Nov 4;355:i4931. doi: 10.1136/bmj.i4931. Erratum in: BMJ. 2016 Nov 29;355:i6419. PMID: 27815254.
https://www.bmj.com/content/355/bmj.i4931