There’s no denying that diarrhea can be uncomfortable and frustrating. When it comes with a burning sensation, though, it’s even more unpleasant. The burning often gets worse every time you have to go to the bathroom too. Thankfully, it’s usually temporary, but that doesn’t make the whole experience any easier to deal with.
Understanding what causes the burning and knowing some simple methods for soothing a burning anus after diarrhea can help make it more bearable. Read on to learn more about ways to make yourself more comfortable when you’re dealing with diarrhea and the rawness and irritation it can cause.
Why Does Diarrhea Cause Burning?
First, let’s take a look at some of the reasons why diarrhea causes burning. For one, with diarrhea, waste moves from the stomach through the intestines more quickly than normal. Because of that, the body doesn’t have enough time to reabsorb the acid and digestive enzymes that break down food in the stomach. That means they stay in the stool. When they pass over the tender skin around the anus, they can cause irritation, burning, and itching.
On top of that, frequent wiping can make the skin even more irritated. The more you wipe, the more irritation it causes. When the skin is already raw, people may not clean themselves after bowel movements as thoroughly as they would otherwise. After all, it hurts. Leaving behind fecal matter, traces of stomach acid, and excess moisture from loose stools can cause even more inflammation, though.
Tips for Soothing a Burning Anus
There are several things you can do to soothe a burning anus when you’re dealing with diarrhea. Instead of using dry toilet paper, you can use wipes. They’re softer and gentler on the skin, and they clean better with less force. Consider using unscented ones, though, because scented wipes can burn on skin that’s already irritated.
Sitz baths can also help. Using a specially designed basin that fits over the toilet seat, sitting in a bathtub in a few inches of warm water, or squirting warm water from a peri bottle onto the irritated skin will get rid of any material left behind from bowel movements while also easing the burning.
Keep in mind that it’s important to keep the perineum, which is the area from your anus to your genitals, dry to prevent additional irritation. Be sure to dry the area well after bowel movements and after using sitz baths and wipes. Blot the skin gently with a soft cloth to dry it rather than wiping.
Applying creams or ointments to your anus is also recommended. Zinc oxide creams, antibiotic ointments, and petroleum jelly can protect the skin and help it heal. They should be applied to clean, dry skin and reapplied as needed.
When to Be Concerned About Burning After Diarrhea
Burning from diarrhea-related skin irritation should go away within a few days after your stools return to normal, and you can take the measures listed above to make yourself more comfortable in the meantime. Some symptoms are cause for concern, though. Those include diarrhea and burning accompanied by severe pain, bleeding from your anus, significant swelling, and unusual discharge. Diarrhea that lasts for more than a few days can be dangerous as well. If you have any of those issues, please don’t hesitate to get medical attention.