How to make sudden-onset butt itchiness go away quickly?
October 20, 2015 11:43 AM Subscribe
Yesterday evening, my butt area started itching/hurting. This has never happened before. My long-distance partner is coming into town tomorrow. I will not be able to see a doctor--please just trust me on this--for at least a week. Help me prioritize the many internet treatments I've seen for butt itching- what's the quickest way to get this under control so I can enjoy a few days of sexytimes without being distracted by my butt itching?
Potentially relevant:
-I am a woman in my late 20s
-I have had chronic hemorrhoids in the past that have never before itched and are now 100% under control thanks to a super-high fiber diet. Seriously, I eat great; my poos are totally wipe-free at this point. To prevent a recurrence of them, I have been dabbing on witch hazel/aloe after I poop, and I started using a squatty potty last week.
-As another preventative measure against hemorrhoids, I decided to start taking Metamucil yesterday. It made me incredibly bloated and gassy. The butt itchiness just started last evening, after I had been farting like crazy (seriously, scaring the dogs) all afternoon. I did not take it again today.
-I'm careful about not over-wiping and avoid thong underwear- all cotton briefs, all the time. I do usually wear underwear (and sometimes also leggings) to bed but will go without tonight to air things out.
-I have not shaved that area.
-It is only uncomfortable when I walk and totally fine when I sit. It felt worse for a little while the few times I spread my cheeks to check it out in a mirror.
-It's hard to tell if it's the crack or the anus that's irritated. It looks slightly red around the crack.
-I took 2 long, hot showers yesterday, which could have been drying.
-I wash my butt daily with warm water using my hand (no washcloth or loofah) in the shower. I don't use soap because my skin is pretty sensitive.
I'm trying to figure out what is the most likely to resolve this quickly. I tried coconut oil and it still felt uncomfortable after a bit, so I mixed in some prescription steroid cream a little while ago. However, I'm concerned that if it is fungal, greasy treatments on the area will just promote that. I also have hydrocortizone, vaseline, corn starch, and Monistat anti-chafing cream on hand and can run to the drugstore for other stuff.
I've read other posts on this but it seems like they're mostly from people for whom this is a long-standing issue and maybe had some more obvious explanations for the itch like diet or hygiene issues. Also, there were so many recommendations made that I'm having trouble prioritizing the treatments.
Potentially relevant:
-I am a woman in my late 20s
-I have had chronic hemorrhoids in the past that have never before itched and are now 100% under control thanks to a super-high fiber diet. Seriously, I eat great; my poos are totally wipe-free at this point. To prevent a recurrence of them, I have been dabbing on witch hazel/aloe after I poop, and I started using a squatty potty last week.
-As another preventative measure against hemorrhoids, I decided to start taking Metamucil yesterday. It made me incredibly bloated and gassy. The butt itchiness just started last evening, after I had been farting like crazy (seriously, scaring the dogs) all afternoon. I did not take it again today.
-I'm careful about not over-wiping and avoid thong underwear- all cotton briefs, all the time. I do usually wear underwear (and sometimes also leggings) to bed but will go without tonight to air things out.
-I have not shaved that area.
-It is only uncomfortable when I walk and totally fine when I sit. It felt worse for a little while the few times I spread my cheeks to check it out in a mirror.
-It's hard to tell if it's the crack or the anus that's irritated. It looks slightly red around the crack.
-I took 2 long, hot showers yesterday, which could have been drying.
-I wash my butt daily with warm water using my hand (no washcloth or loofah) in the shower. I don't use soap because my skin is pretty sensitive.
I'm trying to figure out what is the most likely to resolve this quickly. I tried coconut oil and it still felt uncomfortable after a bit, so I mixed in some prescription steroid cream a little while ago. However, I'm concerned that if it is fungal, greasy treatments on the area will just promote that. I also have hydrocortizone, vaseline, corn starch, and Monistat anti-chafing cream on hand and can run to the drugstore for other stuff.
I've read other posts on this but it seems like they're mostly from people for whom this is a long-standing issue and maybe had some more obvious explanations for the itch like diet or hygiene issues. Also, there were so many recommendations made that I'm having trouble prioritizing the treatments.
My best advice is to put a little Aquaphor on yourself where you're itching and then leave your butt alone. You can find tiny tubes of it in the trial-size section of your drug store, or larger size ones with the baby creams and lotions. Then have a glass of wine to relax.
I'd also ix-nay on the wiping your anus with witch-hazel because it's pretty drying.
posted by TryTheTilapia at 12:08 PM on October 20, 2015
I'd also ix-nay on the wiping your anus with witch-hazel because it's pretty drying.
posted by TryTheTilapia at 12:08 PM on October 20, 2015
Yes to Epsom salt baths, they are MAGICAL.
posted by lydhre at 12:19 PM on October 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by lydhre at 12:19 PM on October 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
aargh! too much attention actually causes what you're trying to avoid. Stop with the witch hazel and the metamucil. and all the rest, other than the diet changes you've made.
you need the local flora to come back to normal.
I would bathe in coolish water until you've removed whatever you've been putting on, and let nature take its course.
temporarily I would put some cold yogurt to ease the stinging
posted by Wilder at 12:38 PM on October 20, 2015
you need the local flora to come back to normal.
I would bathe in coolish water until you've removed whatever you've been putting on, and let nature take its course.
temporarily I would put some cold yogurt to ease the stinging
posted by Wilder at 12:38 PM on October 20, 2015
Quit with the Thayers, it contains ingredients that are probably causing the itch. Go buy generic cortisone or preparation h if the itching continues to drive you crazy.
posted by SassHat at 12:41 PM on October 20, 2015
posted by SassHat at 12:41 PM on October 20, 2015
I've had good luck with German chamomile oil on all manner of itchy, irritated skin. Clears it up overnight.
posted by culfinglin at 12:44 PM on October 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by culfinglin at 12:44 PM on October 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
Most people like creams and such, but I find that they aren't as effective as powder for me. I use plain cornstarch after a gentle cleaning and drying using witch hazel. For some reason, it helps to promote healing a bit better as the irritated skin doesn't have a chance to stay in that weepy stage.
posted by quince at 1:17 PM on October 20, 2015
posted by quince at 1:17 PM on October 20, 2015
For quick relief you can use diaper cream that has zinc oxide in slightly higher percentage. Desitin works well.
posted by BarcelonaRed at 1:49 PM on October 20, 2015
posted by BarcelonaRed at 1:49 PM on October 20, 2015
Try a sitz bath for a few minutes morning and night. You don't need to buy any kind of device, just let the tub fill 2-3 inches with lukewarm water and don't add anything, just the water on its own.
A doctor of mine also recommended, once, that I use a blow-dryer on a cool setting after bathing/ showering, to make sure everything was super dry before getting dressed. It takes a little... contortion to actually do, but it really did help when I had similar issues.
posted by augustimagination at 2:36 PM on October 20, 2015
A doctor of mine also recommended, once, that I use a blow-dryer on a cool setting after bathing/ showering, to make sure everything was super dry before getting dressed. It takes a little... contortion to actually do, but it really did help when I had similar issues.
posted by augustimagination at 2:36 PM on October 20, 2015
I know you're looking for immediate solutions, so this answer probably won't help there, but one thing that has helped me over the long term to avoid irritation is to switch to using a bidet instead of toilet paper for cleanup (I keep toilet paper around just for drying off). I use a GoBidet, but there are numerous bidets that fit on a standard toilet these days, and the basic models are not terribly expensive.
posted by Aleyn at 2:46 PM on October 20, 2015
posted by Aleyn at 2:46 PM on October 20, 2015
Yeah, stop with the witch hazel etc. You've probably dried that delicate skin out. For relief baby zinc oxide cream as suggested above, or even, K-Y. K-Y is excellent stuff.
And wash, water only, rather than wipe.
posted by glasseyes at 3:16 PM on October 20, 2015
And wash, water only, rather than wipe.
posted by glasseyes at 3:16 PM on October 20, 2015
It might be a little yeast growing on your skin and some yeast infection cream on the skin would clear it fast if it's yeast. If it's not yeast the moisturizing from the cream might help.
posted by littlewater at 3:54 PM on October 20, 2015
posted by littlewater at 3:54 PM on October 20, 2015
I've found itchy skin, irrespective of the cause, improves greatly with oral antihistamines. Try Claritin or Zyrtec for a few days.
posted by workerant at 3:56 PM on October 20, 2015
posted by workerant at 3:56 PM on October 20, 2015
If all you care about it temporary relief, I've found that Polysporin's Itch Relief to actually work very well. The medicinal ingredients are pramoxine hydrochloride 1% w/v and zinc acetate 0.1% w/v. Temporary is on the order of 3-4 hours. Another application extends the relief for another 3-4 hours.
If you put too much on, it can get a little bit "peely" once it dries so maybe not great if you're anticipating sexy fun times.
posted by porpoise at 4:36 PM on October 20, 2015
If you put too much on, it can get a little bit "peely" once it dries so maybe not great if you're anticipating sexy fun times.
posted by porpoise at 4:36 PM on October 20, 2015
Tea tree oil cream is magical for this. I use it frequently for the same problem. A couple seconds of "Oh!" and many hours of relief.
posted by archimago at 5:20 PM on October 20, 2015
posted by archimago at 5:20 PM on October 20, 2015
I know that you said that you can't get to the doctor immediately, but ITT you've gotten a bunch of very different answers, some of which would be directly counter to each other, and all of which together are certain to make things worse. That's not to say AskMe is a bad place to ask questions like this; it's totally a great place! Just that -- well, there's no hive mind consensus on this one and I think we should recognize that.
Find out if your health insurance has a 24 hour nurse helpline -- many of them do these days, for example: Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Cigna, United Healthcare. Check your health insurance card, and call your nurse helpline if one is available. If your insurance card doesn't have a nurse helpline number, you might try St Vincent's Health System.
Sorry your butt is itchy!
posted by Made of Star Stuff at 5:49 PM on October 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
Find out if your health insurance has a 24 hour nurse helpline -- many of them do these days, for example: Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Cigna, United Healthcare. Check your health insurance card, and call your nurse helpline if one is available. If your insurance card doesn't have a nurse helpline number, you might try St Vincent's Health System.
Sorry your butt is itchy!
posted by Made of Star Stuff at 5:49 PM on October 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
Chap stick.
Really.
Or, a blob of A & D ointment on some tp.
posted by bricksNmortar at 6:58 PM on October 20, 2015
Really.
Or, a blob of A & D ointment on some tp.
posted by bricksNmortar at 6:58 PM on October 20, 2015
I am surprised you haven't heard more recommendations of h-cortisone cream, the strongest OTC you can find, generic is fine. This should work immediately. It reduces inflammation and itchiness caused by any reason. Ideally you would have a tube of this stuff in a prescription strength on hand.
Otherwise I agree with Made of Star Stuff two comments up.
(Other possibilities than simple yet frustrating irritation: Fungus/Yeast so try OTC jock-itch cream that is cheaper than yeast infection cream and you will know w/i 2 applications if it is working; Bacterial infection so try an OTC antibiotic cream like Neosporin (generic fine) though these are really mild and it is better to have a prescription one handy to try a few times and you'll know immediately if it works; and lastly just to mention if this is only in the evenings it might be Pinworms but that would be mostly when you are sitting still instead of mostly when you are walking.)
posted by RoadScholar at 4:39 AM on October 21, 2015
Otherwise I agree with Made of Star Stuff two comments up.
(Other possibilities than simple yet frustrating irritation: Fungus/Yeast so try OTC jock-itch cream that is cheaper than yeast infection cream and you will know w/i 2 applications if it is working; Bacterial infection so try an OTC antibiotic cream like Neosporin (generic fine) though these are really mild and it is better to have a prescription one handy to try a few times and you'll know immediately if it works; and lastly just to mention if this is only in the evenings it might be Pinworms but that would be mostly when you are sitting still instead of mostly when you are walking.)
posted by RoadScholar at 4:39 AM on October 21, 2015
I think it might be worth trying deworming for pinworms, itchiness at night is sort of classical and they're pretty common.
posted by quercus23 at 5:18 AM on October 21, 2015
posted by quercus23 at 5:18 AM on October 21, 2015
Edit to my comment two comments up: the antibiotic cream will not necessarily work immediately on a bacterial infection as the Neosporin or other OTC ointment is weak and may not kill those particular bacteria.
posted by RoadScholar at 6:54 AM on October 21, 2015
posted by RoadScholar at 6:54 AM on October 21, 2015
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