Anal itch also called Purities ani. Purities ani is a chronic itching of the skin around the anus. The skin of the peri rectal area is exposed to irritating digestive products in the stool; this may lead to an itchy rash, especially when stools are frequent. Often the rash is worsened by vigorous use of toilet tissue or scrubbing with soap and water.

Causes

• Anal itching is usually an isolated skin complaint in otherwise healthy people, but in some it's part of a disorder involving other areas of the skin.  
• You may find that alcohol, coffee, tea and spicy foods make Purities ani worse 
• Purities ani usually occurs in men. The reason is unknown 
• Sometimes hemorrhoids will start off as anal itching 
• Pinworms can cause severe anal itching and should be thought of if several members of the family have this problem 

Treatment

• Treatment is intended to reduce irritation of the anal skin. Careful, thorough, gentle cleansing after bowel movements is very important
• Moisten toilet paper with lukewarm water, as dry toilet paper doesn't cleanse as well as wet and also irritates your skin 
• Never use soap on the anal area. Cleansing with plain water, in either the shower or bathtub, will do the job 
• Lotrimin cream mixed with hydrocortisone 1% cream applied daily. Both of these are available over the counter at your local drug store
• A mild alpha hydroxyacid applied each day 
• Plain Vaseline applied each day to the anal area 
• Purities ani is frequently stubborn and requires months of local medication and gentle skin care 
• Some people need to continue the medication once or twice daily indefinitely since the itching returns whenever they stop