It is fairly common to have a burning sensation in anus while having a bowel movement or after having a bowel movement. Everyone has this experience once in a while. If you have it occasionally, it is generally not a problem; however, if you have a burning sensation along with bleeding from the rectum, blood in the stool or mucus in the stool along with chronic constipation or diarrhea, you need to see a doctor who will do some kind of checkup to see what might be wrong. In such cases, a burning sensation in the anus may be something more serious.

What Causes Burning Sensation in Anus?

The anus is the end of the GI (gastrointestinal) tract where it opens to the outside. It begins at the end of the rectum, which is the last part of the large intestine. If you experience a burning sensation here, it is usually because you have some kind of problem with your stomach and intestinal tract. Too much wiping of the anus or by eating certain foods can cause this sensation. Some infections or skin conditions can also cause it. If you repeatedly scratch at the anus, this can lead to a strong burning sensation in anus, especially after a bowel movement. The following contents will talk about possible causes in detail:

1.   Foods That Are Spicy

There are chemicals in spicy foods that irritates to gastrointestinal mucosa. It lasts from mouth to anus. The chemicals set up inflammation that results in redness and irritation of the mucosa of the anus. Common chemical is capsaicin found in chili peppers. The burning sensation starts when the bowel movement is over and lasts for some time later. They may also contribute to diarrhea.

2.   Bad Hygiene

If you don't wipe very well or bathe often, this can cause irritation of the mucosa of the anus from fecal matter and bacteria from the bowel. There can be skin infections around the anus which cause a burning sensation. This will get better if you bathe more often and wipe yourself better after a bowel movement.

3.   Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids stem from a weakness or swelling of the rectal veins, usually the result of diarrhea or chronic constipation. Hemorrhoids are also known as piles and can cause rectal bleeding, along with burning and itching. It is made worse by having a bowel movement but tends to last throughout the day. Hemorrhoids can be internal or external. When they are external, they are palpable at the opening of the anus, but when they are internal, you cannot feel them.

4.   Anal Fissures

These are small tears in the mucosal lining that come on with chronic diarrhea or constipation. Other causes might also be the reason behind anal fissures. The pain and burning are usually made worse by a bowel movement and can last for a while afterword. Rectal bleeding and itching of the anus are common symptoms. Anal fissures may bleed even when you are not having a bowel movement and there can be some pain as well.

5.   Incontinence of Stool

If you suffer from an impaired control of your bowels, a small bit of the liquid stool or an entire bowel movement can go through the anus without your control. Some symptoms include burning of the anus. It can also be caused from fecal matter that isn't wiped away from the anus because the individual isn't aware of its happening. Stool can be irritating to the skin, resulting in burning and itching of the anal area.

6.   Having a Bowel Condition

There are many different diseases that can adversely affect the anus. There can be ulceration or inflammation of the lining of the bowel so that pelvic pain, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, mucus and things like diarrhea or constipation can occur, causing burning sensation in anus. Some diseases include inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, impacted feces, rectal prolapse, and gastroenteritis can also be related with anal problems. A perianal abscess or fistula of the anus can contribute to anal burning and should be something you see the doctor right away.

7.   Skin Diseases

Some skin diseases, such as a pilonidal cyst, eczema, psoriasis, and seborrheic dermatitis, may also cause burning sensation in the anus. These skin diseases can affect the anus just as much as it can affect the other skin.

8.   Infections

Another cause is a type of infection such as STDs including gonorrhea, chlamydia, genital herpes, as well as intestinal parasites, candida species, tinea corporis, tinea cruris and streptococcal dermatitis. These should also be checked and treated for relieving the problem.

9.   Proctalgia Fugax

When you have this condition, you have a sharp pain occurring inside the anus that lasts for a few seconds to up to a half hour. There is no pain between the attacks. The pain can be so severe that you get a headache, suffer from dizziness, or wake up from sleeping. People who have this condition only have 5-6 attacks every year and can cause rectal urgency without any results if you try to have one.

What You Can Do to Relieve Burning Sensation in Anus?

If you have an episode of anal burning just a few times, you shouldn't be concerned. All you need to do is to stay away from any type of spicy foods, avoid anal sex, avoid scratching the anus, and make sure you take warm baths to keep the anus clean. Eat plenty of bayberries, lemon juice, and bananas in order to have better bowel movements.

If you have rectal bleeding along with this feeling in anus or mucus in the stool, you might want to consider seeing the doctor to have the condition further evaluated and managed by a specialist.

Since constipation usually causes burning sensation in the anus, below is a video about how to relieve constipation if this is your problem: