fleet hemorrhoidal pads

Most causes of anal itching can be readily treated.

Pin worms are treated with a prescription oral medication called mebendazole. You may need several treatments at monthly intervals, because the eggs can persist for several weeks in the environment. The other members of your household will also need to be treated, and you should also wash your hands and scrub your nails before eating and after each visit to the lavatory, and wash the anal area in the morning to get rid of any eggs deposited during the night. and bacterial infections are treated with prescription medications

Yeast infections and many rashes improve with creams.

Skin lesions such as warts or hemorrhoids are removed with minor surgical procedures.

Products used for the treatment of anal itching are available as ointments, creams, gels, suppositories, foams, and pads.

Ointments, creams, and gels–when used around the anus–should be applied as a thin covering. When applied to the anal canal, these products should be inserted with a finger or a “pile pipe.” Pile pipes are most efficient when they have holes on the sides as well as at the end. Pile pipes should be lubricated with ointment prior to insertion. Suppositories or foams do not have advantages over ointments, creams, and gels.

Most products contain more than one type of active ingredient. Almost all contain a protectant in addition to another ingredient.

Local anesthetics.

Temporarily relieve pain, burning, and itching by numbing the nerve endings. The use of these products should be limited to the perianal area and lower anal canal. Local anesthetics can cause allergic reactions with burning and itching. Therefore, if burning and itching increase with the application of anesthetics, they should be discontinued.

Local anesthetics include:

Benzocaine 5% to 20% (Lanacane Maximum Strength)

Benzyl alcohol 5% to 20%

Dibucaine 0.25% to 1.0% (Nupercainal)

Dyclonine 0.5% to 1.0%

Lidocaine 2% to 5%

Pramoxine 1.0% (Procto Foam)

Tetracaine 0.5% to 5.0%

Vasoconstrictors.

Vasoconstrictors are chemicals that resemble epinephrine, a naturally occurring chemical. Applied to the anus, vasoconstrictors make the blood vessels become smaller, which may reduce swelling. They also may reduce pain and itching due to their mild anesthetic effect. Vasoconstrictors applied to the perianal area–unlike vasoconstrictors that are taken orally or by injection–have a low likelihood of causing serious side effects, such as high blood pressure, nervousness, tremor, sleeplessness, and aggravation of diabetes or hyperthyroidism.

Vasoconstrictors include:

Ephedrine sulfate 0.1% to 1.25%

Epinephrine 0.005% to 0.01%

Phenylephrine 0.25%

Protectants.

Protectants prevent irritation of the perianal area by forming a physical barrier on the skin that prevents contact of the irritated skin with aggravating liquid or stool from the rectum. This barrier reduces irritation, itching, pain, and burning. There are many products that are themselves protectants or that contain a protectant in addition to other medications.

Protectants include:

Aluminum hydroxide gel

Cocoa butter

Glycerin

Kaolin

Lanolin

Mineral oil (Balneol)

White petrolatum

Starch

Zinc oxide or calamine (which contains zinc oxide) in concentrations of up to 25%

Cod liver oil or shark liver oil if the amount of vitamin A is 10,000 USP units/day.

Astringents.

Astringents cause coagulation (clumping) of proteins in the cells of the perianal skin or the lining of the anal canal. This action promotes dryness of the skin, which in turn helps relieve burning, itching, and pain.

Astringents include:

Calamine 5% to 25%

Zinc oxide 5% to 25% (Calmol 4, Nupercainal, Tronolane)

Witch hazel 10% to 50% (Fleet Medicated, Tucks, Witch Hazel Hemorrhoidal Pads)

Antiseptics.

Antiseptics inhibit the growth of bacteria and other organisms. However, it is unclear whether antiseptics are any more effective than soap and water.

Antiseptics include:

Boric acid

Hydrastis

Phenol

Benzalkonium chloride

Cetylpyridinium chloride

Benzethonium chloride

Resorcinol

Keratolytics.

Keratolytics are chemicals that cause the outer layers of skin or other tissues to disintegrate. The rationale for their use is that the disintegration allows medications that are applied to the anus and perianal area to penetrate into the deeper tissues.

The two approved keratolytics used are:

Aluminum chlorhydroxy allantoinate (alcloxa) 0.2% to 2.0%

Resorcinol 1% to 3%

Analgesics.

Analgesic products, like anesthetic products, relieve pain, itching, and burning by depressing receptors on pain nerves.

Analgesics include:

Menthol 0.1% to 1.0% (greater than 1.0% is not recommended)

Camphor 0.1% to 3% (greater than 3% is not recommended)

Juniper tar 1% to 5%

Corticosteroids.

Corticosteroids reduce inflammation and can relieve itching, but their chronic use can cause permanent damage to the skin. They should not be used for more than short periods of a few days to two weeks. Only products with weak corticosteroid effects are available over-the-counter. Stronger corticosteroid products that are available by prescription should not be used for treating anal itching.

Corinne Bridgewater grew up surrounded by the medical community, her family is full of doctors, nurses, herbalists and healers. She is a licensed nurse and certified pharmacy technician. She has served in the Armed Forces as a medic. For lots more tips, articles and resources for other embarrassing problems please go here. http://www.embarrassednomore.com