Anal itching is common in people of all ages. It's not usually a serious problem and often gets better with home care. Your health care provider examined your child and found no serious cause of the itching. If needed, the health care provider prescribed treatment for an infection or a cream or ointment to ease itching.

Be sure to follow up with the health care provider if the symptoms do not get better.

• Help your child keep the anal area clean and dry.
• After bowel movements (BMs, or pooping):
  • Have your child use unscented, dye-free toilet paper (dabbing mineral oil on it may increase comfort) or a soft cloth wet with water to wipe.
  • The area should be bathed and dried as soon as convenient:
    • Use mild soap and plain water. Avoid washcloths and vigorous rubbing.
    • Dry the area by gently patting with a towel or using a hair dryer on the cool setting (never warm or hot).
• Help your child avoid things that might be irritating the area. These can include soaps, lotions, some types of laundry detergent, baby wipes, scented or medicated powders, or cleansers like witch hazel.
• Apply any prescribed creams or ointments as directed.
• Apply over-the-counter ointments or creams (such as anti-itch or zinc oxide creams) only as directed.
• Cool (not frozen) gel packs can help ease itching.
• Your child's underwear should be 100% cotton.
• Your child should not scratch the anal area. Keep your child's fingernails short and clean. If needed, have your child wear cotton gloves at night to prevent scratching during sleep.

Your child:

• doesn't feel better in 2 weeks
• has itching that goes away and then comes back
• has bleeding from the anus (where poop comes out)
• has pain during BMs
• develops a rash around the anus
• has itching that spreads to the thighs or genitals

What can cause anal itching in children? Common causes include:

• too much moisture (from sweat or bathing)
• toilet "accidents" (peeing or BMs) or not wiping well enough after going to the bathroom
• diarrhea, which can irritate the skin around the anus
• constipation, which can tear the skin around the anus (called an anal fissure)
• skin infections around the anus, like strep or a yeast infection
• pinworms, which are tiny worms that live in a person's colon or rectum and leave the anus at night to lay their eggs. (They don't cause harm and are easy to treat.)
• clothing that is too tight
• certain foods (such as coffee, tea, cola, chocolate, tomatoes, citrus fruits, or spicy foods) that can irritate the anus

Talk to your health care provider about managing these problems if you think any of them might be affecting your child.