This comments page is so useful and somehow reassuring -...

Signs and symptoms
1

This comments page is so useful and somehow reassuring - I'm 25 and have had this problem for 5 months. Onset coincided with a course of antibiotics following surgery and a stressful couple of weeks.... It drove me mad for the majority of the 5 months, but for the past two weeks has been manageable and hasn't kept me awake at night! Have been using Isocol (isopropyl alcohol or "rubbing alcohol&quot on cotton wool after passing faeces and after showering at night - brings tears to your eyes let me tell you! But you don't need to put any creams etc on after, just use a fan or hairdryer to dry completely and you'll notice the improvement straight away. I also agree with the comment below re: apple cider vinegar - this is particularly useful for the ladies who have found the problem "creeps forward" (this treatment burns even more than when applied to your bum let me tell you!) - back it up with some clotrimazole anti-fungal cream and keep applying for a couple of weeks. But the best advice is to not scratch! I've been scratch free for two weeks now thanks to the Isocol - sure it is tempting occasionally but nowhere near as bad. Will update with progress in a few weeks. Good luck all.

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2

It'll be good if someone can keep us up dated. Some on here seem to write one post and then dissapear.

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3

Well, the isocol seemed to have done the trick but it really only worked when there were small fissures (created by scratching I imagine) - so now I seem to be back to square one, and have to use corticosteroids again occasionally. Back to the doctor I go. Sorry

4

Me again. Doctor wasn't much help really, - wanted stool sample, urine, bloodworks etc but I've done all that before with another doctor! Both have been as baffled as me. However, this time she recommended using the corticosteroid cream for 2 weeks (on the packet it reckons 1 week). I've only used it for 7 days straight before, fearing skin damage (doc rolled her eyes at this and said long term = months or years or constant use, not a couple of weeks! Fair enough.). So I've now finished my two weeks, haven't used ANYTHING for one whole week, and have not scratched once! God I hope this lasts, it is a very promising result. Will update in a couple of weeks.

5

Have you asked about capsaicin cream? Also there's an op you can have where they piut menthol or something around the area.