Alright, so here’s the scoop. My eczema’s… not in the most socially acceptable place to talk about. Yep, I’m talking about perianal eczema. For those who haven’t had the pleasure of hearing about this particular kind, it’s like regular eczema, but it shows up in the absolute worst place—around the anus. And let’s be real, anything involving “butt stuff” isn’t exactly the kind of thing you chat about over coffee with friends.
How It All Started
It was the summer of 2019. One day, I started feeling this random, annoying itch around my rear end. I figured it was just from sweating or maybe a soap reaction, so I threw myself into “Project Clean Butt.” I bought three giant bottles of cleansing solution, washed meticulously every day, yet the itching didn’t just stick around—it got worse. And if you think an itch you can’t scratch in public is annoying, imagine one that gets worse at night. Every. Single. Night. My sleep went out the window, and I realized it was time to get serious about finding a solution.
Naturally, I turned to Google. The symptoms lined up with what some websites described as parasitic infection, which completely freaked me out. I actually had this legit fear that maybe my gut was crawling with something. If you’re reading this and have that simple, constant itch without discharge, get checked for parasites first. Anyway, I was pretty sure mine was eczema because it came with these small red spots, so that became my self-diagnosis: perianal eczema.
Trying to Treat It on My Own
So, my first line of defense was a tube of Pyrithione cream from the pharmacy. I figured I’d hit gold since the instructions actually listed perianal eczema among its uses. But then… I applied it. Within minutes, my skin felt like it was on fire. I tried to stick with it, but I ended up wiping it off because the itching went from uncomfortable to unbearable. Plus, the stuff has steroids, which you can’t just keep applying forever. That attempt was a total fail.
The Doctor Visits Begin
At the start of 2020, I’d finally had enough. I dragged myself to a small local clinic, swallowing all my pride. The doctor, bless her, had zero clue what I was dealing with and barely looked before saying, “I don’t see anything.” So, I showed her a photo I’d taken earlier (because yes, I was that prepared). Only then did she say, “Oh, I see. This looks like perianal eczema,” and sent me to the dermatologist.
At the derm’s office, I left with a tube of hemorrhoid cream. The nurse said it wouldn’t cure the eczema, but it would help with itching and swelling. They even suggested infrared treatments, but the thought of going to the clinic every day to sit bare-bottomed under a lamp didn’t sound appealing, so I just went home with the cream. And, for a few days, the menthol in it cooled things down a bit. I thought I was finally on the path to freedom! But after three days, the itching fought back harder than ever. Back to square one.
The Desperate Months
As the months dragged on, I got into a routine: itch, wipe, apply various creams, repeat. I’d read that antihistamines could help, so I popped a few from my allergy stash, but they didn’t work miracles. Eventually, I ended up back at the dermatologist, who basically shrugged and said, “Just avoid spicy foods.” I’d already cut out everything spicy, including my beloved hot wings and BBQ. Still, no luck.
The itching got worse—at its peak, it was so bad that fluid started seeping out. I’d wipe so hard that sometimes I’d end up with little cuts and even spots of blood. My focus at work dropped, I was irritable, and I was so exhausted from the lack of sleep. At this point, I was willing to try anything. I saw a mention online about people surgically removing nerve endings to stop the itch. Yeah, desperate times.
The Final Breakthrough
Around April, I stumbled on a forum thread where someone recommended chlorhexidine acetate cream, claiming it had about an 85% success rate. The next day, I was at the pharmacy with a mission. That first night, I put it on with zero expectations, but I swear I woke up feeling like I’d just experienced a miracle. No itch! For the first time in months, I slept peacefully. By the third night, I could barely believe it was real—the itching was almost completely gone. It felt like winning the lottery.
Sharing This for Anyone Suffering Like I Did
Looking back, my case was bad—red spots, cracked skin, bleeding, itching that went on for over a year. If you’re reading this and dealing with anything remotely similar, please know there’s hope. I felt utterly defeated at times, but stumbling across that random forum post about chlorhexidine acetate saved me. I honestly wish I could thank the person who posted it.
Eczema might seem minor to some people, but when it’s severe—and in a place you can’t even talk about—it’s hard to explain how draining it is. So, to anyone dealing with this: don’t give up, and know that you’re not alone.