Rectal problems are common. Almost everyone will have some rectal itching, pain, or bleeding at some time. These problems are often minor. They may go away on their own or with home treatment. Rectal itching pruritus usually isn't a sign of a serious disease. At first, the skin of the anal area may look red. Itching and scratching may make the skin become thickened and white.
Common causes of rectal itching include:. Rectal pain may be caused by diarrhea, constipation, or anal itching and scratching. Rectal pain caused by these conditions usually goes away when the problem clears up. Other less common causes of rectal pain include:. Many people have small amounts of rectal bleeding. Irritation of the rectum from diarrhea or constipation, a small hemorrhoid, or an anal fissure can cause a small amount of bright red blood.
You may see the bright blood on the surface of the stool or on the toilet paper. Hemorrhoids and anal fissures usually occur after straining during a bowel movement because of constipation. This type of bleeding can cause pain during a bowel movement. It doesn't make the toilet water bloody. It isn't serious if there is only a small amount of blood and the bleeding stops when the diarrhea or constipation stops. Home treatment is usually all that you need. Bleeding can happen anywhere in the digestive tract.
The blood is digested as it moves through the digestive tract. The longer it takes the blood to move through the tract, the less it will look like blood.
Often blood that is caused by bleeding in the stomach will look black and tarry. A tarry stool has a black, shiny, sticky appearance. It looks like tar on a road. Blood that has moved quickly through the digestive tract or that starts near the rectum may look red or dark red. Certain medicines and foods can affect the color of the stool. Diarrhea medicines such as Pepto-Bismol and iron tablets can make the stool black.
