Bleeding at the top of butt crack

[Mr. D]

I have a raw area at the very top of, well, my buttcrack.  It bleeds a little when I am on the toilet, as I notice a small streak of bright red blood on the TP after wiping.  I can actually feel the area stretch when I sit on the toilet because it is so raw.  I get this two or three times a year.  It stings when I am in the shower and I gently spread the area to clean with a washcloth.  When I try to search for my symptoms, I get a lot of hits for pilonidal cyst, but even though some of my symptoms are similar, it does not seem to be it.  There is no lump, no extra hole or slit.  It is just very red, raw and itchy.  Is this area susceptible to becoming irritated because it is constantly being stretched?  Does anybody else have this issue, and if so, what do you do to alleviate the symptoms?

[DrStevens]

I'm a physician and seem to be suffering from the same thing.  I can attest that it is not a pilonidal cyst, because it first appeared after a trip abroad, and then spread to my girlfriend.  Cysts don't spread like that.  Infections do.  

My assumption is that it is a fungal infection, just like tinea pedis (athlete's foot).  Fungus is everywhere, and a healthy person can usually keep it in check.  We get fungal infections most often when our gut bacteria (lactobacilli) become unbalanced.  

In my case, I picked up a parasite while traveling (confirmed via stool-test), which, over time, caused an imbalance in my gut flora.  Also, I'm sensitive to gluten, as are many people who don't know it.  The best treatment I found was to first take appropriate anti-parasitic drugs to kill the causative infection, eliminate gluten from my diet to reduce any internal inflammation, and take lots and lots of probiotics (acidophilus--get the refrigerated kind) to reestablish my own natural defenses.  Also, topical anti-fungals and powder to keep the area dry is a good idea.  

It takes at least 3 months for the gut to rebuild itself, with appropriate treatment. After the gut environment is back to normal, these infections should cease.

[curious579]

Curious, 42 year old female here again.  Went to doc again who said top of butt crack is a common place for all kinds of various issues to pop out because embryonically it is the last place of our neural column to close.  (I was right, it's related to our nervous system and the neural column which ends at the base of the spine.)  He said sometimes we develop cysts or other things there that come back.  He said he doubts it's herpes but to put my mind to rest gave me a prescription for a blood test for herpes (you don't have to wait for a sore to erupt to get a blood test for herpes.)  I'll know the results in two weeks.  Good luck all!  

[curious579]

42 year old female here.  I got this little red raw sore a couple weeks ago at the top of my butt crack that hurt and was itchy.  It came out at the same time as a massive rash on my lower legs that I thought was caused by using a new product (cocoa butter cream.)  I went to the doctor and got a sore throat on the way.  The doc said all three were related and diagnosed me with shingles, prescribed me an antiviral, antibiotic, and anti-itch.  But, he said the butt crack thing could be herpes, which freaked me out as I've never had herpes that I've known of, although I have had this top of the butt crack thing probably three other times in my life.  So, I think this problem is related to a nerve ending we have at that location.  It is going away, but much more slowly than the leg rash which is already gone.  Hmm, why do we have so many different answers to this?  I am very mad at my doctor for not suggesting he swab the sore and test it for herpes.  Is there another way to find out?

[ho62]

I had a severe case of this probably due to excessive sitting (work/travel) and drying conditions cracking the skin. I tried everything OTC I could and found that Walmart sells a hydrocortisone plus lotion (equate) which immediately wiped out the symptoms. If this comes back I'll Tx again then try to wipe out the underlying Dx, likely fungus amoung us as mentioned in the above comments.

[jwsutphin]

i've been suffering with the whole itchy butt thing for about three months. I've tried lamesil and steroids and alcohol (don't ever do that i have scaring and the pigmintation is gone from my skin) I finally conceeded to excellent hygene petroliem jelly and a butt bath after each bowell movement and that would suffice during the day but at night the gremlins would come out and dance there dance i would get no sleep. then low and behold i started using monastat yeast infection cream and i swear there is no more night itching and my skin is starting to feel very smooth i'm not saying cure just yet but i'm liking the results so far and just so i can feel even more girly i put a pad on so my but won't eat my underwear. hope this helps someone

[JenLyn39]

My anal cleft has been red and very irrated for three days now. It also has a very foul smelling clear discharge. There are no blisters that I can see. There is a tearing of the cleft and a rash that is similar to a diaper rash that covers the whole inside of my cheeks. It doesn't ich but it hurts like H@@@! This happens occasionally but I have never had the discharge. I have been using petro. jelly but it only helps for a little while. Do I go to the doctor or try something over the counter?