Cut or Tear in Skin Next to Anus

For the past 6 months I have been suffering from a tear or cut next to my anus. The Colorectal Dr. said it is not a true anal fissure because it is not in the anus but next to it. Looking in the mirror it looks like a split about a qtr of an inch long about 1/8 of an inch deep. It gets sore and never seems to heal. He prescribed me a $60.00 compound crème non steroidal which soothes but has not cured the problem. My dermatologist gave me clobetasol propionate ointment .05%, a strong steroid and that has not cleared it up. I've lost about 20 lbs. in 6 months since this began due to watching my diet eating only oatmeal with fruit for breakfast, salads for lunch and mainly broiled fish with vegatables and fruit for dinner. I stay away from breads, pasta and sugars. It's a boring healty diet but I don't want to lose more weight. For over 30 years I've had severe psoriasis but now I'm on Humira which has helped with clearing the skin alot. This rectal split, cut, tear, fissure, whatever you call it has made life miserable. I've used at least 10 crèmes Rx and OTC, to no avail. Just when I think it's better, it flares again and does not heal. During BM's I make sure to use Balneal or Mineral Oil to sooth on the TP. If this thing isn't burning it's itching or both. It seems to flare most at night and there were times I felt hopeless..has anyone e;se had something like this? Any comments might help. thanks.

I have had an anal fissure off and on for a few years. Last time I had a colonoscopy they didn't mention it so I guess it's not there now.

A druggist I went to told me to get my doctor to give me a prescription for .2% nifedipine in pc petroleum. I put it on sparingly at night when it hurts. I looked it up once and it did mention that the drug was also used for fissures. You might want to ask you gastro about it.

If you do get it I hope it works for you as well as it seems to work for me.

I'm with the .2% nifedipine in petroleum jelly (mixed with some lidocaine). Your doc can order it and you can get it from a compound pharmacy. I have an anal skin tag the pulls and causes bleeding and tears sometimes. This mixture helped a lot. I also coated my whole bottom with A and D ointment and that helped as well.

bobalouie2, I really think that you need to have a colonoscopy or whatever type of test your gastro orders. I just had a colonoscopy and the cleans was not that bad. The druggist recommended SaloFalk (I think that's how you spell it and am not sure if it has the same name in the US) And since my test was later in the afternoon I was able to split the clean prep into 2 doses, one the night before, and one the next morning. It was way better than drinking a gallon of stuff at one go. I'm not sure if 2 days of crap is worse than what you already seen to been going through.

I really hope that you can start to feel better soon whatever you chose to do.

Thank you mtb for your kind advice. I noted the nifedipine .02%, A+D and your advice about the colonoscopy. You are correct we must rule out an underlying condition inside. I shall use the PicoSalax when I have the colonoscopy. Thank you for your help on this very sore situation. It's nice to know there are kind folks willing to listen and share their experience. Guess I'm not alone.

I was going to also say yeast. I will get that sometimes in the crease where my legs attach to my torso, and also in the area between the buttocks up high, especially when it is extremely hot and sweaty, or if I've been wearing something tight (like a swimming suit).

Don't get offended by the name of this, but there is an awesome topical called All-Purpose Nipple Ointment (APNO) that is used to treat breastfeeding mothers who develop cracks in their nipples from nursing. It mixes in anti-fungals, anti-biotics, steroids, and sometimes ibuprofen powder. You'll need a prescription for it and have it mixed up at a compounding pharmacy. If you doctor doesn't know what it is, you can google it or have them call an OB. My OBs have always prescribed it for me since I've gone septic from thrush each time I've had kids.