How to Get Relief From Burning Diarrhea

Key takeaways:

• Burning diarrhea is a common condition that can have many causes. It may require medical attention in severe cases or in the presence of other symptoms.
• Bile and acidic stomach contents can cause burning or pain in the rectum or anus during diarrhea.
• Common causes of burning diarrhea include spicy foods, trauma, and dietary intolerances.

Diarrhea refers to passing three or more loose stools daily. Diarrhea occurs when food passes too quickly through the stomach to be absorbed.

Burning diarrhea is characterized by pain in the anus or rectum with the passage of stool. It is a common condition and can range from mild episodes to more severe cases requiring medical attention.

What is burning diarrhea?

The stomach and digestive tract muscles mix food with stomach acids and digestive enzymes. When the food reaches the small intestine, it is mixed with bile, a yellow-green fluid produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder.

When you have diarrhea, this mixture will travel rapidly through the digestive tract and will not be fully absorbed. When it reaches the anus and rectum, it can cause burning pain in some cases.

Common causes of burning diarrhea

There are several causes of burning diarrhea. Burning diarrhea can occur acutely or may be a chronic problem. If you’re experiencing burning diarrhea, it may be caused by one of the following conditions.

Undigested stomach acids, digestive enzymes, and bile

The mixture of food, stomach acids, digestive enzymes, and bile is usually reabsorbed in the intestine. Diarrhea causes food to transit your gut very rapidly, so this mixture is not absorbed and remains acidic when it reaches the rectum and anus. This acidity can damage tissues in the anus or rectum, causing a burning sensation with the passage of the poorly digested mixture.

Spicy foods

Spicy foods often contain an ingredient called capsaicin. Capsaicin can cause diarrhea when it hits the digestive tract. When capsaicin in spicy food contacts the tissues of the rectum or anus, it can also cause burning pain.

Trauma

Small tears in the anus or rectum can occur from large pieces of undigested food or seeds passing through the digestive tract. Wiping frequently can also cause trauma. Small tears in this area can quickly become irritated through contact with partially digested foods, causing a burning sensation with the passage of stool. Hemorrhoids can have a similar effect on those with diarrhea, resulting in pain or burning during stool passage.

Fructose intolerance

Fructose is a sugar found in many fruits. Some people are intolerant to fructose, causing inflammation and diarrhea when fructose contacts the digestive tract.

Laxative abuse

Laxative abuse can result in diarrhea with irritation and burning at the rectum and anus. Senna alkaloid laxatives are a frequent culprit.

Other causes

Other causes of burning diarrhea can include the use of artificial sweeteners, heavy alcohol consumption, caffeine, and stress.

Read our guides on common types of diarrhea and common causes of diarrhea for more.

How to get relief from burning diarrhea

There are several remedies you can try at home to get relief from burning diarrhea. These remedies prevent or treat dehydration, restore the normal bacteria in the gut, care for broken or irritated skin, and relieve pain or discomfort. Below are some common treatment options that may be used to provide relief from burning diarrhea.

Increase fluid intake

The consumption of clear fluids, including water, should be increased to prevent dehydration when you have diarrhea. Drink plenty of beverages that replace your electrolytes, salts, and sugars, which can be lost if you have diarrhea. Avoid dehydrating substances, such as alcohol and caffeine.

Gentle hygiene

Exercising proper hygiene is essential to relieving the symptoms of burning diarrhea. Always wipe gently after passing stool, and be sure to wash the affected area with lukewarm water. Unscented baby wipes are a gentle tool that can be useful here. A water-repelling cream or ointment can be helpful to soothe the affected area.

Consume bland food

Your diet plays a crucial role in the formation of diarrhea. While symptoms are present, you should focus on consuming bland foods. The BRAT diet, which consists of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, may be a good option for you. It’s important to avoid spicy foods, which can irritate the rectum and anus with diarrhea.

Restore bacterial balance

Probiotics are live microorganisms that usually inhabit the gut. Taking a probiotic restores a healthy balance of intestinal microorganisms. You can try taking a probiotic supplement or eating probiotic yogurt.

Medications

Over-the-counter medications like loperamide (Immodium) and bismuth salicylate (Pepto-Bismol) can slow bowel motility and relieve diarrhea. Your doctor can prescribe prescription medicines like diphenoxylate and atropine (Lomotil) if other medications are not helping. Antibiotics may be necessary if diarrhea results from a bacterial infection.

Read our guide on how to treat diarrhea at home for more.

How to soothe the anus after burning diarrhea

If you have burning diarrhea, there are a few things you can do to relieve the pain you may experience in the affected area.

Over-the-counter hemorrhoid cream

If you have hemorrhoids, you can apply an over-the-counter hemorrhoid cream that will relax the anal sphincter and relieve itching. There are several available OTC topical treatments, such as topical hydrocortisone or hydrocortisone suppositories, and topical creams with lidocaine and hydrocortisone.

These medications should not be used for more than a week because prolonged use can result in contact dermatitis or atrophy. If conservative treatment for 6 weeks fails to relieve hemorrhoids, they may require surgical treatment.

Over-the-counter oral analgesics (pain medication)

Several over-the-counter oral analgesics can relieve your discomfort. These include Ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as acetaminophen.

Sitz baths

Sitz baths with warm water relax the anal canal and anal sphincter, reducing discomfort in patients with burning pain and diarrhea.

When you should see a doctor about burning diarrhea

If home remedies and over-the-counter solutions fail to provide relief, you should consider going to the doctor. The following will help you decide if you should see your doctor or not.

You should see a doctor if:

• Your diarrhea doesn’t resolve within two days.
• Your diarrhea is black.
• You have blood in your stool.
• You have had unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite.
• You recently started a new medication.
• You recently began a course of antibiotics

You should go to the emergency room if:

• You have a fever or chills.
• You have night sweats.
• You feel light-headed.
• You are incredibly thirsty.
• You are also vomiting and cannot keep food down.
• You have extremely painful diarrhea.

Questions to ask your doctor about burning diarrhea

If you seek medical care for burning diarrhea, here are three questions to ask your doctor to help you get the best care.

• Do I need an antibiotic?
• What medication can resolve my loose stools?
• Should I regularly take a probiotic?

Frequently asked questions: burning diarrhea

Burning diarrhea is a common but troublesome condition. Here are some questions patients often ask about this condition.

Do viruses cause burning diarrhea?

Viruses are a common cause of diarrhea. Viruses can cause diarrhea with burning due to skin irritation at the anus and rectum, as well as the presence of undigested stomach acids or excess digestive enzymes.

How can you have burning diarrhea, but haven’t eaten any spicy food?

There are several causes of burning diarrhea unrelated to consuming spicy foods. These may include trauma to the skin in the rectum and anal canal, irritation by chunks of undigested food, laxative abuse, and fructose intolerance.

Is burning diarrhea a sign of COVID?

COVID-19 can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, but the diarrhea doesn’t always result in burning pain. Burning pain is more likely if the diarrhea is frequent or long-lasting.

Final thoughts on burning diarrhea

With diarrhea, food passes too rapidly through the gut to be well-absorbed. Stomach acids and digestive enzymes or undigested chunks of food can irritate the anus and rectum. Frequent wiping can also cause trauma to the skin in the rectum, which increases the likelihood of burning pain.

General Medicine follows a strict editorial process, including using real experts to write our articles, vetted primary sources, fact-checking, a secondary medical review, and updates as necessary. This article was medically reviewed and fact checked by Dr. Lane Thaut, DO.

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