Why Your Poop Burns: Causes & How to Fix It

Key takeaways:

• Burning while pooping is a common complaint, but it shouldn’t be ignored.
• There are several causes of burning poop, including anal fissures and hemorrhoids, among others.
• Talk to your doctor if burning poop lasts for more than 48 hours.

Feeling pain or burning while pooping can be an upsetting symptom. That said, this is a complaint that doctors hear about regularly. There can be different reasons for a burning sensation while pooping. It may be nothing more than passing irritation from spicy foods in your diet.

However, more serious or chronic conditions can also cause burning poop. Being honest with your physician when you discuss your symptoms will help them make the right diagnosis and recommend the proper fix.

Burning poop defined

So what do we mean when we say “burning poop?” In this case, we are referring to cases where the action of pooping is a painful experience for you. Either during the process of pooping or immediately after, you experience a painful or burning sensation around your anus.

Is it normal for your anus to burn when you poop?

Pooping should not be a painful or difficult experience. We may experience lower abdominal cramps or pain just before pooping, but this is different from actually feeling pain while passing the poop. Eating spicy and acidic foods can lead to a burning feeling when we pass them later on. This is harmless, though uncomfortable, and usually doesn’t last more than a day or two.

However, if you experience ongoing symptoms and you don’t suspect it’s because of that extra hot sauce, this may point to some other issues. An ongoing burning or painful sensation while pooping should be noted as a symptom of something out of the ordinary.

Causes of a burning anus while pooping

Several conditions could lead to a burning sensation while pooping. The reasons they cause a burning feeling and the ways to treat them are quite different. Because some of these can point to serious issues, it’s important to see a doctor and be examined before trying at-home remedies.

Hemorrhoids

A hemorrhoid is a dilated cushion of tissue near your anal opening. Hemorrhoids develop due to increased pressure on the area, preventing the veins from draining properly. Constipation, pregnancy, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, and jobs that require sitting for long periods all contribute to your risk of developing hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoids contain nerve endings, and when they become swollen, these nerves become irritated. This can cause pain and a burning sensation. You may also notice a swollen, tender lump next to your anus.

Because hemorrhoids can make hygiene after pooping difficult, if the skin around the anus isn’t clean, this can cause itching and pain. What’s more, excessive wiping after pooping further irritates the hemorrhoid.

There are two kinds of hemorrhoids. Painful and itching hemorrhoids are known as external hemorrhoids. These hemorrhoids contain nerve endings, which is why they cause discomfort.

The other kind is an internal hemorrhoid. These do not contain nerve endings, so they are usually not painful. They do, however, cause bleeding during and after bowel movements.

Anal fissure

An anal fissure is a tear in the skin around the anus. This tear is caused by the passing of hard stool through an anal sphincter with a large amount of pressure. The anus has two sphincter muscles that surround it. One is controlled voluntarily; you can relax it to pass gas or poop. The other internal sphincter muscle is involuntary.

Passing hard stools requires even more pressure than usual. When the internal sphincter is overtightened, it stretches out the skin of the anus. This increases the risk of tearing.

Anal fissures can be very painful for patients. Usually, symptoms are the worst during the act of pooping. Instead of pain, some patients feel burning. There may also be bleeding or itching for those experiencing fissures.

Proctitis

Proctitis is inflammation of the rectum, the last part of the colon. There are many potential causes of proctitis, including infection, radiation, and sexually transmitted infections.

The inflammation due to proctitis often causes pain or burning during pooping. There are sometimes other symptoms, as well, such as rectal discharge and itching.

Read our guides on different types of stool, stool colors, and healthy vs. unhealthy stool for more.

How to soothe a burning anus from pooping

Treating the feeling of burning during pooping depends on the cause. Some simple at-home solutions can be helpful, but it’s always important to review your symptoms with your doctor. If needed, they may be able to prescribe medication that will help you find relief faster than with over-the-counter remedies.

At-home remedies

A popular home-based remedy is a sitz bath. This involves sitting in a tub of warm water, sometimes with added salt or medication.

The salt or medication draws water out of swollen hemorrhoids, alleviating the congestion and pressure around your anus. The warm water also helps the anal sphincter to relax, which helps with anal fissures.

Avoiding constipation

Constipation makes many anal complaints and conditions even worse. The increased pressure needed to pass hard stool leads to the worsening of hemorrhoid swelling. It also promotes skin tearing and can make anal fissures worse or prevent them from healing. It is very important to try and avoid constipation.

The simplest way to combat constipation is to increase fiber and water intake in your diet. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, like brown rice or whole-grain bread, are rich in fiber.

If you increase your dietary fiber, be sure to drink more water as well. If you don't drink enough water with the fiber, it can make the constipation worse. Fiber supplement powders or tablets can be helpful. Stool softeners and laxatives are also sometimes necessary.

Over-the-counter medications

Hemorrhoid creams and suppositories are available over-the-counter. These are useful in treating the symptoms caused by external hemorrhoids. They contain medication that counteracts the inflammation and pain from the swelling. These do not, however, treat the hemorrhoid itself.

Use care if choosing to use steroid creams for symptoms, and always do so with the guidance of a doctor. Using steroids for more than a week can damage the skin around the anus.

Prescription medications

In the case of anal fissures, prescription medication is given to relax the anal sphincter. This, in combination with measures to prevent constipation, treats the cause of your symptoms.

How to prevent a burning anus while pooping

It is said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In terms of fissures and hemorrhoids, this is very true. These conditions, once present, can be difficult to heal. It is best if they never develop at all.

Avoid constipation

It cannot be overstated that avoiding constipation is one of the best things you can do. Constant constipation leads to hemorrhoids and fissures, as well as other more serious complications.

To avoid this, eat a diet full of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Drink plenty of water too. Consider additional fiber supplements if needed.

Avoid sitting for long periods

Sitting increases the pressure around the anus, preventing the hemorrhoidal veins from draining. This leads to swelling, which causes symptoms from hemorrhoids, such as burning when you poop.

If you can, take a break every hour to stand up and walk around for a few minutes. Some desks can be modified to allow standing. These changes will give your body a break from the effects of prolonged sitting.

When you should see a doctor about a burning anus while pooping

A burning sensation while pooping may go away on its own. If it passes within a day or two, you probably don’t need to be seen. But if your symptoms continue, it’s always best to consult a healthcare professional.

You should see a doctor if:

• Your symptoms last longer than 48 hours.
• You notice blood in your stool.
• You are hesitant to use the bathroom because of the pain.

You should go to the emergency room if:

• The pain is severe enough that you cannot sit down comfortably.
• You have a fever or chills.

Questions to ask your doctor about a burning anus while pooping

Speaking with your doctor about your bathroom habits might be uncomfortable, but it’s nothing they haven’t heard before. If you aren’t sure what to ask, here are some questions that will help you get a better understanding of your symptoms:

• What do you think is causing this?
• How long do you expect this to last?
• Are any tests needed?
• Is there anything I can do at home?

Frequently asked questions: burning poop

It is normal to have questions about burning poop. Please be sure to ask your doctor any and all of your questions until you understand your condition.

Is burning poop a sign of a sexually transmitted infection (STI)?

Some cases of proctitis cause burning while pooping. Proctitis has many causes, one of which is through sexually transmitted infections.

Why does your anus burn while pooping, even though you didn’t eat spicy food?

Burning while pooping is a result of inflammation around the anus. This can be caused by hemorrhoids, anal fissures, or proctitis. These medical conditions are not caused by eating spicy foods.

Final thoughts

Burning while pooping is a difficult and concerning problem for patients. It is normal to have questions, but you may be uncomfortable mentioning them to your physician. If the problem lasts longer than 48 hours, it’s important to speak with a doctor.

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. Poushali Bhattacharjee, MD.

Sources

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Fontem, Rodrigue F., and Daniel Eyvazzadeh. “Internal Hemorrhoid.” PubMed, StatPearls Publishing, 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537182/.

Jahnny, Brian, and John V. Ashurst. “Anal Fissures.” PubMed, StatPearls Publishing, 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526063/.

Meseeha, Marcelle, and Maximos Attia. “Proctitis and Anusitis.” PubMed, StatPearls Publishing, 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430892/.

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