An anal abscess is an inflamed area of skin tissue that is filled with pus and dead skin cells. Often mistaken for hemorrhoids, an anal abscess is warm to the touch, swollen, and tender. If you have an anal abscess then you will have to go see your doctor right away.
Anal abscesses are formed when a sebaceous (oil) gland or hair follicle becomes blocked with germs or bacteria on the skin. This doesn’t mean that you are dirty, there are millions of naturally occurring bacteria on your skin that fight off infection. When some of this good bacteria gets trapped in a cut or pore around your anal area, an abscess often occurs.
Your body tries to fight off this trapped bacteria by forming white blood cells. These cells accumulate quickly and form pus. This pus is trapped beneath your skin tissue and will cause the area to swell. This building pressure of pus is what causes the pain associated with an anal abscess.
Make an appointment with your doctor immediately. Do not try and squeeze the anal abscess yourself. You will push the abscess into deeper skin tissue and cause more damage. Sometimes an anal abscess will rupture itself, but it is still important to see your doctor to prevent any further infection.
Your doctor will ask you when the anal abscess appeared and if you have any allergies. A rectal exam will be performed. If the anal abscess is particularly large then this will be painful, but it is important to be sure of the abscesses location and size. Your doctor will have to perform an incision and drainage procedure. Drainage of the anal abscess is necessary for it to heal. Most patients feel instant relief once the abscess has been drained.
You will be given a local anesthetic to numb the area. It is impossible to completely numb the abscess because the anesthesia doesn’t work well on inflamed tissue, but many patients claim that the procedure is nearly painless. The anal abscess will be cleaned and surrounded by sterile cloth to absorb the drainage. An incision will then be made into the abscess and the doctor will drain all of the pus and debris out.
Once the pressure of the anal abscess is gone after drainage, you will feel much better. Your doctor may put a sterile packing of cloth into the open abscess to minimize bleeding and keep the abscess open for a couple of days to ensure complete drainage. Pain medication is given at the discretion of your doctor. If you are in a lot of pain, then ask your doctor about what you can take. He/She may suggest Tylenol or Aleve.
You may be put on an antibiotic to prevent any further infection of the recently cut area. Be sure to take all of your antibiotic medication to prevent the anal abscess from returning. It is normal for the abscess to bleed and drain for the next few days after the procedure, so don’t freak out. If you have any concerns about your healing abscess, then call your doctor.
Your doctor will tell you to keep the area clean by using regular soap and water. If you were given a packing into the cut, then your doctor may advise you to take it out at home. Be sure that you are in a warm bath or shower when you attempt to remove the packing inside the wound. This will make removing the cloth much easier.
Abscesses are fairly common but may be a sign of a weakened immune system. Many abscesses may rupture themselves or absorb back into the bloodstream. Anal abscesses should always be reported to your doctor to avoid pain and spread of the infection. Keep healthy!
