Burning diarrhea refers to loose or watery stools that cause a painful burning sensation. This symptom is usually caused by something you ate, skin irritation, or another medical condition.
Depending on the underlying cause, burning diarrhea may go away after a short period or be chronic (long-term). Besides being uncomfortable, it’s important to investigate why you may be experiencing burning diarrhea so you can find relief, avoid complications, and prevent it from happening again.
Burning diarrhea describes an unpleasant burning sensation when you pass a loose, watery stool. This symptom can feel different for each person and can vary depending on the underlying cause.
When you have burning diarrhea, it can feel painful before, during, and after you have a bowel movement. Some people describe burning diarrhea as a warm or burning irritation that comes along with a loss of bowel control or an urgent need to visit the bathroom immediately. The burning sensation may return or worsen when you wipe or clean the area.
Burning diarrhea can vary in frequency, intensity and duration. It is possible to experience burning diarrhea from time to time or on a long-term basis. Depending on the cause, burning diarrhea can manifest itself with other symptoms, such as abdominal pain or cramps, itchy skin around the anus, rectal bleeding, fever and nausea.
There are several reasons why you may have burning diarrhea – from food and digestive issues to skin irritation and certain medical conditions.
Diet
Eating spicy, sour and other trigger foods is a common cause of burning diarrhea. A compound found in hot peppers known as capsaicin is responsible for bringing the heat to your favorite spicy food. Capsaicin by itself can speed up digestion, irritate the mucous membrane of the digestive organs and cause diarrhea. Plus, this spicy chemical can also physically burn as it leaves your body during a bowel movement.
Other possible dietary culprits include acidic foods such as citrus fruits and tomatoes – or alcohol, caffeine and chocolate. Research suggests that eating foods high in acid is associated with digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and associated symptoms such as painful diarrhea.
If your diet is the cause of burning diarrhea, you may also notice stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting after eating.
Gastrointestinal issues
Burning diarrhea can also be a result of the way your digestive system works. During the digestion process, a liquid known as bile mixes with stomach acid to help break down the food you eat. For some people, bile acids are not able to be absorbed properly in the intestines, causing chronic diarrhea. Along with watery stools, there may also be a feeling of acidity, irritation or burning sensation during or after a bowel movement.
Another digestive problem that can cause painful diarrhea occurs when you consume something that is difficult for the body to digest, such as high-fiber foods. Snacks like nuts or seeds can pass through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract partially digested—and these stuck or broken pieces of food can scratch your rectum and anus as they leave the body. As a result, loose bowel movements like diarrhea can burn.
Routine digestive problems often develop with a disorder such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), food intolerance or allergy, or infection. A health care provider can help determine the cause based on your symptoms.
Digestive disorders and related problems
Some digestive disorders and related problems can increase your chances of experiencing burning diarrhea. for example:
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Because the main symptom of IBS and IBD can be chronic diarrhea, these conditions can lead to painful rectal bleeding that can burn when you have a bowel movement. People with IBS or IBD would also experience other symptoms, such as abdominal pain, cramping, gas, and more.
- hemorrhoids: These swollen, irritated blood vessels in or around the anus cause sensations such as itching, burning and bleeding. They are also associated with chronic diarrhea and can cause a burning sensation during loose bowel movements. Depending on whether the hemorrhoids are internal or external, you may also notice difficulty or straining during bowel movements or a hard lump around the outside of your anus.
- Anal fissures: Small cuts or tears that develop around the anus lead to bleeding and a burning sensation after a bowel movement – often diarrhoea. Anal fissures also come with symptoms such as itching or tenderness around the anus and skin tags around the area.
Skin irritation
Noticeable irritation of the skin around the anus can happen when you have a lot of diarrhea – especially if there is too much wiping. As a result, you may experience pain or burning when a diarrhea-like bowel movement passes over the skin of your anus.
Additional moisture in the area from diarrhea can be another irritant, leading to itching, burning, and uncomfortable loose bowel movements. When skin irritation is the cause of burning diarrhea, you may also notice itching that worsens at night and inflamed or thickened skin around the anus.
Surgical procedures
Surgery on the digestive tract can be another reason for burning diarrhea. For example, an ileostomy (j-pouch surgery) involves removing part of the large intestine and creating a different opening for stool to exit the body.
After this procedure, some people have more frequent bowel movements and diarrhea. This diarrhea can be burning, thanks to the more acidic stool that often results after surgery.
People with IBD usually need this procedure, as do some people with colorectal cancer, certain digestive birth defects, or intestinal damage.
A short bout of burning diarrhea that goes away on its own is usually nothing to worry about. However, prolonged or recurring diarrhea may indicate another underlying problem.
See your healthcare provider if you have burning diarrhea that seems to get worse or doesn’t get better after a few days, or if you also have the following symptoms:
In addition to asking about your symptoms and medical history, your healthcare provider may also order one or more of the following tests to find the underlying cause of your burning diarrhea:
- Stool pattern: This procedure involves testing a small amount of your stool, which can help determine if there is an infection.
- Blood test: This test involves taking a blood sample that can detect the presence of a medical condition that causes diarrhea.
- Colonoscopy: Disease or infection can be detected using a small camera and flexible tube.
- Test post: With this test, you temporarily avoid foods with certain ingredients to rule out a dietary trigger, such as a food intolerance or food allergy.
Depending on the diagnosis, you may be referred to a gastroenterologist — a healthcare professional who specializes in digestive problems.
The goal of treating burning diarrhea is to prevent this symptom from occurring and then address the underlying cause if necessary. Some first-line treatment options include:
- Anti-diarrheal medicinessuch as Imodium (loperamide) or Pepto Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) to slow bowel movements
- Rehydration with a sports drink or Pedialyte to replace electrolytes and maintain body hydration
- Dietary modificationssuch as avoiding dairy products, spicy foods, caffeine and alcohol to stop diarrhea
- Skin protection creamlike zinc oxide, to relieve any skin irritation around the anus
If an underlying medical condition is the cause of your burning diarrhea, different treatment plans may be needed. For example, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may involve prescription medication and specific dietary recommendations, while a bacterial infection that causes diarrhea may be treated with antibiotics.
Burning diarrhea cannot always be prevented. But there are some tips that experts recommend to avoid the appearance of this unpleasant symptom, including:
- Practice good hygiene: Wash your hands often and keep your distance from people who are sick.
- Avoid foods that cause: For example, caffeine, spicy foods and artificial sweeteners
- Be aware of contamination: Avoid consuming food or drink that may be contaminated, especially while traveling
- Manage health conditions and medications: Always discuss conditions and medications that can cause diarrhea with your doctor
Dehydration is a common complication of burning diarrhea because your body loses fluid every time you have a watery bowel movement. It becomes a serious risk if you cannot control the burning diarrhea and replace those fluids. Severe dehydration can lead to organ damage or shock.
Anyone can experience dehydration as a result of burning diarrhea. Young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are most affected.
The burning sensation with diarrhea can be caused by food, skin irritation, digestive problems, or another medical condition. Although it may go away on its own after a few days, the onset of longer-lasting burning diarrhea should be evaluated by a health care professional.
Depending on the underlying cause, different treatment options can offer symptom relief or long-term maintenance if needed.