Most healthy adults experience diarrhea a few times a year. People with irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease may have diarrhea for a prolonged period of time. This can be very irritating to the skin and difficult to treat. Here are some tips on how to reduce the skin irritation, what foods can make diarrhea worsen, and what foods may help.
1. Keep the area clean.
After a bowel movement, clean the area gently with wet toilet tissue. If possible, rinse your bottom in the shower to avoid wiping.2. Apply a barrier cream.
Creams for “diaper rash” that contains zinc oxide can be applied to clean, dry skin. This will protect the skin against the acidic stool.3. Avoid hot baths and showers.
Hot baths and showers can leech moisture from the skin.4. Drink plenty of clear fluids.
Clear fluids, especially water, can help replace fluids that have been lost by diarrhea.5. Avoid foods that can contribute to acidic stool and/or diarrhea:
- Alcohol.
- Artificial sweeteners.
- Caffeine.
- Citrus fruits and drinks.
- Fatty foods.
- Fried foods.
- Greasy foods.
- Spicy foods.
6. Some supplements may make symptoms worse.
Avoid taking any supplements that may cause diarrhea or cause stool to be more irritating to the skin. Some example are: milk thistle, cayenne, ginseng, saw palmetto and glucosamine.7. Avoid dairy.
Dairy products (milk, ice cream, cheese), especially if you have known lactose intolerant (even mildly so), may make diarrhea worse.8. Avoid prolonged sitting.
Avoid sitting too much if possible; lying down will be easier on your bottom.9. Use a cushion.
If you still must sit for long periods of time, sit on a pillow or cushion.10. Slow down the diarrhea.
The following foods may be helpful in slowing diarrhea and preventing more skin irritation:- Canned, peeled fruits
- Cream of wheat*
- Eggs (not fried)*
- Farina*
- Fish (broiled or baked, not fried)
- Lean beef*
- Noodles
- Potatoes
- Rice
- Skinned chicken or turkey
- Smooth peanut butter
- Well-cooked vegetables
- White bread*
- Yogurt
