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 baby wipes. If possible, rinse your bottom in a Sitz bath or shower to avoid wiping.2. Apply a barrier cream.
Creams for "diaper rash" that contain zinc oxide can be applied to clean, dry skin. This will protect the skin against the irritation from diarrhea.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 irritation from diarrhea.
Some of these foods may be triggers for diarrhea and should be avoided by people who have trouble with them:- 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 intolerance (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.10. Slow down the diarrhea.
The following foods may be helpful in slowing diarrhea and preventing more skin irritation:- fruit such as bananas or apples, peeled
- 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* or toast
- Yogurt
