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Curtis Asbury, MD encounters this often. A patient arrives with a red, inflamed, irritated backside, insisting they haven't changed their routine. After examining their sore bottom, Asbury gives a serious nod and reveals unexpected news.
"You're wiping wrong," he informs them.
As a dermatologist in Selbyville, Delaware, Asbury has noticed an increase in individuals dissatisfied with their personal hygiene practices. Whether it's due to misguided advice during childhood potty training or just instinctual wiping, some people aren't properly caring for one of the dirtiest parts of the body. The results can lead to irritation.
"This condition is known as perianal dermatitis," Asbury explains to Mytour, describing the kind of skin irritation that affects individuals who wipe too harshly, too seldom, or excessively. Some people scrub so aggressively in an attempt to clean their rear end that the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons has coined a term for the resulting sensitivity: Polished Anus Syndrome, or PAS.
Thankfully, preventing PAS and other rectal mishaps is relatively simple. Here are some expert tips for maintaining a clean bottom.
DITCH THE WET WIPES
To start, Asbury suggests people avoid using pre-moistened wipes, which are heavily marketed as tools for achieving a sparkling clean. The use of these wipes has been linked to allergic reactions from methylisothiazolinone, a preservative meant to prevent bacterial growth while the products sit on shelves. “Even the all-natural ones can cause issues,” he says, because the chemicals in these wipes aren't always fully rinsed off.
Should you switch to dry toilet paper instead? Not exactly. “It’s definitely healthier to cleanse your body with water," Asbury states. "Nobody takes a dry piece of paper, rubs it on their skin, and thinks they’re clean.” Even the ancient Greco-Romans (332 BCE–395 CE) understood this, as evidenced by an account from philosopher Seneca, who noted they used a damp sponge on a stick for post-toilet cleaning. Of course, some ancient societies also used pebbles and clam shells—methods best avoided in favor of modern practices.
CONSIDER INVESTING IN A BIDET
iStockAsbury strongly supports the use of a standalone or add-on toilet device that delivers a water spray between your cheeks to remove lingering waste. While bidets are widely used in Europe and Japan, they have been slow to gain popularity in the West. Some people may be hesitant to modify their home plumbing to provide fresh water, though DIY installation is surprisingly straightforward. For those who prefer an alternative, Asbury has another solution.
TRY PAPER TOWELS WITH WATER
"I recommend Viva, a soft, thick paper towel by Kleenex," he says. "Keep a squirt bottle near the toilet to moisten the paper towel." Regular toilet paper is often too flimsy to absorb enough moisture, while standard paper towels can be too rough for delicate areas. Viva strikes the perfect balance. (And no, Asbury is not affiliated with Kleenex, nor is the company endorsing this particular use.)
This advice comes with a significant warning: Viva wipes are not designed to be flushed and could potentially clog your plumbing if you attempt to dispose of them down the drain. When Asbury suggests this method, he tells people to throw the used towels in the trash. If the thought of this is unpleasant, and if your bottom isn’t already irritated from improper wiping, lightly dampening a piece of sturdy toilet paper can also work.
DRY CAREFULLY BUT SOFTLY
Once you've wiped until the paper is clean, take a dry piece and gently blot up any leftover moisture. Whether using wet wipes or a bidet, some people skip this step, but “it would be strange not to dry,” Asbury says. Moisture left behind can cause intertrigo, a rash that occurs in skin folds, or even lead to a fungal infection.
It's important to be gentle. “I often see people scrubbing too hard,” Asbury says. “That only makes the situation worse.” Overzealous wiping can create tiny tears in the anal skin, which can lead to bleeding and irritation.
WIPE IN THE CORRECT DIRECTION
Be sure to wipe from front to back, directing waste away from the groin. This advice has traditionally been given to women to keep fecal matter away from the vaginal area and reduce the risk of urinary tract infections. While Asbury hasn't come across studies that directly support this, he still thinks it's probably a more hygienic approach. Additionally, sitting while wiping might help, as it could keep the perianal region more accessible. However, if you find it uncomfortable to reach into the toilet, standing up to wipe is just as effective.
If you've followed all these tips and still experience discomfort, Asbury suggests it might be a deeper issue. “If you don’t feel clean, there could be something wrong with your sphincter,” he says. Weakened muscles can lead to leakage. However, it's usually dry-wipers who struggle to achieve a thorough clean. For those individuals, Asbury recommends switching to a bidet.
“It’s cold initially,” he admits. “But you get used to it.”
