[Anal hygiene in perianal skin diseases--compatibility of water moist and dry toilet paper]

The most common morphological changes in 485 of our ambulatory patients were found on external examination of the anal region (46%). These changes included erosions, fissur and eczema. Regarding the symptoms the predominant complaints were itching and burning in 42.1%. Anal hygiene after defaecation was most commonly done with dry toilet-paper (55%). A change in anal hygiene after defaecation relieves symptoms: By changing from water to moist toilet paper in 9%, from dry toilet paper to moist toilet paper in 30%, from moist toilet paper to water in 32%, an from dry toilet paper to water in 60%. These results confirm known facts regarding the influences of conserving agents an printing materials in dry (often recycled) and moist toilet papers on the skin. These side-effects to be even more pronounced in the compromised skin and suggest that anal hygiene should be done with water only.