This symptom isn’t the sexiest on earth, so it doesn’t get a huge amount of publicity.

Yet it’s so common that we docs give it an official, technical sounding name. That’s ‘pruritus ani’ if you want to impress your mates – though, in this situation, you probably don’t.

The original cause if often hard to identify. For whatever reason, the sensitive skin around the anus gets inflamed – maybe because of an infection or a patch of eczema.

Then you get into a vicious cycle. The itch makes you scratch, which further inflames the area, which makes you scratch, and so on. And the problem’s compounded by the fact that even the most fastidious find their nether regions difficult to keep perfectly clean and dry all day long.

The first step to a calmer botty is to break the itch/scratch cycle. So stop scratching. And, when you’ve opened you bowels, finish your bottom ablutions with a wet wipe, which will keep the area squeaky clean. Try to carry a small pack with you during the day, too, so you can use them when you go to the loo at work.

This in itself may solve the problem. If not, try an anti-fungal/hydrocortisone 1% cream combo – available over the counter.

If that doesn’t work, it’s time to bite the bullet and see your GP, as you may have some skin condition that needs specific treatment.