Perianal dermatoses may occur as primary diseases or secondary to a systemic disorder. Underlying systemic disease must be
discovered and treated. This is just as important as identifying and treating bacterial, parasitic and fungous infections.
Therapy of perianal skin lesions has been greatly modified since introduction of steroids and antibiotics. Antibiotic therapy
of systemic disease has caused many cases of fungous disease which have complicated other perianal skin disorders.
The various types of dermatoses must be identified and appropriate treatment should be administered. Therapy consists principally
of strict observance of prescribed hygienic measures on the part of the patient and application of medication which is known
to be effective. Surgical, psychologic and irradiation therapy may be required as adjuncts.
Many therapeutic agents are available and often it is advantageous to select the most efficacious agent by the well-known
system of “trial and error.”