Bump on Anus: What Could It Be?

Medically reviewed by Moshe Barnajian, MD, FASCRS, colorectal surgeon at Surgery Group LA · Reviewed October 14, 2026

Most bumps on or near the anus are harmless and treatable. The most common causes are hemorrhoids, skin tags, an anal abscess, a fissure (a small tear) or anal warts. How the bump feels is the best first clue: a sudden, very painful lump is often a clotted hemorrhoid or an abscess, while a soft, painless bump is more often a skin tag or a wart. Any lump that doesn't settle with home care, or that bleeds or keeps growing, should be checked by a doctor.

Which bump is it? A quick guide

• Sudden, very painful, firm lump at the edge of the anus, often bluish: thrombosed (clotted) external hemorrhoid
• Painful, swollen, red or warm lump that keeps getting worse, sometimes with fever: anal abscess (a pocket of pus)
• Soft swelling that may bleed bright red when you wipe, itching: hemorrhoids
• Sharp pain with bowel movements, with a small bump or swelling next to it: anal fissure
• Soft, painless flap of skin: skin tag
• Small soft bumps, skin-colored, pink or brown, often itchy, sometimes in clusters: anal warts
• A lump that drains pus or fluid on and off: anal fistula
• A firm lump that doesn't go away, with bleeding or a change in bowel habits: less often, anal cancer; needs an exam

This is a guide, not a diagnosis. Several of these can look alike, and more than one can be present at once.

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels in and around the anus and lower rectum. External ones show up as swollen bumps that may bleed when you wipe (Cleveland Clinic). They're very common: about half of adults over 50 have them (NIDDK). When a blood clot forms inside an external hemorrhoid, it becomes a firm, painful lump that's often worst in the first 48 hours, then slowly eases (ASCRS). Learn more about hemorrhoid treatment.

Anal abscess: a painful lump that keeps getting worse

An abscess is a painful, pus-filled bump in or around the anus. It usually starts in a blocked, infected gland inside the anus (Cleveland Clinic). The pain tends to be constant, and you may have swelling, redness, fever or drainage (Cedars-Sinai). An abscess needs to be drained; antibiotics alone often don't fix it. See perianal abscess treatment.

Sometimes a tunnel forms between the inside of the anus and the skin after an abscess. This is called an anal fistula, and it often shows up as a bump that drains on and off.

Anal fissure

A fissure is a small tear in the lining of the anus. It causes sharp pain during and after bowel movements, and sometimes there's a swelling or bump next to the tear (Cleveland Clinic). Many heal with fiber, fluids and warm baths. Learn more about anal fissure treatment.

Skin tags

Anal skin tags are soft, painless flaps of extra skin. They're often left behind after a hemorrhoid or swelling settles (Cleveland Clinic). They're harmless, but they can make cleaning harder. See what anal skin tags are and how they're removed.

Anal warts

Anal warts are caused by HPV (human papillomavirus), usually passed through sexual contact. They look like small, soft, dome-shaped bumps that can be pink, brown or skin-colored, and they often cluster. They usually don't hurt but may itch, and many people don't know they have them. Treatment includes creams, freezing, burning or laser, or surgery when there are many. Warts can come back because the virus stays in the body (UPMC).

Is it a pimple on the anus?

Pimples and boils can form on the skin around the anus, like anywhere else. A small one often settles with warm soaks and keeping the area clean and dry. But a painful "pimple" right at the edge of the anus that keeps growing may be an abscess. Don't squeeze it; have it checked.

White bumps around the anus

Small white or skin-colored bumps are often warts, irritated skin or a pimple. A white or yellow head on a bump that's painful, red and swollen can be pus, which points to an infection. If you're not sure, a quick exam will tell. See also can hemorrhoids get infected?

A lump near the anus that isn't painful

A painless lump is most often a skin tag, a wart or an old hemorrhoid. Painless doesn't always mean harmless, though. Anal cancer is rare, but it can cause a lump at the anal opening, sometimes with bleeding, itching, discharge or thinner stools. These symptoms are much more often caused by hemorrhoids, fissures or warts (American Cancer Society). A lump that looks like a hemorrhoid but doesn't go away with home care should be examined (Cleveland Clinic).

What helps at home

For a sore or swollen bump while you wait to be seen (Cleveland Clinic; NIDDK):

1. Sit in a warm sitz bath two or three times a day.
2. Keep stools soft with fiber, water and, if needed, a stool softener.
3. Try an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream or witch hazel wipes for itching, for no more than about a week.
4. Don't squeeze or pop any bump near the anus.

If the bump isn't better after a few days to a week, see a doctor.

When to see a doctor

• The bump hasn't improved after a few days to a week of home care.
• It keeps growing, feels hard, or you're not sure what it is.
• You have bleeding from the anus. Bleeding has many causes, and some need a colonoscopy to find. See understanding rectal bleeding.
• You notice a change in your bowel habits or thinner stools that doesn't go away.

Get care right away if

• the pain is severe or getting worse fast;
• you have a fever or chills with a painful lump;
• the bump is draining pus, or redness is spreading;
• you have heavy bleeding.

How we evaluate a bump on the anus at Surgery Group LA

Most of the time, a short, gentle exam in the office tells us what the bump is. Sometimes we use a small scope (anoscopy) to look just inside. Treatment depends on the cause: home care and fiber for many hemorrhoids and fissures, removal of a painful clot, drainage for an abscess, or office treatment or surgery for warts, skin tags and fistulas. If anything looks unusual, we take a small sample (biopsy) to be sure. Learn more about colorectal surgery at Surgery Group LA.

Talk to a colorectal surgeon

If you've found a bump and you're not sure what it is, we're happy to take a look. Our surgeons see patients at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Office Towers, 8635 W 3rd St, Suite 880W, Los Angeles. Call (310) 861-7493 or request an appointment.

This article is for general information and is not a substitute for medical advice.