My story is a bit long, but I would really appreciate if you read it all, and gave me some advice. I'm legitimately concerned, so any information or advice would be extremely appreciated and helpful as I know nothing about fissures. Not sure if this makes any difference, but I am a 21 year old male.
I first noticed the area becoming extremely itchy about 7 months ago (possibly a bit longer), but only at night while I was trying to fall asleep and occasionally after I woke up in the morning. Over time the itching gradually got worse, and eventually I would claw at it trying to alleviate it. It never hurt, just itched an incredible amount. Scratching was extremely satisfying and it typically went away after a while, and I almost never would experience the itching in the middle of the day.
After about 2 months, the itching started to burn and hurt. The reason I never looked into this was mostly due to being embarrassed / extremely busy with work and school, but also to do with the fact that it wasn't a constant chronic itch/pain. It just occurred mostly at night or if I started irritating the area myself, so in the daytime I wasn't even thinking about it.
More recently, the area started to hurt more than itch. The itching was still there, but it was a painful itch. It felt like there were tiny shards of glass pierced within my skin. This is when I decided to finally take a good look at the area and see just what was going on. I know what you're thinking, 'You didn't think to look at the area months ago?' Well, no. Not really. I briefly would check it out in the bathroom mirror after a shower sometimes, but I never noticed anything at all. Granted I wasn't up close and personal and the angle wasn't ideal, but from what I could tell everything seemed fine.
So once the itching turned more into pain, I got a handheld mirror and lied in bed to get a really good look. To my surprise, I saw tiny cuts all over my anus. It actually looked like someone took a small knife and cut lines into it. The cuts were various sizes, some smaller some bigger, some straight lines, some squiggly and uneven. But I think the thing that shocked me the most, is just how many of them there were. It looked like 5 or 6. That's when I finally put aside everything and spent hours researching what this means and trying to get answers. I came across anal fissures, a term I've heard before but never really knew exactly what they were. It seems that this is my problem, of course it is just self diagnosed as I have not seen a doctor.
Currently It does not hurt at all unless I actually touch the cuts, or fissures. The itching is still pretty strong (again, generally only in the night and mornings) but I noticed today that the skin around my anal area is almost leathery. I think it's due to the months of scratching, but when I touch, it almost feels like I'm not even touching a part of my body. It's not soft or sensitive like the area normally should be. I looked in the mirror closely again tonight, and I kid you not, there are over 10 fissures to my count. There could be more. They're pretty much everywhere.

My main question is, is it normal to have SO many? and what the hell causes this? I suppose you're all going to tell me to see a doctor, and that's understandable. Obviously I'd rather not. I haven't tried any home remedies or changes to my diet yet, so I would like to try to give that a go first. Again, any information would be really appreciated. Thank you.

Hi there!
Well, yes, I am going to suggest you see a doctor. Because you are describing itching that intensifies at night to the point of scratching yourself and causing damage, you need to have some things ruled out, first and foremost being pinworms, which tend to cause intense itching at night. If pinworms are ruled out, then there are other things to check in to, such as various kinds of infections, dermatitis, food allergies, etc. More than likely, your scratching has caused the fissuring of the skin, which is not a "garden variety" fissure that has been caused by passage of stool. Because you have been scratching so much, yes, it is likely that you would see multiple areas where damage has been done.
Honestly, you really do need to get yourself checked by a physician for a proper diagnosis. This could be something really simple to clear up with one round of medication, and meanwhile you are suffering all this time.
In the meantime, it is essential that you absolutely stop scratching. Clip your fingernails very short and wear gloves to bed if need be to prevent scratching in your sleep.
Keep us posted, and please get yourself checked out.

Hi I agree with Jr2's good advice. Get off to see a Doctor. You can probably get some worm tablets from over the counter at a pharmacy if you explain your symptoms. You will also get instructions on cleaning you bedding etc to avoid infestation if it is worms. You have been brave enough overcome your modesty by posting here. It is just another step to see a Doctor. Believe me you will wonder why you didn't take the jump earlier. In the meantime you might want to wear some cotton gloves to bed to prevent you causing more aggravation whilst asleep. Good luck and let us know how you go. Xxx Pia

Yes, get to a doctor. Try and sort this out now before it gets worse. Let us know how you go. X
PIA how are you feeling after the Botox? Is there immediate relief?

Confucious say: "Man go to bed with itchy butt, wake up with smelly fingers."
I don't want to sound like a broken record (as I have been in your position where the LAST THING I wanted to be told was to see a doctor), but . . . go see a doctor. If I were you, I would go to a colorectal surgeon (CRS). Just because you go to a CRS doesn't mean that you will need surgery. However, you want to go to a doctor that deals with butts all day long.
P.S. I have absolutely NO affiliation with this company (other than being a repeat, generally satisfied customer) but www.justanswer.com is a great resource to ask real doctors for their advice from the convenience of your computer. It does cost to ask a question, but it is very affordable and they may be able to offer you more specific help without having to visit a doctor. You can even take a picture of your butt and upload it for them to look at. You may want to start with asking a DERMATOLOGIST (as I'm not sure that what you are describing are fissures) and go from there. When they answer your question, you can keep asking them follow-up questions until you are completely satisfied. Just a thought.

Sorry.... But I have to agree with the others... You need to let a dr take a look. Don't worry... They see things like this all the time.
My first thought when I read your post was that you may have thread worms. They normally cause intense itching at night. These are so easily treated with a couple of tablets you chew. You have probably scratched so much you have made things raw and cracked.
Good luck at the drs... And I hope you get things sorted and on your way to recovery!
OMB x

homogenic I am a fissure suffered just like most of the people in this board, the first advise like you already read before my post is, "get a doctor" to get properly diagnosed.