In addition to relaxing the muscles of the anus, you also need to take care of the skin. The skin that covers the anal muscles is as sensitive as your lips (the ones on your face, for those folks with lips in other places). Think about how much sensation you have there and you’ll understand why you need a lot of lube. If there’s too much friction, the skin becomes irritated and sensitive, which makes things uncomfortable. Choosing a high-quality lubricant can make all the difference at avoiding that.
Lastly, the skin of the anus is meant to stretch when the muscles relax. But sometimes, the little folds can stick together. When you try to open up, you can get little tears, just like when your lips are dry and cracked. That can be very painful and it often puts an end to anal adventures. One easy way to deal with that is to apply coconut oil or a cocoa butter salve after washing. Do that for a few days and it’ll probably help the skin heal. It’s just like putting lip balm on in dry weather.
This week’s topic is Anal Anatomy, follow these links to read the rest of the series!
Part 1 – Two Rings of Muscle
Part 2 – The Physical Response to Stress
Part 3 – Taking Care of the Skin
Part 4 – Learning to Relax
