Home Treatment Of Piles
The treatment of piles involves applying a cream, gel or ointment, using suppositories, adjusting your diet and taking a laxative if necessary. Applying an icepack designed for the area will help swollen piles shrink, while a special orthopaedic ring cushion will help you sit more easily, as follows.
Is A Prescription Hemorrhoid Cream Necessary To Treat My Hemorrhoids
If at-home hemorrhoid treatment or over-the-counter creams and suppositories dont provide you enough relief to handle your hemorrhoids, it may be time to contact a medical professional.
For some cases of hemorrhoids, the symptoms are so uncomfortable that they need a prescription strength medication to provide patients with relief.
Prescription hemorrhoid creams, ointments, and suppositories are usually the next step when over-the-counter options just dont cut it. In more severe cases, your doctor may jump right to suggesting you undergo a non-invasive or surgical option to handle your hemorrhoid condition.
But, unless medically necessary, most doctors like to try a heavier strength hemorrhoid medication before they jump to the next level. Talk to your medical professional about the option thats right for you.
If your doctor suggests you try a prescription hemorrhoid cream, you may want to have more information without having to ask your doctor embarrassing questions. Heres a list of the top 10 creams available on the market and a little more information about the products to answer your questions.
Best Over The Counter Hemorrhoid Treatment
Other over-the-counter medications can cause side effects, including increased risk of infection. Its important to discuss all treatment options with your healthcare provider.
If the symptoms of hemorrhoids are not severe, a stronger medication may be prescribed. These can be used to reduce the size of the pile and numb the area to minimize pain. External hemorrhoids can be removed by a surgeon.
Newer techniques can target the blood supply in the hemorrhoid and reduce pain. While most hemorrhoid medications are effective, they dont cure them and may even increase the symptoms.
Prescription medication can help relieve pain and numb the area. However, these medications should not be taken more than the recommended dosage. You may want to explore other treatment options or talk with your doctor.
Another treatment option for hemorrhoids is suppositories. These ointments can provide temporary relief for internal hemorrhoids. While they arent always effective, they are a good choice if other treatments dont work. But remember that OTC suppositories should be used only short-term. They may cause irritation and even rash.
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Ways To Prevent Hemorrhoids
There are steps you can take to prevent hemorrhoids if you know youre at an elevated risk. These include drinking more water, adding more fiber to your diet, and exercising regularly. These lifestyle changes can soften your stool and reduce the chance of constipation, which is a significant factor for hemorrhoids.
Further, if you experience frequent constipation, speaking with your doctor about treatment options can reduce the risk of developing hemorrhoids.
Shutterstock/NDAB Creativity
Getting Restful Sleep Without Triggering Hemorrhoid Pain
Depending on your preferred sleeping position, your hemorrhoid pain can make it difficult for you to get a good nights rest. In addition to clean cotton underwear and loose-fitting pajamas, we recommend you sleep on your stomach to reduce anal pain and place a pillow under your hips to prevent yourself from rolling over onto your back.
A full-body sitz bath right before bed may also ease discomfort, help you feel more relaxed, and make it easier for you to fall asleep. In addition, reading or listening to soothing music may take your mind off your hemorrhoids and your discomfort, which may help you get to sleep faster.
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Best Soak: Thena Natural Wellness Organic Sitz Bath Soak
Courtesy of Amazon
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Made with soothing, natural oils
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Safe to use during pregnancy
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Softens skin
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May irritate sensitive skin
A sitz bath can be an incredibly soothing treatment for hemorrhoids and postpartum care, with both the warm water and the Epsom salts content working wonders for irritated, delicate skin.
“During a sitz bath, you soak the rectal area in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes, two to three times daily,” says Dr. Arturo Bravo, a gastroenterologist at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital. “Sitz baths work by improving blood flow and relaxing the muscle around the anus, called the internal anal sphincter.”
This sitz bath made by Thena, which includes Epsom salts and dead sea salt as well as nourishing coconut and magnesium oils, is both soothing and healing, reducing inflammation while repairing tissue damage. It can be dissolved into a special sitz device or simply blended into a warm bath within your tub.
Active Ingredients: 100% pure natural Epsom salts, 100% pure natural dead sea salt, organic coconut oil, and other natural oils | Dose: 1/2 cup for a sitz bath | Uses: Hemorrhoid relief during a sitz bath
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Offers itch and pain relief
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Can stain clothing
While the first line of defense for most people with hemorrhoids is medicated creams and ointments, pregnant women have to take a pause before running to the pharmacy for an OTC drug.
What Gets Rid Of External Hemorrhoids
Sometimes, getting rid of external hemorrhoids is as simple as increasing your water intake and adding fiber to your diet.
If you experience constipation, a stool softener can help rid the occurrence of external hemorrhoids.
Other things you can do to get rid of them is limit the amount of time you sit on the toilet and refrained from holding in bowel movements.
Practice good hygiene and be sure to keep the area around your anus clean.
If you are prone to get external hemorrhoids, try using moist hemorrhoid wipes to clean your anus after you pass a bowel movement.
Using a sitz bath or sitting in a warm tub can help alleviate irritation from external hemorrhoids.
You may also use over-the-counter medications to ease discomfort and reduce swelling.
If you are prone to external hemorrhoids and they become increasingly painful or uncomfortable, or you notice continuous bleeding, you may want to talk to a doctor about more advanced treatment options.
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What Is The Best Prescription Medicine For Hemorrhoids Treatment
With several medications available to cure hemorrhoids, you might wonder which medicine is the best. Like most prescriptions that can only be determined by your doctor on a case by case. The best option will depend on your condition, the severity of your hemorrhoids issue, and if you are taking any medications that might negatively interact with hemorrhoids prescription medications.
Doctor Butler’s Ointment Uses Aloe Vera To Calm Itchy And Inflamed Skin
Sarah is a freelance writer with a focus on health and wellness. She has written for publications like Women’s Health, Healthline, and Parents. She taught creative writing for five years, and has a bachelor’s degree in English from Southern Connecticut State University.
Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH, is board-certified in gastroentrology. He is the vice chair for ambulatory services for the department of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, where he is also a professor. He was the founding editor and co-editor in chief of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.
Christina Oehler is a commerce editor for Verywell Health. She has a degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has work published on sites like Health, Shape, and Brides.
We independently research, test, review, and recommend the bestproducts. Healthcare professionals review articles for medical accuracy. Learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
Verywell Health / Jessica Juliao
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What Causes Infected Hemorrhoids
When healthy blood flow to the region is impeded, hemorrhoids are more prone to infection. Healthy blood flow to the rectal area ensures a regular supply of white blood cells and immune system components. This reduces the danger of infection.
Internal hemorrhoids are seldom infected. Internal hemorrhoid develops in the rectum. This is the part of the large intestine that terminates at the anus.
A prolapsed internal hemorrhoid occurs when an internal hemorrhoid pushes down from the rectum.
Internal hemorrhoids that have prolapsed may frequently be gently pulled back up into the rectum wall. However, it is still more prone to get infected than other varieties.
This is because the blood supply to the vein might be shut off. A strangulated internal hemorrhoid is a medical term for this.
An illness may spread swiftly without the nutrition, oxygen, and immune-system cells delivered in the circulation.
If you have a disease that decreases healthy circulation to the rectum, you may be at a greater risk of strangulated hemorrhoid and subsequent infection.
Among the situations that might result in reduced blood flow to the area are:
- diabetes
- coronary artery disease
- clots in the blood
I am furthermore, having HIV or any illness that impairs the immune system might increase the likelihood of infected hemorrhoids. Infections may also occur during hemorrhoid treatment methods. Rubber band ligation, in particular, may occasionally result in disease.
Best For Itch Relief: Preparation H Soothing Relief Anti Itch Cream
Designed to deliver instant relief using a powerful dose of 1% hydrocortisonewhich is the highest strength available over the counterthis maximum-strength, fragrance-free cream significantly soothes and reduces itchiness to kickstart your healing. It works best used with the Preparation H Cooling Wipes mentioned above.
“I will say that this worked instantly, and provided an itch-free night which was great,” . “Grease-less formula which sinks into the skin quickly and goes to work fast.”
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Best For Instant Relief: Thena Natural Wellness Organic Sitz Bath Soak
Another Epsom salt-enriched pick, this organic bath soak has the finest grain Epsom and Dead Sea salts that dissolve quickly to offer immediate relief, shrinking hemorrhoids, softening damaged skin, and neutralizing odor. The bath soak also uses magnesium oil to lubricate the perineum to repair damaged tissue to prevent infection. On average, Amazon shoppers give this product a respectable 4.6 stars.
“I would recommend this for postpartum care or hemorrhoid care,” one reviewer says. “It was much better , and all that is needed It helped heal my episiotomy complications within a week.”
How Are The Hemorrhoids Issue Tested And Diagnosed
Your health provider will look at your bottom area. They might put a lubricated gloved finger or an instrument in your anus. An ANOSCOPE is a hollow and lighted tube for viewing the lower couple of inches of the rectum.
A PROTOSCOPE works like an ANOSCOPE, but itll allow your health provider to see more of the rectum. You might need other tests to locate inner hemorrhoids or exclude other situations that can reason anal bleeding. These are including:
SIGMOIDOSCOPY, which looks at your lower colon, or sigmoid and colonoscopy that determines the complete colon. And both use flexible, lighted viewing tube that goes into the rectum.
Barium X-Ray can also show the outer of the complete inside of your colon. First, you will get a barium enema, and then an expert will take x-rays of your lower part gastrointestinal tract.
A few questions your doctor might ask during medication for oral Hemorrhoids treatments include:
Have you experienced Hemorrhoid before?
When did your Hemorrhoid symptoms start?
Are you taking any sort of medication?
Does anything look to trigger your discomfort?
You might also want to ask your doctor some questions such as:
Do I have got a Hemorrhoids problem?
What are my Hemorrhoid treatment options?
Will there be a bodily examination?
What caused this problem?
How long will it take to cure?
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How To Diagnose Infected Hemorrhoids
Your doctor will examine your medical history and present symptoms to determine whether you have a hemorrhoid infection. Fever, for example, might assist your doctor in making a diagnosis.
A physical exam will also be performed to look for visible symptoms of infection, such as redness surrounding hemorrhoids. If you have an internal hemorrhoid prolapsed, your doctor may opt to remove it before it becomes infected.
Blood tests such as a white blood cell count are performed if an infection is suspected. A low WBC count might suggest an infection.
Other tests, such as a urinalysis or X-rays, may be performed to search for diseases that have spread to other body regions.
What Are The Symptoms
If you have infected hemorrhoids, you may experience all common hemorrhoid symptoms. Among these signs are:
Tiny quantities of blood in the toilet or on lavatory paper after a bowel movement swelling around the anus, itching in and around the anus discomfort, particularly when sitting or straining during a bowel movement a lump beneath the skin surrounding your anus.
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Best Prescription Hemorrhoid Cream
On rare occasions, only a prescription treatment will do. If you see your doctor you may be prescribed a treatment which is not available over the counter.
Depending on your experience with hemorrhoids you may find that the treatments we reviewed in this article do not work for you.
For most people over the counter, treatments work just fine. But for others, a prescription treatment may provide better relief.
Treatments are generally issued as prescription-only because they come with the risk of side effects, or because frequent use can be damaging.
Prescription restrictions are there to protect patients and that is why prescription hemorrhoid treatments are not available online or over the counter.
Lets take a look at two of the prescription treatments you may be offered if your doctor believes over the counter treatments are not going to work for you.
First, Anusol HC is often prescribed and is available as both a suppository and a cream. It contains a strong ingredient called hydrocortisone acetate which represses the chemicals in your body that causes swelling and pain.
Another popular product is Proctocort. Proctocort is a cream and it also contains hydrocortisone. It is also very potent but should be used with great care and only if you have a valid prescription.
What Are The Best Prescription Medication For Hemorrhoids
To treat infected hemorrhoids or infected tissue produced by a hemorrhoid removal treatment, an antibiotic such as doxycycline is utilized.
Cefepime and imipenem are antibiotics used to treat peritonitis . The sort of antibiotic administered to you will be determined by the severity of your illness and any difficulties or sensitivities you may have with particular prescriptions.
In extreme situations, surgery to remove infected tissue surrounding the hemorrhoid or tissue inside the belly may be required. This is known as debridement, and it may assist the body in healing from an illness.
Home cures, in addition to pharmaceuticals and possibly surgical treatments, may help ease symptoms. These examples include ice packs or cold compresses around your anus or numbing pain treatments such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen pads.
Changing your diet might also contribute to reduced straining during bowel motions. A high-fiber diet of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains will help keep your stool soft, increase volume, and prevent straining.
Before attempting any form of home therapy, always consult with your doctor. You dont want to risk spreading the virus or jeopardizing your medical treatment.
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Do Hemorrhoids Go Away
Most hemorrhoids will go away without medical treatment within a few days. If they do not go away within a few days, you may try treatments at home such as warm baths, pain relief pills such as aspirin, and over-the-counter hemorrhoid treatments that can be purchased at a pharmacy. If painful hemorrhoids continue to bother you for more than 1-2 weeks, talk with your doctor. In rare cases, doctors may need to intervene with medical injections or surgery to remove hemorrhoids.
Hemorrhoid symptoms may also come and go. To keep symptoms at bay, be sure to consume high-fiber foods and drink water, and avoid straining during bowel movement or sitting on the toilet for extended periods of time.
Medications Applied Directly To Hemorrhoids
Most hemorrhoidal medications are preparations that contain a variety of active ingredients to provide short-term relief of hemorrhoid symptoms. These products are applied directly to the anal or rectal area and come in different forms, including creams, gels, foams, suppositories and pads. Hemorrhoidal preparations may include protectants, constricting medications, hydrocortisone, numbing medications, witch hazel, and combination products.
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When To See A Physician
If you experience anorectal discomfort of some type , the first thing to consider is that it may be a more serious condition, such as a fissure, abscess, or fistula, or simple anal irritation caused by allergies or incomplete cleansing following a bowel movement. For this reason, it is wise to follow directions on the product labels that advise use for no more than 7 days. If the problem persists for longer than 1 week from the time it began, see a physician to ensure that you do not have a more serious condition.
It is also important to note that rectal bleeding requires an immediate physician appointment. Never assume that rectal bleeding is a minor problem that will disappear on its own. Rather, view it as a cause for alarm that requires an immediate physician appointment to screen you for such problems as colorectal cancer.
Hemorrhoids occur with greater frequency as a person ages. Thus, hemorrhoid products should never be used on anyone under the age of 12 years. If you experience protrusion , you should also see a physician. These are prolapsed internal hemorrhoids that should be checked to see if they require surgical correction.
Herbal And Home Remedies
In addition to OTC and prescription medicated suppositories, you can make and use alternative suppositories. These are designed to provide comfort and relief, but they dont have active ingredients to reduce swelling, irritation, and pain.
Coconut oil suppositories can be used with hemorrhoids. These are formed by freezing coconut oil in small cylinders. When youre ready to insert the suppository, you can remove one and quickly insert it into the rectum.
The cooled oil provides instant relief. Coconut oil may also provide prolonged relief due to potential anti-inflammatory properties.
You can also make your own laxative suppositories. Combine mineral oil and a solid oil, such as coconut oil or cocoa butter. Freeze into cylinders, and remove one when youre ready to insert.
Mineral oil is absorbed by the body and can help ease stool through your intestines.
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