Why Do Hemorrhoids Itch And What To Do About It
Pruritus ani can be caused by a number of factors, including hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids occur when the veins in the anus and lower rectum become enlarged. Hemorrhoids can be internal or external and can cause symptoms such as itching and bleeding.
Read on to learn why hemorrhoids cause itching and what to do about it.
Warm Bath With Epsom Salt
Warm baths can help soothe irritation from hemorrhoids. Try using a sitz bath a small plastic tub that fits over a toilet seat so you can just immerse the affected area or take a bath in a tub, if you can.
Try a warm bath or a sitz bath for 20 minutes after each bowel movement. Adding Epsom salt to the bath can provide further relief by reducing pain.
Ease Pain And Itching
Take warm baths. Soak in a bathtub filled with a few inches of warm water for about 15 minutes at a time. Do it two or three times a day and after every bowel movement. If you want to wash the area, too, use unscented soap and don’t scrub.
Pat gently afterward to dry. You can even use a blow dryer on a cool setting if that feels better.
There are also special “sitz baths” you can put directly on your toilet seat to make soaking easier.
Rub on relief. Over-the-counter wipes or creams with witch hazel can soothe pain and itch with no side effects. Don’t use one with hydrocortisone for more than a week unless your doctor says it’s OK.
Ice it. Put a small cold pack on the trouble spot several times a day. It can dull pain and bring down the swelling for a little while.
Consider painkillers. An over-the-counter medicine, like acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen, could help with soreness.
Don’t scratch. You could damage the skin and make the irritation — and the itching — worse.
Choose cotton. Wear loose, soft underwear. It keeps the area aired out and stops moisture from building up, which can bother your hemorrhoids.
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Certain Medications Which Cause Constipation
As a general observation, medicines for blood pressure, pain, cholesterol, Heart problems, tranquilizers, and anti-depressants can cause constipations. If you are hemorrhoid sufferer but on these medicines also, you must consult physician. So that alternative medicines for your prior problems can be suggested.
Particularly, Antacids containing aluminum, medicines for cold and cough, medication for an anaemic patient, antihistamines do interfere with your bowel movements.
Hence, ongoing OTC medicines need to be reviewed if you have figured hemorrhoids for yourself.
Let us see some specific foods from the angle of their ingredients and how can they make up the foods to avoid in hemorrhoids.
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Best Ice Treatment: Hilph Perineal Ice Packs For Postpartum

Courtesy of Amazon
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Doubles as a heat pack
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Can be hard to keep in place
Don’t let the marketing for these ice packs fool you. While they work wonders for postpartum women, the elongated shape and size make them perfect for instantly cooling and soothing irritated hemorrhoids. It’s no secret that ice is a powerful pain reliever for your rear end, but it’s not exactly a breeze to fit an ice pack into the tight, highly-sensitive area known as your perineum.
These ice packs, which include soft, skin-friendly covers, are made to stay flexible even when frozen, so they don’t cause further irritation. Plus, the fact that you get two ice packs means you can constantly rotate and switch them out, if needed, rather than waiting for the same one to freeze all the time. Another bonus? They can double as heat packs.
Active Ingredients: Gel beads | Dose: Place on the sensitive area for up to 10 minutes at a time | Uses: Provides cooling relief for hemorrhoids
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Got Rid Of Hemorrhoids Now Better Take Some Precautions
START BEING A FRUIT LOVER:
If you are not a fruits lover then start being a fruits lover. Fruits help to moisten your stool which is effective for your hemorrhoids. And try to eat the skin of the fruit too as like apple, pears etc. My best suggestion is that you must have papayas. Papayas has some soothing representative which will ease your bowel movement.
FILL YOUR TUMMY WITH WATER:
Try to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. If you drink more than 8 glasses then it is even better for yourself. Water helps to keep your colon area soft and clammy.
USE PADS:
You can use pads, soaking it with some hazel witch solution. It will give you relief from itching and burning. Please do remember one thing, try to avoid using dry tissue papers. Dryness can affect your anal area and cause severe inflammation.
PRUNE JUICE:
Besides water you can have prunes juice. If you are suffering from constipation than you must take some prune juice. It is essential for its laxative effect.
VEGETABLES WITH FIBER:
Try to have vegetables which are high in fiber. Fiber will moisten your stool and it will be helpful for your colon. You can have fruits and vegetables like beans, green leafs, avocados , artichokes, broccoli etc.
HEAVY LIFTING:
Try to avoid lifting heavy things. It is not obliging for a hemorrhoids patient.
WALK EVERY HOUR:
Walk every hour only for 5-8 minutes. Then it will not directly affect the rectum. But if you are unable to walking then try to stand for a while.
How Can I Treat My Hemorrhoids
You can most often treat your hemorrhoids at home by
- taking a stool softener or a fiber supplement such as psyllium or methylcellulose
- drinking water or other nonalcoholic liquids each day as recommended by your health care professional
- not straining during bowel movements
- not sitting on the toilet for long periods of time
- taking over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin
- sitting in a tub of warm water, called a sitz bath, several times a day to help relieve pain
Applying over-the-counter hemorrhoid creams or ointments or using suppositoriesa medicine you insert into your rectummay relieve mild pain, swelling, and itching of external hemorrhoids. Most often, doctors recommend using over-the-counter products for 1 week. You should follow up with your doctor if the products
- do not relieve your symptoms after 1 week
- cause side effects such dry skin around your anus or a rash
Most prolapsed internal hemorrhoids go away without at-home treatment. However, severely prolapsed or bleeding internal hemorrhoids may need medical treatment.
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Discomfort Itching And Irritation In The Anal Region
Theres really no reason to try and live with your hemorrhoids until the pain becomes severe enough to disrupt your life. Many effective nonsurgical treatments exist that can resolve your hemorrhoids, including:
Infrared coagulation
The highly effective IRC method utilizes infrared light delivered via a small probe to painlessly coagulate the blood vessels supplying your hemorrhoid. As the blood flow is blocked, the enlarged hemorrhoidal tissue shrinks and your symptoms resolve.
Rubber band ligation
This method also blocks blood flow to the hemorrhoidal tissue, which eventually causes the hemorrhoid to wither and die. Its admittedly more painful overall than IRC and may cause bleeding, but it remains an effective, nonsurgical solution for treating hemorrhoids.
You can rely on Dr. Clemens to focus first on diagnosing your condition correctly and then recommending the most conservative and effective hemorrhoid treatment available, including tips that help prevent hemorrhoids from recurring. Schedule your appointment today at Midwest Hemorrhoid Treatment Center.
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How Can I Prevent Hemorrhoids
Lifestyle and dietary changes are the best way to prevent hemorrhoids. Staying physically active and eating a nutritious, balanced diet help keep your bowel movements regular.
Eat lots of high fiber foods and drink plenty of water to keep the digestive process moving correctly and prevent constipation.Regular exercise and avoiding sitting for long periods of time can also help prevent hemorrhoids.
The most effective way to avoid constipation is to go to the bathroom when you first feel the urge. Delaying a bowel movement allows the bowel to reabsorb water from the stool. This makes stool harder when you finally do go.
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Are Hemorrhoid Creams Effective
OTC hemorrhoid creams and ointments can be effective for temporarily relieving symptoms, but creams do not make hemorrhoids go away permanently. The effectiveness of hemorrhoid cream can vary with the product used and the individual. Most home remedies and OTC hemorrhoid creams have not been studied for safety or effectiveness for prolonged use, but if used too often or for more than a week, hemorrhoid creams could cause side effects.
Good Foods For Haemorrhoids
There are two types of fibre that can be found in different types of food that aid digestion, among many other health benefits:
Soluble fibre helps to keep stool soft and minimise constipation by soaking up water as it passes through your system.
Insoluble fibre helps to keep your bowel movements regular and moving through the digestive system.
It is recommended that we include about 30 grams of fibre per day so weve compiled a list of foods you can include in your diet that contain both soluble and insoluble fibre, as well as some culprit foods that are often associated with constipation.
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Tips To Avoid Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy
When you’re pregnant, your body goes through several changes, and one of them is swollen veins. During prenatal classes, talk to other expectant moms, share your experiences and ask your instructor about natural therapies.
Hemorrhoids during pregnancy can be avoided by taking the following steps:
Taking A Sitz Bath In The Bathtub

If youre taking a sitz bath in the bathtub, the first step is to clean the tub.
A plastic sitz bath kit fits over the toilet. Rinse the bath kit with clean water before using it. Then, add very warm but not hot water along with any medications or solutions recommended by your doctor.
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What Is Stapled Hemrroidectomy
The following are pictures of the stapled hemorrhoidectomy procedure.
- Picture of Hollow Tube Inserted into the Anal Canal and Pushing up the Hemorrhoids
- Picture of Internal Hemorrhoids in Anal Canal
- Picture of Suturing the Anal Canal Through the Hollow Tube
- Picture of Bringing Expanded Hemorrhoidal Supporting Tissue into the Hollow Tube by Pulling on Suture
- Picture of Hemorrhoids Pulled Back Above Anal Canal After Stapling and Removal of Hemorrhoidal Supporting Tissue
Whom Do Hemorrhoids Affect
Although most people think hemorrhoids are abnormal, almost everyone has them. Hemorrhoids help control bowel movements. Hemorrhoids cause problems and can be considered abnormal or a disease only when the hemorrhoidal clumps of vessels enlarge.
Hemorrhoids occur in almost everyone, and an estimated 75% of people will experience enlarged hemorrhoids at some point. However only about 4% will go to a doctor because of hemorrhoid problems. Hemorrhoids that cause problems are found equally in men and women, and their prevalence peaks between 45 and 65 years of age.
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Related Resources For Hemorrhoids
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This article is not medical advice. It is intended for general informational purposes and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your physician or dial 911.
Why Do They Appear
There can be many reasons for the formation of hemorrhoids. Most often, a weakness in the connective tissue supporting veins in the anal canal is responsible for swelling of the veins.
One of the most common causes of hemorrhoids is too much straining while passing stools that may result in exerting too much pressure on the nerves in and around the rectum and may lead to internal hemorrhoids or piles.
A fuller list of possible causes appears below:
- Constipation: Constipation is one of the prime causes of hemorrhoids. Inability to pass the stool easily or exerting too much pressure during bowel movements can put pressure on the veins in the rectum and can cause hemorrhoids.
- Low-fiber diet: Diet that consists of fewer fibers may cause hemorrhoids. People who take a more fiber-rich diet are likely to suffer less from hemorrhoids. Low-fiber diets may lead to hardening of the stools and may result in straining during bowel movements leading to hemorrhoids in the future. People who are already suffering from hemorrhoids are advised to eat more fiber-rich foods like vegetables and fruits to help in the easy passing of bowel movements that can lessen the symptoms of hemorrhoids.
- Chronic diarrhea: Chronic diarrhea associated with irritable bowel syndrome may cause hemorrhoids. The continuous passing of stools may cause loss of elasticity of the rectal muscles and nerves and cause hemorrhoids.
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Severe Hemorrhoids Vs Mild Hemorrhoids: Stages
Many physicians use a grading system to categorize hemorrhoids along four stages:
- First-degree hemorrhoids: Hemorrhoids that bleed, but do not prolapse. These are slightly enlarged hemorrhoids, but they do not protrude outside the anus.
- Second-degree hemorrhoids: Hemorrhoids that prolapse and retract on their own . These may come out of the anus during certain activities like passing stool, and then return back inside the body.
- Third-degree hemorrhoids: Hemorrhoids that prolapse and must be pushed back in by a finger.
- Fourth-degree hemorrhoids: Hemorrhoids that prolapse and cannot be pushed back in the anal canal. Fourth-degree hemorrhoids also include hemorrhoids that are thrombosed or that pull much of the lining of the rectum through the anus.
The following are pictures of the stapled hemorrhoidectomy procedure.
- Picture of Hollow Tube Inserted into the Anal Canal and Pushing up the Hemorrhoids
- Picture of Internal Hemorrhoids in Anal Canal
- Picture of Suturing the Anal Canal through the Hollow Tube
- Picture of Bringing Expanded Hemorrhoidal Supporting Tissue into the Hollow Tube by pulling On Suture
- Picture of Hemorrhoids Pulled Back Above Anal Canal after Stapling and Removal of Hemorrhoidal Supporting Tissue
What Are Common Side Effects Of Hemorrhoid Medicine
Hemorrhoid medications are generally considered safe drugs, however, as with all medications, there is the potential for side effects. If you decide to use a treatment that contains steroids, it is not advised to continue its use for more than one week as it can lead to skin damage.
Here are some side effects to look out for when using hemorrhoid medications, including creams and gels:
- Skin irritation at the site of application
- Rectal bleeding
- Severe irritation inside or around the rectum
- Allergic reaction, including rash, hives, or swelling of the lips
- Increased blood pressure
- Headache, dizziness, and nausea
Although side effects with these medications are rare, and this is not a comprehensive list, please speak to your healthcare provider immediately if you notice any signs of a negative reaction.
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