How To Get Rid Of Hemorrhoids: A Complete Guide to Hemorrhoid Relief

Table of Contents

• What Are Hemorrhoids?
• Symptoms Of Hemorrhoids
• Hemorrhoids Causes And Risk Factors
• How To Get Rid Of Hemorrhoids And Find Relief
• Home Remedies For Hemorrhoids
• Medical Treatment Options For Hemorrhoids
• How To Prevent Hemorrhoids And Future Hemorrhoid Flare Ups

Hemorrhoids are more common than most of us might guess. We tend to struggle with them alone and keep the frustration and pain to ourselves out of embarrassment or shame. 

But the odds are excellent that you already know multiple people who are also struggling with the same inflammation, itchiness and pain. It’s a common problem, which means that people before you discovered remedies that can bring you some relief. 

This guide will explain what this ailment is and what causes symptomatic hemorrhoids. We’ll explore the many options for relief, and we’ll cover some practical methods for prevention in the future. Let’s get started.

Author's note: this blog was originally published February 4th, 2022 and has been updated to include medical treatment options for hemorrhoids

What are Hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids, first and foremost, are a normal part of the human anatomy. They become a problem when they are enlarged and can cause inflammation, pain and other symptoms. For the sake of this post, when we refer to ‘hemorrhoids’, know that we are referring to symptomatic hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoids are blood vessels in the anus that have become enlarged. They can become irritated and inflamed by increased pressure around the area. Some symptoms that may cause this are:

• Bowel movements
• Weakening of tissues around the anus and rectum
• Sitting for long periods of time
• Constipation
• Pregnancy/childbirth
• Lifting items that are heavy (regularly)

A Quick Hemorrhoid Stat

Hemorrhoids are estimated to affect one out of every 20 Americans, and statistics suggest over half of all American adults over 50 will experience this affliction.

What are the different types of hemorrhoids?

There are two types of hemorrhoids: internal and external. 

Internal Hemorrhoids:

Internal hemorrhoids form in the rectum, the final portion of the large intestine, through which stool travels before exiting the anus. 

External Hemorrhoids

External hemorrhoids begin in the anus, where your feces leaves your body.

Symptoms of hemorrhoids can vary between the two types, but both can be painful, itchy and frustrating. Some people may even suffer from both internal and external hemorrhoids simultaneously, causing more discomfort and an increased need for relief. Though there is no way to cure hemorrhoids, you’ll be happy to know that there are remedies out there designed to minimize and eliminate your symptoms and get you back to living your best life.

Symptoms of Hemorrhoids

Both internal and external hemorrhoids can have similar symptoms, but some of the effects may differ as well. 

Internal Hemorrhoid Symptoms:

Internal hemorrhoid symptoms are often painless and people who have them tend to show no noticeable signs of discomfort. Though they can cause a feeling that your bowels have not been entirely emptied, and blood may appear with each movement.

External Hemorrhoid Symptoms:

External hemorrhoids symptoms can cause significant pain and discomfort, swelling, irritation and itching around the anus region and bleeding.

Both types of hemorrhoids cause swelling and itching, while bleeding commonly occurs with internal hemorrhoids. 

These symptoms can make regular, everyday tasks uncomfortable for people who have hemorrhoids. For instance, sitting at your desk could cause a great deal of discomfort. Making a bowel movement or daily exercise can become painful.

Hemorrhoids Causes And Risk Factors

Hemorrhoids are complications that arise from strained bowel movements. As you push harder to expel the stool from your system, pressure is placed on the blood vessels in your rectum and anus, causing them to swell. As such, constipation is one of the biggest causes of hemorrhoids, which can be linked to a poor diet. 

Expectant mothers may also experience constipation leading to hemorrhoids, and obesity is a known trigger, especially for chronic hemorrhoids. As hemorrhoids can be linked to your diet, eating disorders can cause and exacerbate the condition. Sitting for extended amounts of time is also one of the more common causes of hemorrhoids as well.  

Knowing what causes chronic hemorrhoids will help you find the at home remedies and medical treatments that will bring you relief.

How To Get Rid Of Hemorrhoids And Find Relief

If you’re suffering from or have had a diagnosis of hemorrhoids, you want relief. The condition can be excruciatingly uncomfortable, especially when it’s chronic, and that’s no way to live. The great news is that both at-home and medical remedies can bring you the relief you desire and get you back to doing the things you love without pain. 

Remedies for hemorrhoids range from over-the-counter medications and treatments to surgery. However, many sufferers prefer natural remedies for hemorrhoid relief which contain ingredients including herbs, minerals, amino acids and essential oils that can help soothe and don’t come with a lot of side effects or complications. 

Home Remedies For Hemorrhoids

There are a lot of at home remedies for hemorrhoids, but not all of them are going to work for everyone. In some cases, you may exacerbate the condition with some natural treatments, so you may wish to discuss them with your doctor first. 

We’ve compiled a list below of the most popular external hemorrhoid treatments and internal hemorrhoid treatments available to you designed to treat and get rid of hemorrhoids. 

Whether you’re researching how to get rid of hemorrhoids (external or internal), give these fixes a try. Let’s go over some of these natural remedies for hemorrhoids that you can try at home for treating hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoid Creams and Ointments

This is how to get rid of hemorrhoids fast, or at least relieve their symptoms. There are numerous creams and topical ointments quickly obtained over-the-counter and are inexpensive solutions to many of your hemorrhoid symptoms.

They include hemorrhoid cream with lidocaine and hemorrhoid cream with hydrocortisone and or phenylephrine. These treatments can result in immediate relief, which is why they are among the most popular remedies. Known to help heal your hemorrhoids and reduce the swelling right away, this can be the simple solution you are looking for. 

Further Reading: How Long Does it Take for Hemorrhoid Cream to Work?

Hemorrhoid Wipes

What Are Hemorrhoid Wipes?

Hemorrhoid wipes are specially designed moist towelettes that provide relief and hygiene for individuals suffering from hemorrhoids. These medicated wipes often contain soothing ingredients like witch hazel, aloe vera, and chamomile to reduce irritation and inflammation.

Why Use Hemorrhoid Wipes Instead Of Toilet Paper?

Toilet paper can be a known irritant to those with chronic hemorrhoids, while hemorrhoid wipes are specially designed to provide relief and hygiene for individuals suffering from hemorrhoids. These medicated wipes often contain soothing ingredients like witch hazel, aloe vera, and chamomile to reduce irritation and inflammation. 

Hemorrhoid wipes do offer some relief from symptoms such as itching, burning and discomfort; but they are not a cure. For those who lead an active lifestyle, they are useful for maintaining cleanliness throughout the day. 

When using hemorrhoid wipes, it is important to remember to use them as directed and consult a healthcare professional if symptoms persist or worsen.

Over-The-Counter Hemorrhoid Medication For Pain

Pain medications and anti-inflammatories can reduce the swelling and discomfort caused by hemorrhoids but they do come with side effects. You can develop a dependency on some painkillers, while others can cause constipation, making your hemorrhoids worse. Using these over-the counter hemorrhoid medications in moderation and after speaking with your doctor is advisable.

Stool Softeners For Hemorrhoid Pain Relief

Stool softeners often come in the form of fiber supplements and can help relieve constipation. You can obtain these supplements in powder form, pills and drinks. Taken daily, your stool will loosen, making bowel movements much less strenuous and relieving pressure on the blood vessels in your anus and rectum. Fiber fulfills an important dietary need and comes with many other benefits.

High-Fiber Diet For Hemorrhoid Pain Relief

Fiber supplements fill in where your diet is failing, so you can just as easily adjust your daily dietary intake to include more fiber. High fiber foods include apples, pears, strawberries, avocados, bananas, raspberries and more. Not only will the increased fiber help ease the pressure during bowel movements, but an increase in dietary fiber is also delicious.

Sitz Baths For Hemorrhoid Pain Relief

Sitz baths are small tubs that fit over your toilet seat and allow the user to submerge the area in warm water infused with healing Epsom salts. A full-sized bath will work just as well. This treatment soothes the affected area while also gently cleansing, an important factor in healing and the perfect way to get rid of hemorrhoids naturally.

Aloe Vera For Hemorrhoid Pain Relief

Aloe Vera is a natural ingredient well-known for its healing effects, especially in skin care and anti-inflammatory applications. Aloe vera has a cool, gel-like consistency that calms inflammation and brings instant relief to hemorrhoids. Avoid aloe-infused products and stick to pure, natural aloe vera as aloe products often contain alcohol, which will irritate the area further. 

Tea Tree Oil For Hemorrhoid Pain Relief

Tea tree oil is a natural ingredient used widely to relieve symptoms of hemorrhoids such as itching, pain and burning. This remedy has also shown some signs of anti-bacterial action, which can help keep the affected area clean and promote healing. There are few known side effects for tea tree oil and it is a product many sufferers of hemorrhoids swear by.

Witch Hazel For Hemorrhoid Pain Relief

Witch hazel is known to have properties that calm itching and pain and reduce swelling. As such, it’s an effective remedy against hemorrhoids. Witch hazel is an all-natural ingredient and is widely available anywhere natural remedies are sold.  You may even be able to source some witch hazel-infused soothing wipes for added relief. 

Medical Treatment Options For Hemorrhoids

For some, home remedies may not be enough relief. After a diagnosis of chronic and severe cases of hemorrhoids, your doctor may suggest a stronger approach, especially if you’re at risk of developing cancerous or inflammatory tumors. There are several medical treatment options available for hemorrhoids, some of which may require a surgeon and recovery time. Let’s take a look at medical and surgical options for hemorrhoids.

Rubber Band Ligation:

This treatment is a popular medical procedure and a minimally invasive option for addressing hemorrhoids, and can often be repeated if necessary. The procedure itself is relatively quick, only lasting a few minutes and requires no anesthesia. It involves wrapping a rubber band around the base of the hemorrhoid so blood flow is cut off from it causing it to shrink rapidly, bringing quick relief from persistent inflammation. After the procedure is complete, there may be slight discomfort or a sense of fullness in the rectal area for a day or two, but the majority of patients experience significant relief from the symptoms caused by their hemorrhoid(s). Within a short amount of time (generally within a week or two) after the procedure, the hemorrhoid itself will fall off.

Cauterization or Coagulation:

This treatment involves the use of powerful heat or extreme light to cauterize hemorrhoids. The treatment process uses devices such as infrared coagulation, bipolar diathermy, or laser therapy to precisely apply heat to the hemorrhoid tissue causing blood vessels to coagulate and seal shut, cutting off the blood supply to the hemorrhoid. As a result, the hemorrhoid begins to shrink and eventually disappears. Similar to the Rubber Band Ligation, the procedure is relatively quick and only lasts for a few minutes with little to no discomfort. Some relief generally comes within days, with full results becoming more apparent within the following weeks. This is an excellent alternative for those who may not be suitable for Rubber Band Ligation.

Hemorrhoidectomy:

This may be the most definitive treatment for severe hemorrhoids and typically reserved for the most extreme cases due to its invasive nature. This surgical procedure can be done traditionally under general or spinal anesthesia. The recovery period can be quite challenging, often lasting several weeks, during which patients may experience significant pain, especially during bowel movements. However, for those with very large, chronically problematic hemorrhoids that haven’t responded to other treatments, a hemorrhoidectomy can provide long-lasting relief and prevent future complications.

Hemorrhoid Stapling:

Also known as a stapled hemorrhoidopexy, is a procedure that offers a unique approach to treating hemorrhoids, particularly those located higher in the anal canal. Rather than removing the hemorrhoids, a surgeon uses a specialized circular stapling device to reposition them, basically pulling the swollen hemorrhoid tissue back into its normal position and then using the stapler to cut out a ring of tissue above the hemorrhoid. This effectively “lifts” the hemorrhoids back to where they should be, reducing blood flow and causing them to shrink over time. The main advantage of this procedure is that it often results in less postoperative pain compared to a hemorrhoidectomy, as it doesn’t involve cutting sensitive nerve-rich tissue. However, it’s worth noting that there’s a higher risk of recurrence compared to complete removal.

Hemorrhoidal Artery Ligation and Recto Anal Repair:

This procedure, sometimes abbreviated as HAL-RAR, is a more recent development in hemorrhoid treatment that combines two techniques to address the root causes of hemorrhoids. First, the surgeon uses a specialized ultrasound device to locate the arteries supplying blood to the hemorrhoids. These arteries are then carefully tied off (ligated), reducing blood flow to the hemorrhoidal tissue. Next, the surgeon performs a “recto anal repair,” which involves stitching any prolapsed hemorrhoid tissue back into its original position within the anal canal. This dual approach not only shrinks the existing hemorrhoids but also helps prevent future ones by addressing the underlying issue of excessive blood flow. The procedure is typically less painful than a traditional hemorrhoidectomy and often results in a quicker recovery time. However, it may not be suitable for all types of hemorrhoids, particularly very large or externally thrombosed ones.

How To Prevent Hemorrhoids And Future Hemorrhoid Flare Ups

No matter which remedy or treatment you choose to address your hemorrhoids, it’s important to think about prevention so that any hemorrhoids you’ve treated don’t flare up again. 

Diet is the key place to start, as a fiber-rich diet will keep your stools loose and easy to pass without pressure. Hydration plays a part in regular and easy bowel movements as well. Try to avoid foods that can cause constipation like cheese and fatty meats. 

If you have a desk job, consider a standing desk or getting up frequently for a short walk and stretch. Finally, never put off a bowel movement. When you have to go, you have to go. Holding it makes your stool harder and creates pressure in your anus and rectum. 

It’s always a good idea to seek the advice of a medical professional when you’re struggling with hemorrhoids, especially if home remedies and treatments are not effectively working and providing you with hemorrhoid pain relief. If you’re experiencing bleeding during your bowel movements, you’ll want an exam and diagnosis to ensure you’re not at risk of anemia. 

In the meantime, find instant relief from Doctor Butler’s selection of natural hemorrhoid products. Find soothing flushable wipes, sprays, Epsom salts, creams and equipment to relieve the discomfort of hemorrhoids and to help make sitting more comfortable. Shop now and find the relief you’re looking for.