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External hemorrhoids
Why does external hemorrhoids itch?
If there are external hemorrhoids around the anus, it can cause the area to become damp and moist, leading to an itching sensation. This condition can be alleviated by frequently taking warm sitz baths, applying hemorrhoid cream, and actively changing poor dietary habits. It is advised to eat light foods, drink plenty of water, consume more vegetables and fruits, and reduce the intake of spicy and greasy foods. Avoid sitting or standing for long periods. External hemorrhoids can easily lead to thrombosed external hemorrhoids, which should be promptly treated surgically. There are many cases of recurrence after hemorrhoid treatment, hence adjusting your diet and developing good living habits is the first choice for preventing hemorrhoids.
Can external hemorrhoids be washed with hot water?
External hemorrhoids can be washed with warm water, but the temperature should not be too high, generally controlled below 40 degrees Celsius. Washing external hemorrhoids with warm water can promote local blood circulation and relieve the anal swelling caused by external hemorrhoids. At the same time, it can also remove secretions on the surface of the hemorrhoids, which helps to avoid inflammatory edema in external hemorrhoids. However, the water temperature must not be too high as it could scald the skin around the anus or cause dehydration of the perianal skin, leading to discomfort. Clinically, external hemorrhoids are mainly classified into four types: excess skin hemorrhoids, varicose vein hemorrhoids, thrombotic hemorrhoids, and inflammatory hemorrhoids. Depending on the type, the treatment methods differ. For inflammatory and thrombotic hemorrhoids, it is generally recommended to undergo early hemorrhoidectomy to prevent severe anal pain and serious impact on the patient's life.
How long does it take for a thrombosed external hemorrhoid lump to soften?
The lumps of thrombosed external hemorrhoids cannot be eliminated and can only be removed surgically by stripping the thrombus. After surgery, medications such as anal washes, red oil gauze strips, and golden ointment are used for dressing changes to completely cure thrombosed external hemorrhoids. Since the thrombus has already formed, local medications cannot dissolve it; stripping it surgically is the only option. Moreover, thrombosed external hemorrhoids cause patients to experience a distinct sensation of a foreign body in the anus as well as pain and swelling. Patients should pay adequate attention to these symptoms, otherwise, the thrombus might grow larger and may even lead to necrosis of the hemorrhoids. Patients should also develop good bowel habits, avoiding excessive straining or prolonged durations on the toilet, as these practices can easily trigger thrombosed external hemorrhoids or inflammatory external hemorrhoids, leading to significant pain and swelling in the anus. (Use medications under the guidance of a doctor)
How to eliminate the external hemorrhoids in postpartum women?
The external hemorrhoids in postpartum women are primarily due to the pathology of the anal cushions, which become pathologically hypertrophic and descend due to the compression of the rectum and anal canal during childbirth. This can lead to the enlargement of external hemorrhoidal nodules and even inflammatory edema. For such cases, it is generally recommended to first try conservative treatment with medications. For example, after defecation, a sitz bath using agents like anal washes or potassium permanganate solution can be used to reduce inflammation and swelling. Then, applying ointments like yellow ointment or other hemorrhoid creams can help reduce swelling and relieve pain. Oral medications like Diosmin tablets may also be needed to relieve swelling. At the same time, patients must develop good bowel habits, ensure smooth bowel movements, and avoid prolonged toilet sessions or excessive straining. These measures can significantly reduce the size of external hemorrhoidal nodules and even alleviate them. However, if the external hemorrhoidal nodules persist at the anus, an external hemorrhoidectomy can be directly performed.
Is the pain and swelling of hemorrhoids external or internal?
This situation might involve both internal and external hemorrhoids, which is referred to as mixed hemorrhoids. Internal hemorrhoids might also prolapse, leading to inflammatory edema and causing anal swelling and pain. External hemorrhoids can also present with inflammatory edema and thrombosis, leading to anal swelling and pain. Hence, in clinical practice, this situation is often considered as mixed hemorrhoids. Mixed hemorrhoids mainly occur at the same point in the anal canal, both above and below the dentate line, and symptoms of both internal and external hemorrhoids are present. Clinically, if the patient is unwilling to undergo surgery, conservative treatment with medication can be considered initially, such as oral administration of Diosmin tablets, followed by the use of an anal wash or a sitz bath with potassium permanganate solution after defecation, and then application of Dihuang ointment externally to alleviate discomfort. However, if the inflammatory edema does not subside and anal swelling and pain are significant, it is advised to consider surgical intervention early to prevent necrosis due to prolapsed hemorrhoids. (Please follow medical advice when using medications.)
How to eliminate external hemorrhoids without a core?
Conservative medication treatment for external hemorrhoidal nodules can only reduce their size, but cannot completely eliminate them. For instance, if an external hemorrhoidal nodule develops inflammatory edema, one can take oral Diltiazem tablets, combined with anal wash or potassium permanganate solution for local sitz baths, and apply Golden Ointment externally, which can achieve good anti-swelling effects. However, if the external hemorrhoidal nodule is significantly enlarged, or even forms a thrombus causing pain and swelling in the anus, simply using medication cannot effectively improve the symptoms. In such cases, surgical intervention is required to eliminate the nodule, such as external hemorrhoidectomy. Post-surgery, dressing changes such as Mupirocin ointment, red oil gauze strips, Golden Ointment, and other medications are recommended. Furthermore, the patient should maintain good bowel habits, avoiding prolonged toilet time or excessive straining.
Thrombotic external hemorrhoids: how many days to relieve pain?
The duration of pain associated with thrombosed external hemorrhoids mainly depends on the size of the thrombosis formed. If medications are not actively used, the pain may not be significantly alleviated. Options include using traditional Chinese medicine washes as hot compresses or applying hemorrhoid cream locally to relieve symptoms. After pharmacological treatment, pain generally subsides in about a week. However, certain thrombosed external hemorrhoids may not shrink on their own due to significant local congestion or thrombosis, thus medication alone may not completely relieve pain or produce significant clinical effects. The primary treatment method still required is surgical intervention, mainly using thrombectomy. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor according to the specific situation.)
What should I do about thrombosed external hemorrhoids?
Thrombotic external hemorrhoids often occur due to intense exercise, straining during bowel movements, eating spicy and stimulating foods, or after fatigue. The onset of thrombotic external hemorrhoids is quite sudden, presenting as a round or oval lump under the skin at the edge of the anus during defecation, with the lump being a subcutaneous blood clot formed from subcutaneous bleeding. The treatment method for thrombotic external hemorrhoids is determined by the amount of subcutaneous bleeding. If the diameter of the thrombus is less than 0.5 centimeters, conservative treatment can be chosen, which includes eating more vegetables and fruits to keep bowel movements smooth and applying hemorrhoid creams and suppositories. If the thrombotic external hemorrhoids do not respond to conservative treatment and the thrombus cannot be absorbed and resolved, a thrombotic external hemorrhoid excision procedure may be adopted.
External hemorrhoids are located.
External hemorrhoids are formed by the inferior rectal venous plexus, located below the dentate line, and are covered by the skin of the anal canal. The most common type is thrombosed external hemorrhoids, which form when a blood clot develops in the subcutaneous venous plexus of the anal canal. Connective tissue external hemorrhoids and inflammatory external hemorrhoids are also relatively common, both located below the dentate line, around the anal margin and inside the anal canal. Generally speaking, hemorrhoids below the dentate line are called external hemorrhoids, and those above the dentate line are called internal hemorrhoids.
Can external hemorrhoids be pinched?
In clinical practice, external hemorrhoids can be classified into skin tag hemorrhoids, varicose vein hemorrhoids, thrombosed hemorrhoids, and inflammatory hemorrhoids. Among these, skin tag hemorrhoids can be pinched, but do not exert excessive force to avoid skin damage and causing anal pain. On the other hand, varicose vein hemorrhoids, thrombosed hemorrhoids, and inflammatory hemorrhoids should not be pinched, as pinching may easily cause subcutaneous vein damage, exacerbate thrombosis, and lead to anal distension and pain. External hemorrhoids can be gently massaged and rubbed, but should not be pinched forcefully. Moreover, clinically, treatments for external hemorrhoids often involve the use of anal washes or potassium permanganate solution for sits baths, and it is recommended to take a sitz bath for five to ten minutes after defecation to help reduce external hemorrhoids and prevent their enlargement. Maintaining good bowel habits is essential, avoiding prolonged defecation and excessive straining. After defecation, it is advisable to perform more anal lift exercises to strengthen the anal sphincter muscles.