How to eliminate external hemorrhoids and what medications to use
Dec 30, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Li Jingxiang
Introduction
In general, external hemorrhoids can be relieved through dietary adjustments, warm sitz baths, topical medications, oral medications, and surgical treatments. Available medications include both oral and topical options. During treatment, patients should maintain cleanliness of the anal area, avoid strenuous activities, and maintain a cheerful mood while avoiding excessive emotional excitement.
Generally, external hemorrhoidal skin tags can be relieved through dietary adjustments, warm water sitz baths, topical medications, oral medications, and surgical treatments. Specific approaches are as follows:
1. Dietary adjustments: Dietary fiber helps increase stool bulk, soften stools, and reduce constipation, thereby alleviating irritation to the hemorrhoidal area. Consuming more high-fiber whole grains, fresh vegetables, and fruits such as oats, celery, and bananas can help maintain soft and smooth bowel movements and alleviate hemorrhoid symptoms. Spicy and irritating foods such as chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns should be avoided.
2. Warm water sitz bath: A warm water sitz bath can relax the anal muscles, improve blood circulation, and reduce inflammation and swelling. Sitting in a bath of lukewarm salt water or potassium permanganate solution for 10 to 20 minutes after each bowel movement can help reduce inflammation, kill bacteria, promote local blood circulation, and aid in shrinking and resolving external hemorrhoidal skin tags.
3. Topical medications: After cleaning the anal area, patients may apply topical medications such as Huatian ointment, Compound Carrageenan Cream, or Ma Yinglong Musk Hemorrhoid Ointment as directed by a physician. These medications act directly on the hemorrhoidal area, helping to reduce inflammation, relieve pain and itching, stop bleeding, alleviate symptoms, and promote healing.
4. Oral medications: Under a doctor's guidance, patients may take oral medications that promote venous and lymphatic return in the hemorrhoidal region, such as Zhikang Tablets, Diosmin Tablets, or Zhisuning Tablets. These oral medications act systemically through the bloodstream to reach the hemorrhoidal area, exerting effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, promoting blood circulation, and resolving blood stasis.
5. Surgical treatment: If conservative treatments are ineffective or if the external hemorrhoidal skin tags are large with severe symptoms such as pain or bleeding, prompt medical consultation is necessary, and surgical intervention may be required. Surgical options include excision of external hemorrhoids and hemorrhoidal ligation.
During treatment, patients should maintain cleanliness of the anal area, avoid strenuous physical activity, and maintain a positive mood, avoiding excessive emotional excitement.
