Can anal fissures heal on their own?
Disease description:
Recently, I noticed pain in the anal area during bowel movements, and occasionally there was also bleeding. After an examination, my doctor diagnosed me with an anal fissure. I would like to know whether anal fissures can truly heal on their own.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Li Jingxiang
Whether an anal fissure can heal on its own depends on the severity of the condition. Mild anal fissures may have the potential to heal spontaneously, especially after improvements in lifestyle and dietary habits, such as increasing dietary fiber intake, maintaining anal hygiene, and preventing constipation. However, for chronic anal fissures or cases with severe symptoms—such as deep cracks, infection, bleeding, or perianal abscess—the likelihood of spontaneous healing is low.
Even though some mild anal fissures may heal on their own, it is not advisable for patients to rely solely on self-resolution without seeking medical intervention. Therefore, patients are still recommended to seek timely medical attention and follow a doctor's guidance for either conservative treatment or surgical intervention to properly heal the fissure.
