Haemorrhoids, often called piles, typically occur due to straining during bowel movements. A person might exert too much effort, spend extended periods on the toilet, or deal with a hard stool that’s tough to pass.
External haemorrhoids present as small protrusions found just outside the anal opening. They may lead to bleeding and itching. Home treatments include warm baths, cool compresses, and topical remedies like witch hazel.
Most external haemorrhoids won’t lead to further complications, but they can become more painful if a clot forms, known as a thrombus. If someone experiences intense pain, a doctor might suggest surgically removing the haemorrhoids.
In this article, we will explore how to get rid of external haemorrhoids at home.
13 Ways to Get Rid of External Hemorrhoids at Home
External haemorrhoids can be a painful condition, but you can often manage them effectively with home remedies. These remedies focus on reducing pain, swelling, and discomfort while promoting healing.
Here’s how you can treat external haemorrhoids at home:
- Sitz bath
- A cold compress or ice packs
- Eat high-fibre foods
- Topical treatments
- Daily hygiene
- Use of witch hazel pads
- Stay hydrated
- Avoid prolonged sitting
- Avoid straining
- Regular bowel movements
- Exercise
- Gentle cleaning
- Dry properly
1. Sitz Bath
A sitz bath is one of the most soothing remedies for external haemorrhoids. It involves soaking your anal area in warm water for 15-20 minutes, 2-3 times a day. You can use a sitz basin or fill a clean bathtub with just enough water to cover the affected area. Adding a handful of Epsom salt can help reduce inflammation and provide additional relief. A sitz bath not only soothes pain but also relaxes the muscles around the anus, improving blood circulation and speeding up healing.
2. Cold Compress or Ice Packs
Using a cold compress or ice pack is an excellent way to reduce swelling and numb the pain caused by haemorrhoids. Cover an ice pack with a soft cloth (always avoid applying ice directly onto the skin) and softly place it on the affected area for 10-15 minutes. Repeat this process multiple times throughout the day as required. Cold therapy helps shrink swollen veins and reduces discomfort, especially after bowel movements.
3. Eat High-Fibre Foods
A diet rich in fibre can make a huge difference in managing external haemorrhoids. Fibre helps soften stool, reducing the need to strain during bowel movements—a common cause of haemorrhoids. Include a variety of foods, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes, into your meals for a balanced diet. Aim for 25-30 grams of fibre daily. Pair this with plenty of water to keep your digestive system functioning smoothly and prevent constipation, which can worsen haemorrhoids.
4. Topical Treatments
Topical haemorrhoid creams and ointments can offer quick relief from discomfort. Products containing hydrocortisone reduce inflammation and itching, while those with lidocaine can numb the area and relieve pain. Apply the cream or ointment as directed, usually after cleaning the area. These treatments create a protective barrier that reduces irritation and speeds up healing.
5. Daily Hygiene
Good hygiene is crucial when dealing with haemorrhoids. After a bowel movement, gently clean the area with warm water or unscented, alcohol-free wipes. Avoid using harsh soaps or toilet paper that can irritate the sensitive skin around the anus. Gently pat the area dry using a soft towel rather than rubbing it. Keeping the area clean and dry minimises the risk of infection and promotes healing.
6. Use of Witch Hazel Pads
Witch hazel is a natural astringent with anti-inflammatory properties, making it a popular remedy for haemorrhoids. Soak a cotton pad or use pre-moistened witch hazel pads to gently apply the solution to the haemorrhoids. This helps reduce swelling, itching, and discomfort. Witch hazel is especially effective when combined with other treatments like sitz baths or cold compresses.
7. Stay Hydrated
Drinking plenty of water is essential for overall health and particularly beneficial for those with haemorrhoids. Water acts as a natural laxative and prevents constipation. Aim for at least 8-10 glasses of water daily. Herbal teas and clear broths can also contribute to your hydration goals. Avoid excessive caffeine or alcohol, as these can lead to dehydration and worsen haemorrhoid symptoms.
8. Avoid Prolonged Sitting
Sitting for long periods, especially on hard surfaces, can put additional pressure on your haemorrhoids. If you have a desk job or need to sit for extended periods, take short breaks every 30-60 minutes to stand up and stretch. Using a cushion or doughnut pillow can also relieve pressure on the anal area. By minimising prolonged sitting, you can prevent further irritation and give your haemorrhoids a chance to heal.
9. Avoid Straining
Be patient and gentle during bowel movements, and try not to push too hard. Straining puts extra pressure on the veins in your rectum and anus, which can cause haemorrhoids to form or worsen. Over time, repeated straining can weaken the surrounding tissues, leading to haemorrhoids that may bulge out or become more severe.
10. Regular Bowel Movements
Go to the bathroom as soon as you feel the urge—don’t hold it in. Ignoring the need to go can cause stools to harden, making them more difficult to pass later. This increases the risk of constipation and forces you to strain more, which puts added pressure on the haemorrhoidal veins.
11. Exercise
Staying active is a great way to get rid of piles fast. Regular exercise, especially activities that strengthen the core, helps keep your digestive system working properly and reduces constipation. Good circulation also prevents blood from pooling in the veins, which can lead to haemorrhoids. Activities like walking, jogging, swimming, yoga, and Pilates are great options. Doing pelvic floor exercises can also help by improving blood flow to the rectal veins and strengthening the muscles that support them.
12. Gentle Cleaning
After using the toilet, clean the anal area gently with water or moist wipes instead of dry toilet paper. This helps prevent irritation and infection. Harsh wiping can aggravate the sensitive skin around haemorrhoids, leading to discomfort, inflammation, or even bleeding.
13. Dry Properly
After cleaning or taking a sitz bath, make sure to dry the anal area completely. Gently pat it with a soft towel or use a hairdryer in a cool setting. Keeping the area dry helps prevent further irritation, infections, and skin issues that can be caused by excess moisture.
Get Rid of External Haemorrhoids in 48 Hours
To ease the discomfort of external haemorrhoids in 48 hours, consider using stool softeners, placing a cushion under your hips while elevating your legs, or applying hydrocortisone cream.
If these methods are ineffective, consult the doctor about possible surgical treatments, such as rubber band ligation. However, such procedures are only applicable for grade 1-3 haemorrhoids that do not respond to medical therapy.
It typically takes around 7-10 days for haemorrhoid symptoms to completely disappear. Haemorrhoids are a normal part of the body, and they cannot be removed permanently without surgery. You can only reduce the symptoms of inflamed haemorrhoids.
How to Reduce Haemorrhoids Duration?
To shorten the duration of haemorrhoids, addressing the root causes and trying simple, doctor-approved remedies are essential.
One of the biggest contributors to haemorrhoids is constipation. To prevent this, focus on a fibre-rich diet, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. If constipation becomes an ongoing issue, consider using a laxative—but be sure to consult your doctor before doing so.
Several other factors can increase the risk of haemorrhoids, such as being overweight, having inflammatory bowel disease, sitting too long on the toilet, liver problems, a family history of haemorrhoids, spinal cord injuries, or chronic diarrhoea. If any of these apply to you, managing them with your doctor’s guidance can help prevent future haemorrhoid flare-ups.
For mild haemorrhoids, several at-home treatments can provide relief:
- Topical Creams: Steroid-based creams can reduce inflammation and pain.
- Sitz Baths: A warm sitz bath can help soothe the affected area.
- Pain Relievers: Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen can ease discomfort.
Switching to soothing wipes instead of regular toilet paper can prevent irritation, especially if they contain ingredients like aloe vera. Wearing loose, cotton clothing, applying ice packs, and using pure aloe vera gel can further reduce discomfort.
If your haemorrhoids don’t improve within a week or get worse, it’s time to consult your doctor. Also, avoid using steroid creams for more than a week without medical advice, as they can cause skin thinning.
Final Thoughts
While not usually a critical issue, persistent haemorrhoids and the discomfort linked to them can significantly affect your overall health and quality of life. If you’re worried that you may have haemorrhoids or if the pain they cause is interfering with your daily activities, reach out to the best doctor to learn about treatment alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are external haemorrhoids painful?
Yes, external haemorrhoids can be quite painful, especially right after a bowel movement or when you strain or lift something heavy. They can hurt even more if a blood clot forms inside them, which is called a thrombosed haemorrhoid. If a doctor can remove the clot within two days, the pain will usually go away right away. If not, the clot might dissolve on its own eventually, and the pain will lessen over time.
2. Do external haemorrhoids go away on their own?
Yes, most external haemorrhoids will typically heal on their own within a few weeks, even without treatment. However, they can come back, so it’s important to take steps to prevent them if you tend to get them often.
3. Can you push the external haemorrhoid back in?
No, since external haemorrhoids occur outside the anus, you can’t push them back inside.
4. What is the quickest method to treat external haemorrhoids?
An excellent method to help relieve haemorrhoids quickly is to take a sitz bath. This means sitting in about 3 inches of warm water for 15 minutes several times a day, which can help reduce swelling and relax the muscles around the anus.
5. Are haemorrhoids 100% curable?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a permanent cure that will eliminate them for good. However, there are effective treatments available to get rid of the haemorrhoids you have right now without needing surgery.
