Home Remedies and Self-Care Treatments for Hemorrhoids
Medically reviewed by Jay N. Yepuri, MD
Hemorrhoids are a common condition that causes swollen veins around the anus. These swollen veins create lumps in the skin on the outside of the anus (external hemorrhoids) or inside the lower rectum (internal hemorrhoids).
In general, hemorrhoids likely result from increased pressure on the veins around the anus or weakened tissue around your veins. The increase in pressure may stem from chronic constipation or diarrhea, pregnancy, and diet, among other factors.
Both external and internal hemorrhoids can cause symptoms such as pain, itching, and bleeding. Fortunately, you can treat most hemorrhoids with at-home care, and they usually resolve on their own.
If self-care does not improve your hemorrhoids, your healthcare provider or a gastroenterologist (a doctor who specializes in the digestive system) may suggest a nonsurgical procedure to treat your hemorrhoids. While rare, some extreme cases may require a surgery called a hemorrhoidectomy to remove the hemorrhoids.
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Apply Topical Treatments
Over-the-counter (OTC) medicated creams can help reduce itching, pain, and swelling caused by hemorrhoids. These products often contain hydrocortisone, lidocaine, or witch hazel. Many OTC medicines are also available as suppositories, a type of medicine that you insert directly into the rectum to relieve symptoms.
Take Sitz Baths
A sitz bath is a warm bath that you take in a special sitz bathtub that holds only a few inches of water. Soaking in a sitz bath for about 10 minutes after a bowel movement can help relieve discomfort and spasms in your anal sphincter (the muscles around the opening of the anus). You can take a sitz bath up to three times per day. If you don’t have a sitz tub, filling your regular bathtub with a few inches of water is also effective.
Try Pain Medication
Taking an OTC pain medication is another way to manage hemorrhoid symptoms at home. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Bayer (aspirin), Advil (ibuprofen), or Aleve (naproxen) can help reduce pain and swelling. Tylenol (acetaminophen) can help relieve pain and may be better for those who should not take NSAIDs due to certain health conditions or allergies. To learn which pain medication is safe for you, talk to your healthcare provider about your options.
Use a Stool Softener
If you need to strain to have a bowel movement, taking an OTC stool softener may help. Stool softeners are a type of laxative medication that draws water and fat from your body into your digestive tract to help stool pass through more easily.
Stool softeners are sold as either a pill or a liquid that you take by mouth. After taking the medication, you will typically have a bowel movement within 12-72 hours. However, these medications don’t come without side effects, as it’s possible to experience diarrhea and vomiting after using a stool softener.
Increase Your Fiber Intake
Fiber helps soften stool so that it can move through your colon more easily. Experts recommend getting at least 14 grams of fiber per every 1,000 calories you eat. For most people, this translates to 20-30 grams of fiber per day.
To increase your intake of fiber-rich foods, consider adding more fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains to your diet. Avoiding low-fiber foods like dairy products or highly processed foods can also reduce your risk of hemorrhoids.
If you’re having trouble getting enough fiber from your diet, ask your healthcare provider whether taking a fiber supplement is right for you. Most fiber supplements contain psyllium or methylcellulose as fiber sources. Studies show that fiber supplementation has been especially helpful in reducing rectal bleeding from hemorrhoids.
Drink More Fluids
Drinking more water can also help stool pass more easily through your digestive tract. Aim for eight to 10 glasses of water per day. You can also diversify your liquid intake by drinking freshly-squeezed fruit juices and clear soups. However, try to limit diuretics (dehydrating drinks that increase urine production), like coffee or alcohol.
Exercise Regularly
Engaging in moderate aerobic exercise for 20-60 minutes three times a week can improve your gut health and reduce constipation. Exercise can strengthen the tissues in the abdomen and rectum, which may help manage and prevent hemorrhoids.
However, you should avoid doing exercises that put pressure on the anal area, like horseback riding and cycling. Your healthcare provider can help you decide which exercises are safe for you.
How To Prevent Hemorrhoids
Preventing future hemorrhoids is very similar to treating current ones. Try to incorporate the methods below into your life every day instead of only when you have symptomatic hemorrhoids. Making these actions habitual will help you prevent the conditions that typically lead to hemorrhoids:
Avoid straining to have a bowel movement
Try not to sit on the toilet for too long
Eat plenty of fiber-rich foods
Ask your provider if taking a fiber supplement is right for you
Reduce how often you drink alcohol and eat fatty foods
Drink more hydrating liquids
Take an OTC stool softener if you are having trouble pooping
Limit how often you are lifting heavy objects
When To See a Healthcare Provider
Hemorrhoids are extremely common and usually not a cause for concern. But there are a few situations when you should seek medical care. For example, internal hemorrhoids can become strangulated, or cut off from blood flow. This situation requires immediate medical attention and often a hemorrhoidectomy—a surgical procedure to remove the hemorrhoids.
While external hemorrhoids generally go away within a few days, they can develop into a blood clot. This is known as thrombosed hemorrhoids, which can be very painful. If you have severe and consistent pain over more than a few days, contact your healthcare provider. They may recommend excising (cutting off) a thrombosed hemorrhoid.
A healthcare provider can also assess whether hemorrhoid symptoms like a fever or abdominal pain are actually signs of something more serious. For example, pain and bleeding from your rectum could be the result of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or cancer. It’s also a good idea to contact your provider if symptoms haven’t gone away after a week of home care or if you see blood after a bowel movement.
A Quick Review
Many people develop hemorrhoids at some point in their lives. Common symptoms include itching and pain in or around the anus. Fortunately, a variety of home remedies like taking stool softeners, using topical creams, or trying a sitz bath can help relieve symptoms. If your symptoms don’t improve after one week of at-home care, contact your healthcare provider to learn about your treatment options.
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