- How the treatment is done
- Ointments for anal fissure
- Sitz bath for anal fissure
- How to correctly identify anal fissure
- How to prevent the crack from recurring
The anal fissure is a small wound that appears in the anus, like a cut that is located right at the entrance of the anus, and that causes symptoms such as pain, discomfort, small bleeding and burning when defecating.
Usually, this type of cracks is caused by the passage of very dry and hard stools, which dilate the sphincter, causing the injury. However, other problems such as constipation, severe diarrhea, intimate contact in the anal area, genital herpes or hemorrhoids can also lead to the development of a fissure.
How the treatment is done
The most important thing in the treatment of anal fissure is to maintain adequate intimate hygiene, so that infections that hinder healing are avoided. To do this, whenever possible, after defecating or urinating, you should wash the area with plenty of water and a little intimate soap or wipe the toilet paper with water. Industrialized wet wipes may not be a good option, as they may contain alcohol and other substances that end up irritating the region.
In addition, applying cold water compresses over the crack region can also be an option, as they soothe burning and reduce pain, but other strategies are:
Ointments for anal fissure
Ointments should be used during treatment when symptoms are very intense and cause a lot of discomfort to defecate. Thus, some examples of ointment are:
- Proctyl or Ultraproct: are ointments that contain an anesthetic substance that reduces sensitivity to pain; Rectogesic and other ointments with nitroglycerin: helps in relaxing the anal sphincter and improves blood circulation in the region, facilitating the healing of the fissure; Bepantol or Hipoglós: are healing ointments that moisturize and stimulate the healing of the skin.
These ointments should always be indicated by a proctologist, as they must be appropriate to the symptoms of each person and the specific cause of the anal fissure.
In the most severe cases, when the anal fissure is large and deep, it may be necessary to consult the doctor, so that he can indicate analgesics and oral anti-inflammatories such as Paracetamol or Naproxen for the relief of pain and inflammation, or antibiotics such as Amoxicillin, Neomycin or Gentamicin for example to treat possible infections.
Sitz bath for anal fissure
Sitting completely naked for 20 to 30 minutes in a bowl of warm water and a bag of chamomile or lavender tea is a great way to relieve the discomfort caused by the fissure, helping it to heal. Other medicinal plants that can also be used for this sitz bath are calendula or witch hazel, which are also indicated in the case of hemorrhoids.
How to correctly identify anal fissure
Some of the symptoms that indicate the presence of an anal fissure include:
- Pain in the region of the entrance of the anus, especially when paper hygiene is performed; Presence of blood remains on the paper or tissue used to perform hygiene; Blood in stools; Burning, especially when urinating or defecating; Frequent itching in the anus.
The wound of the anal fissure can cause a spasm of the anal sphincter which makes evacuation difficult and in the most severe cases there may even be blood in the stool. In children and babies, the anal fissure may worsen constipation by causing pain, and it may be recommended that the child use some natural laxatives to make the stool more soft and its output to be favored. Check out some options of homemade laxatives for babies and children.
How to prevent the crack from recurring
Most of the time, anal fissures are caused by very dry stools and constipation and, therefore, it is recommended to invest in a balanced diet rich in fiber, in addition to betting on regular physical activity to help regulate the intestine.
However, to avoid dry stools it is very important to drink enough water. Check out this video for tips from our nutritionist to drink more water during the day:
