You’ve tried warm compresses and soaked in baths, you’ve avoided extra irritation and kept the area clean, but you still find yourself struggling to be rid of bleeding hemorrhoids. There are times when home treatment is not enough and a little extra help is necessary. There’s no need to worry – a quick trip to the pharmacy or any store that sells over-the-counter medication will get you exactly what you need.
You’ll be able to find several nonprescription medicines meant to help protect skin, alleviate pain and itching, and offer lubrication as you deal with the problem. There’s a good chance you’ve heard of these medications through television advertising or maybe just seen them on the shelf while at the store. Depending upon your needs, you can choose one bleeding hemorrhoid treatment – or more if necessary – in order to get the level of relief your problem calls for.
Petroleum jelly is a good example of skin protecting ointment. You may also find that zinc oxide acts in a similar manner. You don’t need a lot, and you may even already have petroleum jelly in the house. Just place a little dab around the anus and the area will be better protected from further irritation and prevent more injury and bleeding. It can also reduce the itching feeling, allowing you to sit and rest a little easier.
If bowel movements are painful, opt for a suppository. These come in the form of creams and act as lubrication to help prevent more aggravation to the area. Read the instructions carefully and use as directed, often for no more than a week to ten days. Though these medications are meant to help, they do contain ingredients that can cause damage to anal tissues after extended use. If these fail to help after the suggested amount of time, a visit to your doctor is probably necessary.
Some ointments can be used to help reduce the inflammation as well as the itching. These often include 1% hydrocortisone, which is a form of steroid medicine. You may have also seen it in certain anti-itch creams and ointments for insect bites and other itch-related problems. It is important to remember that the tissue around the anus is sensitive and prolonged use with a bleeding hemorrhoid treatment that includes hydrocortisone may actually thin the skin around the area, so you shouldn’t use one for more than a few weeks.
If you’re uncomfortable about handing over medicated cream to the cashier, you can always go to a store that allows self checkout. Either way, don’t let your embarrassment get between you and relief. However, if none of these treatments work or completely relieve symptoms, you should call your doctor to seek out other remedies.