Subscribe
External hemorrhoids
Can external hemorrhoids heal by themselves?
External hemorrhoids can be classified into cutaneous flap hemorrhoids, varicose vein hemorrhoids, thrombotic hemorrhoids, and inflammatory hemorrhoids. These are mostly caused by poor defecation habits of the patient, such as prolonged defecation time or excessive straining during bowel movements, which then lead to the growth of excess skin flaps, varicose veins, or rupture of venous blood vessels, resulting in various types of external hemorrhoids. Therefore, these types of hemorrhoids cannot heal on their own and require treatment with medication or surgery. For cutaneous flap hemorrhoids, if the patient does not experience significant discomfort, specific treatment is generally not necessary, just attention to hygiene around the anal area is needed. However, for inflammatory or thrombotic hemorrhoids, since they can cause anal pain and a feeling of prolapse, it is advisable to opt for surgical stripping of the hemorrhoids as soon as possible. Post-surgery, treatments such as anal washes, red oil gauze strips, and golden ointment should be used for dressing changes, while also maintaining cleanliness of the anal region.
What foods to eat for thrombotic external hemorrhoids?
Thrombotic external hemorrhoids are primarily caused by inflammation of the anal veins, or by the rupture and thrombus formation of the anal venous plexus due to excessive straining. The main symptoms are a sudden bluish-purple swelling at the edge of the anus or severe pain. The primary cause is usually due to constipation. Therefore, it's important to maintain smooth bowel movements when eating. Increasing the intake of vegetables and fruits and reducing the consumption of meat, while ensuring regular bowel movements, is most crucial.
How to eliminate the flesh lump of external hemorrhoids
External hemorrhoids mainly consist of varicose external hemorrhoids, inflammatory external hemorrhoids, and thrombotic external hemorrhoids. If the patient wants to completely remove them, in such cases, only external hemorrhoidectomy or external hemorrhoid stripping surgery can be performed. After the surgery, anal cleansers, red oil gauze strips, and golden ointment are used for dressing changes to promote wound healing. If the patient is unwilling to undergo surgery and opts for conservative treatment with medications alone, the external hemorrhoidal mass will not be completely eliminated but will only shrink slightly and improve clinical symptoms. To completely eliminate the external hemorrhoidal mass, surgical treatment is necessary. Moreover, after surgery, patients should develop good defecation habits, such as not spending too much time on defecation, not straining excessively, and performing more pelvic floor exercises after defecation to strengthen the anal sphincter muscles to help prevent recurrence of external hemorrhoids.
Will external hemorrhoids affect sexual life?
External hemorrhoids generally do not affect sexual life. External hemorrhoids mainly refer to hemorrhoids that grow below the dentate line, primarily divided into connective tissue external hemorrhoids, varicose external hemorrhoids, inflammatory external hemorrhoids, and thrombosed external hemorrhoids. The main clinical manifestations of the first three types of external hemorrhoids are a foreign body sensation in the anus and moisture at the anus, so they do not affect sexual life. Only thrombosed external hemorrhoids can cause anal pain, which might affect sexual life if the pain is very severe.
The difference between internal and external hemorrhoids
Internal hemorrhoids are located above the dentate line in the anal canal, at the end of the rectum, and are innervated by the autonomic nervous system. Clinically, they are mainly characterized by intermittent, painless rectal bleeding. The blood is bright red, often dripping or spraying after defecation. If internal hemorrhoids worsen, they can prolapse and even become strangulated and edematous, causing anal swelling and pain. External hemorrhoids, on the other hand, are located below the dentate line in the anal canal, and are innervated by the spinal nerves, making them more sensitive to pain. Clinically, they are categorized into skin tag-type external hemorrhoids, varicose vein-type external hemorrhoids, inflammatory external hemorrhoids, and thrombotic external hemorrhoids. Skin tag-type and varicose vein-type external hemorrhoids primarily cause a sensation of a foreign body and itching in the anus, while inflammatory or thrombotic external hemorrhoids can lead to an increase in perianal secretions and anal swelling and pain, necessitating prompt surgical removal of the external hemorrhoids.
How long does it take for a thrombosed external hemorrhoid to subside?
Thrombotic external hemorrhoids are a type of external hemorrhoids. Generally, after 2-3 days, the thrombus begins to be absorbed and the pain significantly reduces and can be healed. However, in cases with a large thrombotic lump, significant pain can occur and in severe cases, it can hinder walking. The patient may be restless whether sitting or lying down, the surface may re-ulcerate, causing bleeding, and the thrombus can naturally expel itself. At this time, the lump will be eliminated.
How to eliminate external hemorrhoids with a fleshy lump?
External hemorrhoids involving a flesh mass are considered organic lesions. Complete removal typically requires hemorrhoid surgery, such as excision of external hemorrhoids or debridement surgery. Postoperative care includes changing dressings using products like anal washes, red oil gauze strips, and golden ointment. It is also important for patients to develop good bowel habits post-surgery, maintain smooth bowel movements, and avoid prolonged or excessive straining to facilitate recovery and prevent recurrence of external hemorrhoids. If treated solely with conservative medication, the flesh mass of external hemorrhoids can only be reduced, not completely eliminated. Inappropriate diet or abnormal bowel movements can lead to an increase in the size of external hemorrhoids, potentially causing inflammatory edema or thrombosis, which can result in significant anal discomfort and severely impact the patient’s normal life. Therefore, the treatment approach for external hemorrhoid flesh mass should be based on the severity of the condition.
External hemorrhoids are divided into several types.
External hemorrhoids refer to hemorrhoids below the dentate line and are divided into four types. The first type is the connective tissue type of external hemorrhoids, which are formed by the proliferation and bulging of excess skin at the anal margin. The second type is the varicose vein type of external hemorrhoids, formed by the dilation and bending of the venous plexus below the dentate line. The third type is inflammatory external hemorrhoids, which is a state where external hemorrhoids become inflamed. The fourth type is the thrombosed external hemorrhoid, which is formed by bleeding due to the rupture of the subcutaneous veins at the anal margin, resulting in a blood clot.
Can external hemorrhoids be punctured?
External hemorrhoids should not be punctured because they are located at the anus, which is at the end of the digestive tract and often contaminated by feces and excretions. If punctured, it can easily lead to local infection, causing pain and increased secretion, and worsening necrosis of the external hemorrhoids. Therefore, external hemorrhoids should be treated as soon as possible with hemorrhoidectomy, rather than being punctured by oneself. After surgical treatment, it is also necessary to use anal cleansers, red oil gauze, and golden ointment for dressing changes to promote the healing of the wound. Moreover, patients should maintain smooth bowel movements to avoid hard and dry stools or frequent diarrhea. In terms of diet, it is advisable to consume foods rich in roughage to ensure smooth bowel movements and to avoid fishy seafood and similar foods.
How to relieve the pain of external hemorrhoids?
When there is pain in an external hemorrhoidal tag, it is often due to inflammatory edema or the formation of a thrombus, leading to pain. In such cases, it is advisable to first use an anal cleansing agent or a potassium permanganate solution for a sitz bath after defecation. The duration of the sitz bath should be controlled between five to ten minutes, which can effectively reduce swelling and relieve pain. After the sitz bath, applying external remedies such as Yellow Ointment or Musk Hemorrhoids Cream can also help reduce swelling and alleviate pain. For particularly severe pain, directly using diclofenac sodium suppositories inserted into the anus can provide anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Additionally, for external hemorrhoids with inflammatory edema, it is also necessary to combine this with oral diosmin tablets to relieve discomfort. However, if the external hemorrhoidal tag remains swollen for a long period or if the thrombus does not resolve, it is advisable to consider early surgical excision of the external hemorrhoids, followed by diligent postoperative dressing changes.