Top 10 best home remedies for anal fissures

As far as medical science knows, there are two kinds of anal fissures. Most instances of anal fissures last for only several days to a week. This is what they call the acute anal fissure. However, when the condition is still not healed after 8-12 weeks, it is then considered as chronic anal fissure. This is when one will need immediate medical treatment from doctors or specialists. While the former is characterized by prolonged and recurring pain and bleeding, the latter is short-term and could be healed with home treatment and remedy after just a few days or weeks.

Here are 10 of the best home remedies to help heal and eventually get rid of anal fissures:

1. Drink lots of water. If eight glasses of water is the average number of glasses one should take a day to stay healthy and hydrated, people suffering from the condition should increase their water intake to 10-12 glasses or more until the urine is almost clear. However, steer away from drinking alcohol and caffeinated drinks for they will just induce dehydration.
2. Fiber-rich diet from vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. One would be able to avoid suffering from constipation by consuming 20 to 35 grams of fiber each day. Although crossing constipation off the list could not necessarily get rid of the fissures, it could get rid of one of the main causes of the condition.
3. Stool softener. If the previous two remedies are taking too long to take effect, one could also try taking stool softeners. They make the bowel movement softer and easier to pass, thus preventing constipation and rectal damage caused by the hard stools.
4. Sitz bath with Epsom salt. How does a Sitz bath work? Easy. Essentially, one would just have to soak the rectal area in a tub of warm water for about two or three times a day for 10 to 20 minutes. The Sitz bath could then help relax the anal sphincter and soothe the injured tissue, especially after bowel movement, increase blood flow to the anus, and also aid in cleaning the anus without rubbing the already irritated anoderm.
5. Pre-moistened wipes. Keeping the anus clean after each bowel movement is also of utmost importance. These wipes further help in preventing infections and irritations caused by using a normal rough toilet paper.
6. Coconut oil mixed into a warm bath is said to have moisturizing and healing capabilities effective for an immediate relief from the pain caused by the fissures.
7. Wipe petroleum jelly to the anal area on each bowel movement for lubrication and to avoid further tearing.
8. Aloe vera gel and olive oil. These two essential oil and ointment both function the same way: they could effectively act as pain-relievers as well as treat and reduce the inflammation brought by the anal fissures.
9. Ice packs are also effective in relieving discomfort from the fissures.
10. Pillows. One of the most apparent setbacks of suffering from anal fissures is the difficulty of sitting. Using a soft pillow to sit on helps a great deal as it aids in putting less pressure on the buttocks, thus alleviating the pain caused by the fissures in the anal area.