Hemroids (also called hemorrhoids) are not serious health concerns, but you’ll need to treat them before they get any worse. Luckily, there are many products sold as hemorrhoid treatments that actually work and provide the hemorrhoid relief you are seeking.
About Hemorrhoid Relief Products
Most often, you’ll find a wide variety of medicines at the drugstore. These drugs contain the same ingredients used for treating hemorrhoid symptoms such as itching, swelling, and discomfort. Good hemorrhoid remedies can also be used internally to help aid in the overall hemorrhoid relief you are seeking. You can find hemroids treatment such as ointments, creams, anal suppositories, foams, gels, and pads.
Hemorrhoid creams are one of the most popular hemorrhoid relief options. When using any type of liquid product on hemroids, it should be applied as a thin covering preferably after passing stool. If you want to apply these products internally within the anal canal, you’ll get the best results by using “pile pipe.” Pile pipes have holes on the sides as well as a large opening on the end. This helps to distribute the liquids evenly in the anal canal. For best results and your overall comfort, pile pipes should be lubricated prior to insertion (just use the liquid itself to lubricate the pipe). Using a pile pipe with appropriate medicine can aid in your overall hemorrhoid relief strategy.
Best Drugstore Ingredients that Provide Hemorrhoid Relief
1. Local anesthetics
Look for a hemorrhoid relief product that contains anesthetics. This ingredient provides temporarily relief against hemroids’ pain, burning, and itching. It successfully does so by numbing the nerve endings and thus reducing the level of sensed pain. You should limit use to the outer anal area and, if internally inserted, you should restrict it to the lower anal canal area. The downside to this ingredient is the allergies associated with it. Local anesthetics can cause hemroids to burn and itch if an allergy is produced. If you do sense a feeling of burning with the application of anesthetics, wash it off your hemroids immediately and discontinue use. Alternatively, you can use a cream or lotion with an ingredient called tetracaine. This ingredient will aid in numbing the hemroids as an anesthetic would, and it can provide sufficient hemorrhoid relief of pain.
2. Vasoconstrictors
Vasoconstrictors are chemical ingredients that resemble epinephrine, a naturally occurring chemical that is associated with the metabolism. When this ingredient is applied to the anus, it will make the blood vessels become smaller (constricted), which may reduce swelling (like ice would). Vasoconstrictors may reduce pain and itching due to their mild anesthetic effect. If you find an allergy to this ingredient, such as increased burning, wash it off immediately. Try a simple ice pack, or insert a wet piece of ice directly into the anal area. This will soothe hemroids instantly.
3. Protectants
Protectants help to prevent irritation of anal skin by conditioning the skin. Protectants also form a physical barrier that prevents aggravating liquid or stool from the rectum to come into contact with sensitive, irritated hemroids. This barrier reduces irritation, pain, burning, and most importantly, itching. Most hemorrhoid creams will offer protectants as an added ingredient to aid in overall hemorrhoid relief. Most hemroids respond well to generally all protectants.
4. Astringents
These ingredients help to coagulate proteins contained in the cells of the anal and in the lining of the anal cavity. Astringents promote dryness of the skin, which in turn helps relieve burning, itching, and pain because it can regulate moisture control. Astringents provide anti-inflammatory hemorrhoid relief benefits as well.
5. Antiseptics
Look for hemorrhoid remedies that contain antiseptics. These will inhibit the growth of bacteria and other organisms within the anal cavity and anus skin. Even though this benefit is good for hygiene, it is unclear whether or not antiseptics are any more effective than using a simple lather of soap and water. However, if you want to use antiseptics, look for an ingredient called Bepanthen. This ingredient will provide hemorrhoid relief using bacterial control. Proctosedyl is also a good suppository ingredient that contains antiseptic qualities.
6. Keratolytics
Keratolytics are chemically-based ingredients that cause the outer layers of skin to stimulate the process of disintegration. So, how does this action benefit hemroids? It allows for deeper penetration of other ingredients since it thins the skin. Many times this is a secondary ingredient coupled with an active ingredient that work together to provide sufficient hemorrhoid relief.
7. Analgesic products
Very similar to an analgesic, an anesthetic will help to relieve pain, itching, and burning associated with hemroids. This ingredient works by depressing receptors on pain nerves, thus disguising the pain and helping to provide temporary hemorrhoid relief. However, because this ingredient simply suppresses pain, you’ll want something else that’ll help promote healing and anti-inflammatory qualities against hemroids.
8. Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids help to reduce inflammation and itching. Unfortunately, with continued use, they can cause permanent damage to the skin. Just use them for a week or two—anything more is simply too risky. If you want to use a hemroids product more frequently, try an herbal-based product for hemorrhoid relief instead. Natural remedies in general do not contain dangerous side effects.
