Understanding Your Treatment Options for Hemorrhoids

No one enjoys talking about hemorrhoids — they crop up in a very private place on your backside and cause hard-to-ignore symptoms like itching, pain, and bleeding. You’ve tried to resolve the issue on your own, but nothing seems to work.

We understand, and we can help.

Dr. Ayub Hussain at Northside Gastroenterology Associates in Cypress, and Houston, Texas, specializes in treating hemorrhoids and sees them every day, but he knows that talking about them — even with a doctor — can be uncomfortable. That’s why he creates a safe, discreet, professional environment that lets you keep your pride and dignity during your hemorrhoid diagnosis and treatment.

Here, Dr. Hussain explains your hemorrhoid treatment options. 

At-home treatments for hemorrhoids

Mild hemorrhoids typically don’t need medical intervention; however, there’s a lot you can do at home to resolve the problem, such as these remedies.

Over-the-counter (OTC) products

Because hemorrhoids are bulging blood vessels, your goal is to shrink them. Several OTC products can reduce inflammation and treat hemorrhoids without resorting to expensive drugs or risky surgeries. 

Several products are available, including ointments, creams, and suppositories that can help relieve the pain and itching associated with hemorrhoids. Medications containing ingredients like hydrocortisone also reduce swelling and inflammation. 

Witch hazel

Witch hazel is a popular home remedy for treating hemorrhoids, and it can be applied topically as a compress or in an ointment, cream, or suppository form. To make a compress, soak cotton balls in witch hazel and apply the soaked cloth to the affected area. Adding a few drops of pure witch hazel to the bathwater can also help reduce itching and swelling.

Sitz bath

A sitz bath is a simple method of relieving the discomfort of hemorrhoids. This type of bath involves sitting in warm water, usually up to your hips. The gentle heat of the water helps soothe itching and burning sensations. Adding Epsom salts or baking soda to the water can reduce inflammation and provide relief. 

Professional hemorrhoid treatments

If and when at-home remedies don’t resolve your hemorrhoids, or they keep coming back, it may be time to see Dr. Hussain. He offers three effective treatments to banish those bulging veins and restore your pain-free bum.

Rubber band ligation

Rubber band ligation is a tried-and-true method for removing external hemorrhoids. Dr. Hussain wraps a small rubber band around the base of the bulging vein to cut off its blood supply, and it eventually falls off in a couple of days. 

Infrared coagulation

Another in-office treatment, called infrared coagulation, is a method of treating hemorrhoids that uses heat energy to reduce swelling. It applies infrared light to the rectal area where the hemorrhoid is. The heat energy causes blood vessels in the hemorrhoid to shrink and collapse, which leads to less swelling and pain. The procedure usually only takes a few minutes and can provide long-term relief from the symptoms of hemorrhoids.

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is another procedure Dr. Hussain uses to treat hemorrhoids. He injects a saline or glycerin solution into the affected area of your rectum, causing the blood vessels supplying it to shrink and collapse, much like the infrared coagulation treatment. This reduces swelling and pain and can provide long-term relief. 

To find out which treatment is right for your hemorrhoids, don’t hesitate to contact us for a private, professional exam with hemorrhoid specialist Dr. Hussain, and you’ll be sitting pretty in no time.