How To Get Rid Of Haemorrhoid? Step by Step Instructions

If you have hemorrhoids, you want them gone. The most direct path involves softening your stool, reducing pressure on the veins, and using targeted treatments to shrink swelling and ease pain. Start with fiber supplements and plenty of water. Use over-the-counter creams with hydrocortisone for inflammation or witch hazel for irritation. Take warm sitz baths for 10-15 minutes several times a day. If these steps do not bring relief within a week, a doctor can offer stronger options like rubber band ligation or infrared coagulation. For severe cases, surgery may be needed. This article walks through each step with clear evidence on what works and what does not.

What Exactly Causes Haemorrhoids and Why Do They Hurt?

Haemorrhoids are swollen veins in the lowest part of your rectum and anus. Think of them like varicose veins but in a different spot. They happen when too much pressure pushes on those veins. That pressure can come from straining during bowel movements, sitting on the toilet for long periods, chronic constipation or diarrhea, pregnancy, or lifting heavy objects repeatedly.

The pain and itching come from irritation. The tissue around the swollen veins gets inflamed. When you wipe or sit, you rub against that sensitive area. It becomes a cycle: the more you irritate it, the more it swells, and the more it hurts.

There are two main types. Internal hemorrhoids form inside the rectum. They usually do not hurt but can bleed during bowel movements. You might see bright red blood on the toilet paper or in the bowl. External hemorrhoids form under the skin around the anus. These are the ones that hurt, itch, and can make sitting uncomfortable. Sometimes a blood clot forms inside an external hemorrhoid. That is called a thrombosed hemorrhoid, and it is the most painful kind.

Understanding the cause helps you pick the right treatment. If constipation is driving the pressure, fixing your stool consistency is step one. If pregnancy is the cause, the hemorrhoids often shrink after delivery. The approach changes based on what is pushing on those veins in the first place.

How To Get Rid Of Haemorrhoid: Step by Step Instructions

Here is a clear sequence based on what the evidence shows works best. Start with the least invasive options. Move to medical treatments only if needed.

Step 1: Fix your stool. This is the foundation. Hard stool makes you strain, and straining makes hemorrhoids worse. Take a fiber supplement like psyllium husk (Metamucil is one brand) daily. Drink at least eight glasses of water. Fiber without water can make constipation worse, so do both. A 2011 study in the American Journal of Gastroenterology found that fiber supplements reduced bleeding and discomfort in people with hemorrhoids more effectively than placebo.

Step 2: Change your bathroom habits. Do not sit on the toilet longer than you need to. The position matters too. Your rectum has a natural kink that makes passing stool harder when you sit on a standard toilet. Put your feet on a small stool so your knees are higher than your hips. This straightens the angle and reduces straining. It is called the squatting position, and it works.

Step 3: Use topical treatments for short-term relief. Over-the-counter creams with hydrocortisone reduce inflammation and itching. Witch hazel pads (Tucks are a common brand) can soothe irritation without steroids. Do not use hydrocortisone for more than a week without checking with a doctor. Prolonged use can thin the skin.

Step 4: Take warm sitz baths. Fill a shallow tub or a plastic sitz bath that fits over your toilet seat with warm water. Sit for 10 to 15 minutes, two to three times a day. The warmth increases blood flow to the area, which helps the swelling go down. It also relaxes the anal sphincter, which reduces pain. Do not use soap or bubble bath. Just water.

Step 5: See a doctor if symptoms persist after one week. If these steps do not bring clear improvement within seven days, you need a medical evaluation. Bleeding can also be a sign of other conditions like colorectal cancer. A doctor needs to rule that out before assuming it is just hemorrhoids.

What Treatments Actually Work According to Research?

Not everything that people claim works has evidence behind it. Let’s separate what the research supports from what is mostly marketing.

Rubber band ligation is the most common in-office procedure for internal hemorrhoids. A doctor places a small rubber band around the base of the hemorrhoid. The blood supply gets cut off, and the hemorrhoid shrinks and falls off within a week. Studies report success rates around 70 to 80 percent. It is quick, relatively painless for internal hemorrhoids, and most people go back to normal activities the same day.

Infrared coagulation uses heat to create scar tissue that cuts off blood flow to the hemorrhoid. It works best for smaller internal hemorrhoids. A 2014 review in Diseases of the Colon and Rectum found it had similar success rates to rubber band ligation but with less post-procedure pain.

Sclerotherapy involves injecting a chemical solution into the hemorrhoid to shrink it. It is less popular now because studies show it is less effective than banding or coagulation. It is still used in some cases, especially for bleeding hemorrhoids that are too small for banding.

Surgery is reserved for the worst cases. A hemorrhoidectomy removes the hemorrhoid tissue entirely. It has the highest success rate but also the longest recovery. Pain after surgery can last one to two weeks. A newer technique called stapled hemorrhoidopexy causes less pain but has a higher risk of recurrence. As of 2026, most guidelines recommend surgery only when other treatments have failed.

What about creams with lidocaine? They numb the area but do not treat the underlying swelling. They can help with pain, but they are not a cure. What about Preparation H? It contains a vasoconstrictor that temporarily shrinks blood vessels. It can reduce swelling for a few hours, but the effect is short-lived.

What Should You Avoid When You Have Haemorrhoids?

Some common habits make hemorrhoids worse. Here is what to stop doing.

• Do not strain on the toilet. Straining increases pressure on the veins. If you cannot pass stool easily, get up and try later. Do not push.
• Do not sit on the toilet for more than a few minutes. Sitting increases pressure on the anal area. Read elsewhere. Keep bathroom trips short.
• Avoid heavy lifting. Lifting weights or heavy objects puts pressure on the lower body. If you must lift, use proper form and exhale on the effort. Better yet, avoid lifting until the hemorrhoid improves.
• Do not use dry toilet paper. Dry paper is abrasive. It irritates the swollen tissue. Use moist wipes without fragrance or alcohol. Pat gently. Do not rub.
• Avoid spicy foods. There is no strong evidence that spicy foods cause hemorrhoids, but many people report that they worsen itching and burning. If you notice a pattern, skip the hot sauce until symptoms resolve.
• Do not sit for long periods. Sitting for hours at a desk or in a car compresses the anal area. Get up every 30 minutes and walk for a minute or two.

One thing that gets overhyped is the idea that certain foods “cure” hemorrhoids. Eating more fiber is proven to help. Eating more fruit and vegetables is good for you. But no single food will make a hemorrhoid disappear. Claims about apple cider vinegar, garlic, or aloe vera enemas are not supported by good research. Some people report relief from aloe vera gel applied topically, but the evidence is anecdotal, not clinical.

When Should You See a Doctor About Haemorrhoids?

You should see a doctor if you have bleeding from your rectum. Bright red blood on the toilet paper or in the bowl is often from hemorrhoids, but it can also come from polyps, fissures, or colorectal cancer. A doctor needs to check. Do not assume it is just hemorrhoids.

You should also see a doctor if the pain is severe enough to interfere with daily activities. Thrombosed hemorrhoids often need to be lanced to remove the clot. A doctor can do this in the office with local anesthesia. It provides immediate relief.

If home treatments do not improve symptoms after one week, make an appointment. The longer you wait, the more the tissue can swell and the harder it becomes to treat with simple measures.

If you have a family history of colorectal cancer or are over 45, current screening guidelines recommend a colonoscopy regardless of symptoms. Hemorrhoids can mask other problems. Do not skip this.

Can You Prevent Haemorrhoids From Coming Back?

Yes, but it requires consistent habits. The same steps that treat an active hemorrhoid also prevent new ones.

Keep your stool soft. That means fiber every day and water every day. Most adults get about 15 grams of fiber per day. The recommended amount is 25 to 38 grams. That gap is why constipation is so common. A fiber supplement bridges the gap reliably.

Do not hold in bowel movements. When you feel the urge, go. Waiting allows the stool to dry out and become harder. That leads to straining later.

Stay active. Exercise helps keep the digestive system moving. It also reduces the time you spend sitting. Both are good for preventing hemorrhoids.

Maintain a healthy weight. Extra weight, especially around the abdomen, increases pressure on the pelvic veins. Losing weight reduces that pressure.

One thing current research suggests is that chronic diarrhea can cause hemorrhoids just as often as constipation. The constant irritation from frequent loose stools inflames the tissue. If you have chronic diarrhea, treating the underlying cause is just as important as treating the hemorrhoid itself.