Just having hemroids is a pretty bad thing, but when they start itching it goes from bad to horrible in short order. Itching hemroids are embarrassing, anxiety inducing and generally make getting through your day incredibly difficult. It's almost impossible to do anything useful when you can't even think straight or effectively work around other people. Fortunately, soothing the itch is usually within reach both on a short and a long term basis.
The first thing to address, of course, is how to get relief fast. The first tip to fast relief is don't scratch. It really does only make the problem worse and it opens you up to possible infection. Infected hemroids will really itch, burn and hurt like mad. Second, clean the area very carefully with a cotton swab soaked in witch hazel. This should clean any intestinal fluid off that may be causing irritation while causing the inflamed cells to shrink, both reducing any itching. You can also take a sitz-bath of a few inches of hot water, with finely ground oatmeal added if that helps you. Following that up with twenty minutes of sitting on a towel-wrapped icepack maximizes the anti-inflammatory and soothing effect.
Once you've got the initial itching under control, there are a number of things available at the drug store that can help. Hemroid ointments with lidocaine or xylocaine offer immediate numbing effects, while those with calamine lotion or zinc oxide offer drying properties that help eliminate the conditions that lead to serious itching. Increased dietary fiber and water intake will create larger, bulkier stools that won't irritate hemroids.
Avoiding the causes of itching hemroids is one of the most important parts of getting rid of the itch for good. Itching is caused by several different things, both internal and external to the hemroid itself. The most common culprit of itching hemroids is inflammation. Of course, hemroids by their nature tend to become inflamed, which is why this is such a common problem. However, if you can avoid traumatizing them, they'll naturally itch less. The most common culprits for hemroid trauma are constipation, irritating chemicals such as dyes, perfumes or detergents, and tight clothing that doesn't breathe. You may need to change your soap, laundry detergent or toilet paper. The other major reason is retained intestinal fluids or fecal matter, especially on external hemroids. The hemroid can be placed in such a way as to interfere with normal cleaning, at which point it becomes irritated and itches. Careful cleaning by patting with witch hazel, aloe vera, apple cider or just clean water can eliminate this cause of itch.
Itching may be one of the worst symptoms that hemroids have to throw at you, but it doesn't have to wreck your life. There are a myriad of soothing remedies out there, many of which can already be found in your pantry or medicine cabinet. Get as much relief as you can so you can get rid of your hemroids for good.
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Copyright 2010. Written by Donald Urquhart. All universal rights reserved.