 |
What Makes Hemorrhoids Itch?
Author: Donald Urquhart  | Posted: 07-05-2008 | Comments: 0 | Views: 169 | Rating: (451)  (?) 
Both internal and external hemorrhoids can cause serious itching and burning in the anal area, but why this should be remains a mystery to many people.
External hemorrhoids are a bit easier to answer, after all they're quite near a sensitive band of nerves, but how do hemorrhoids that are inside the body cause itching and burning on the outside? Hemorrhoids as a whole cause these symptoms both directly, due to their very existence and behaviour, and indirectly through other biological reactions.
Hemorrhoids cause itching and burning directly when they become inflamed.
When inflammation occurs anywhere in the body, the blood vessels swell up, lymph fluid fills and swells intercellular spaces, pain nerves fire, and immune cells launch at the area in question trying to solve the problem. If tissue is irritated too much by just about anything, from abrasion to bacterial attack, inflammation is usually the body's first line of defense.
In addition to creating a hostile environment for a bacterial or viral invader, it serves to alert the brain that something is wrong and damage has occured.
While this is a good thing for our continued survival because we wouldn't live very long if we didn't know when we'd hurt ourselves, inflammation can easily be too much of a good thing. Once you know that an area of the body needs attention, it would be nice if you could turn the pain off. Fortunately, medications exist that allow you to do just that.
For a problem with an external hemorrhoid, many of the hemorrhoidal creams on the market today contain a topical anesthetic that will block pain within minutes. If it's an internal hemorrhoid causing the problem, ibuprofen tablets or capsules are the best because ibuprofen serves as both a painkiller and an anti-inflammatory.
Multiple indirect causes of itching due to hemorrhoids also exist.
Internal hemorrhoids can irritate the mucus membrane lining the anal canal into producing excess mucus in order to lubricate the area. This mucus escapes the anal sphincter, gets onto the skin surrounding it on the outside, and dries there. This both dries out and irritates the area.
In addition, the demand that an inflamed internal hemorrhoid puts upon the surrounding blood vessels can cause feelings of itching and burning as more blood moves faster, causing minute swelling throughout the entire area.
Finally, a sufficiently large internal hemorrhoid can cause extremely low-grade fecal incontinence, which of course causes itching and burning both from the fecal matter drying on external skin and the possible rash and infection that fecal incontinence can bring.
External hemorrhoids indirectly cause itching and burning through different means.
Of course, when an external hemorrhoid gets inflamed it hurts, itches, and burns directly.
However, if we give in to the urge to scratch or scrub, we upset the delicate balance of the skin surrounding the anal sphincter. There are several oil producing glands within that skin that normally serve to clean and lubricate the area. If we, through scratching, scrubbing, or applying harsh chemicals strip away those natural oils, itching is pretty much a foregone conclusion. In addition, by stripping those oils away we open ourselves to surface infections, which only makes the problem worse and sets up a vicious cycle.
The best solutions to itching and burning around the anal area are to take frequent sitz-baths in warm, plain water, use a soothing cream containing cocoa butter or a similar moisturizer, pat the area gently with either a medicated pad or plain, soft moistened toilet paper, and wear loose fitting cotton underwear. Loose cotton underwear will serve to wick excessive mucus or incontinence away from delicate skin without rubbing or scratching.
In addition, avoid harsh cleansers, soaps, or chemicals of any kind. Only use medicated pads and creams specifically formulated for this area of the body.
While you can't use external hemorrhoid creams inside the body, if an internal hemorrhoid is causing external irritation, one of the external hemorrhoid creams that has combines a moisturizer with a topical anesthetic may provide relief from the external itching and burning.
If hemorrhoid symptoms do not get better within a week, or if you can't manage to control them enough to proceed with a fairly normal day, you may need to see a doctor.
That being said, there is no reason to suffer horrendous symptoms that interfere with your daily activities due to hemorrhoids. By getting a sound education on hemorrhoidal cause and effect and applying that knowledge together with common sense, you can get on with life.
Rate this Article:
Current: 3 / 5 stars - 2 vote(s).
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/what-makes-hemorrhoids-itch-406977.html
|
Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free! |
|
Related Articles
Use Digestive Enzymes to Reduce Hemorrhoid Inflammation
By: Rudy Silva | 16/03/2007 | Alternative Medicine
Using digestive enzymes, when you have hemorrhoids, is a good idea. Digestive enzymes help reduce inflammation, reduce fibrin, and clean the blood of foreign particles. These enzymes activities strengthen your immune system and give it more power to work on your hemorrhoids.
Types of Food Allergies
By: James Hunt | 29/12/2005 | Health
Some of the most deadly allergies are those caused by food. While some people have no allergies, others are allergic to one or more things...
Be Aware of the Symptoms of Hemorrhoids
By: Robert | 25/11/2007 | Health
Before going to the doctor to have a consultation for your hemorrhoids, it is advisable that you must assess the symptoms you are feeling so that you can describe them to the doctor in a detailed manner for a correct diagnosis. Some of the symptoms that you must be aware of are pain, swelling, itching, bleeding, bulges and protrusions.
Why We Need to Detox
By: Irina Wardas | 02/05/2008 | Women's Health
Detox and cleanse are very popular words nowadays, especially in spring. Many of us are into detox: we want to try it, we all have opinions how to do it, we like it or we hate it. It might be a recipe for a drink, or a several day procedure, or maybe even fasting, juicing or profound cleansing program with professional help.
Get Hemorrhoid Relief From Herbal Remedies
By: Rudy Silva | 16/03/2007 | Alternative Medicine
Here are four different herbs that can give you hemorrhoid relief and help to get rid of your hemorrhoids. Using these herbs is a convenient and cost effective way to treat your hemorrhoid symptoms.
Hemorrhoids - Symptoms, Causes and Treatment Options
By: Knut Holt | 20/08/2007 | Diseases and Conditions
The symptoms of hemorrhoids and the processes causing hemorrhoids are explained. There is a listing of things you can do yourself to cure hemorrhoids.
Let's Burn Fat for Weight Loss While Watching Our Favorite
Sports!
By: Anna Overweight No More | 21/09/2005 | Weight Loss
Time to burn fat and pursue our
weight loss program while watching our favorite sports. What
are your favorite sports? BASKETBALL, SOCCER, BASEBALL, TENNIS,
VOLLEY BALL,.
Top 7 Tips to Treat and Prevent Windburn
By: Raymond Lee | 25/11/2007 | Skin Care
To save your skin from future assaults and to speed the healing process, it is worthwhile to give these tips a try.
Latest Diseases and Conditions Articles
Colon Health is the Key to a Long, Happy, Disease-free Life
By: Paul Rodgers | 26/07/2008
Colon therapy offers many health benefits including detoxification, cleansing of the bloodstream and the stimulation of internal organs. Additional benefits can often be observed throughout the body in the form of clearer skin, more energy and mental clarity, fewer headaches, with circulatory, immune and weight problems often improving, amongst many other positive side effects.
Colon Health is a Matter of Life and Death
By: Paul Rodgers | 26/07/2008
Herbal colon therapy is the cornerstone of much of our treatment for bowel conditions in the same way that endonasal therapy is the cornerstone for the treatment of ear, nose and throat diseases. To the uninitiated it might seem that the most obvious reason for the herbal colonic treatment would be for correcting constipation.
Ways Of Getting Back Pain Relief
By: Apurva Shree | 26/07/2008
Back pain can be a very distressing problem in your life. It will not only affect you physically but can be emotionally very depressing.Back pain can be a very distressing problem in your life.
Use Of Lower Back Pain Remedies
By: Apurva Shree | 26/07/2008
Back pain has now become a very common problem which can affect any age group. The pain in the lower back can be due to injury or accident, displaced disc, degenerated muscle etc. There are several exercises and stretches that can constitute a good lower backache remedy.
Use These Back Pain Relief Products For A Healthy Back
By: Apurva Shree | 26/07/2008
As back pain has emerged as the most common problem in present day, various back pain relief products have surfaced in the market. People rely a great deal on these products to get positive results.
How To Be Independent With Schizophrenia
By: Ronen David | 26/07/2008
When people suffer from schizophrenia mean the condition where a person may find it difficult to differentiate what is real and what is not
The Unnerving Symptoms Of Back Pain
By: Apurva Shree | 26/07/2008
Are you facing periodical pain in your spine, neck, shoulders, hips, and waist or while moving your hands? If yes, be careful. You could be facing the symptoms of back pain.
Why Osteoporosis Is Still The Silent Thief
By: Joseph Nyamache | 25/07/2008
Because of the high prevalence rates of more common diseases like AIDS and Diabetes, most people tend to ignore other diseases that are equally important in our lives such as osteoporosis
More from Donald Urquhart
Medicine in the Victorian Age
By: Donald Urquhart | 25/05/2008 | Medicine
This new medical paradigm in the 1800’s resulted in a hugely increased human life span. While early medicine may seem ridiculous or even absurd to modern eyes, Victorian doctors introduced such fundamental modern medical concepts as bacteria, viruses, aseptic techniques, narcotics, and even genetics.
What is Cholesterol?
By: Donald Urquhart | 25/05/2008 | Diseases and Conditions
What is cholesterol? Does it ever serve a useful purpose? Where exactly does it come from, anyway? Is there such a thing as "good" cholesterol?
How to Brush Your Teeth
By: Donald Urquhart | 25/05/2008 | Dental Care
Many of the old ways of brushing your teeth - the ones you were toaught as a child - may actually be destroying your teeth now.
Children With Down Syndrome - a Case for Affirmative Action
By: Donald Urquhart | 25/05/2008 | Diseases and Conditions
Down Syndrome is more than an extra chromosome 21, it is something that has happened to a child, through no fault of the child, nor of the child's parents. Affirmative action can help lead children with Down Syndrome into fruitful and rewarding careers within society.
What is a Yeast Infection?
By: Donald Urquhart | 25/05/2008 | Diseases and Conditions
Yeast infection can attack many parts of the human body, sometimes it can be sexually transmitted.
Hemorrhoid Classification: What Do They All Mean?
By: Donald Urquhart | 07/05/2008 | Diseases and Conditions
How do doctors grade hemorrhoids in determining what should be done?
What Really Causes Hemorrhoids?
By: Donald Urquhart | 07/05/2008 | Diseases and Conditions
What on earth are you doing that copuld cause hemorrhoids to appear? How can constipation and diarehea both be able to cause them?
Good, Basic, Hemorrhoid Treatment
By: Donald Urquhart | 07/05/2008 | Diseases and Conditions
These are the solid, basic hemorrhoids treatments for relief and cure.
|
|
Health 
