About 8 in 10 people with an anal tear get better with simple treatments such as taking warm baths and changing their diet. This usually happens in about three weeks.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Rakinic J.
Physician information: core subjects: fissure and pruritus.
American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. Available at http://www.fascrs.org (accessed on 21 October 2008).

 

 

 

 

 

¹ To learn more see What can I do to help my anal tear heal?

Some people need other treatments such as

 

 

 

 

 

laxative
A laxative is a kind of medicine you can buy over the counter. Laxatives empty your bowels by making you go to the bathroom often.

 

 

 

 

 

laxatives or ointments to relieve their pain.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
American Gastroenterological Association.
American Gastroenterological Association medical position statement: diagnosis and care of patients with anal fissure.
Gastroenterology. 2003; 124: 233-234.

 

 

 

 

 

²

Chronic tears are less likely to heal with simple treatments. Most people who have chronic tears need treatments to help relax the muscle that controls their

 

 

 

 

 

anus
The anus, which is at the end of the rectum, is where a stool leaves your body when you go to the bathroom. Part of the anus is a muscle that helps you hold in the stool until you are on the toilet.

 

 

 

 

 

anus. When this muscle relaxes, the blood flow to the skin of your anus improves. This helps the tear to heal.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Pfenninger JL, Zainea GG.
Common anorectal conditions: part II: lesions.
American Family Physician. 2001; 64: 77-88.

 

 

 

 

 

³

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Nelson RL.
Treatment of anal fissure.
BMJ. 2003;327:354-355.

 

 

 

 

 

⁴

Treatments to help the anal muscle relax include:

Surgery works for about 9 in 10 of those people who need it.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Nelson RL.
Treatment of anal fissure.
BMJ. 2003;327:354-355.

 

 

 

 

 

⁴ We don't know how many people get tears again afterward, but we do know that some types of surgery work better than others. For example, you're more likely to still get anal tears after an operation to stretch the muscle in your anus than after surgery on your anal muscle.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Nelson R.
Operative procedures for fissure in ano (Cochrane review).
In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 4, 2005. Wiley, Chichester, UK.

 

 

 

 

 

⁵ To read more, see What treatments work for anal tears?

It's unusual to have more than one tear at a time, or for the skin on the sides of your anus to tear. If this happens, your doctor may do some tests to see if the tears are due to an

 

 

 

 

 

infection
You get an infection when viruses, bacteria, fungi or other tiny organisms get into your body. These bugs are so tiny that you can't see them without a microscope. For example, an infection in your airways causes the common cold. And an infection in your skin can cause rashes such as athlete's foot.

 

 

 

 

 

infection or a problem with your digestion.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
American Gastroenterological Association.
American Gastroenterological Association medical position statement: diagnosis and care of patients with anal fissure.
Gastroenterology. 2003; 124: 233-234.

 

 

 

 

 

²

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