Haemorrhoids can go away on their own within a few days. 

Patients can apply a topical treatment to the area to help ease the symptoms, or they can also take tablets to help ease the symptoms and pass stools.

Topical treatments may include local anaesthetics which help to relieve the pain and itching or skin protectors which have emollient and protective properties which help to prevent irritation and loss of moisture.

You can also advise patients to:-

• Keep the area as clean as possible - using moist toilet wipes can help
• Take warm baths to soothe the area
• Cold compresses may help to shrink haemorrhoids

To help prevent getting haemorrhoids you can advise patients to:-

• Increase the amount of fibre in their diet
• Drink plenty of fluid
• Avoid delaying going to the toilet
• Avoid medication that causes constipation
• Exercise regularly
• Losing weight