Treating and preventing hemorrhoids – tips for gentle care with the butt shower

“Caring for the butt and for anal wounds is made much easier by a butt shower, because a butt shower makes it far simpler to clean inflamed skin.”

- Dr. Daniel Sterzing, Proctology Center Berlin

What Are Hemorrhoids?

Everyone has hemorrhoids, naturally. Together with the inner and outer sphincter of the anus, they seal the bowel off from the outside. They consist of a spongy, blood-filled vascular cushion. It helps keep the exit of the bowel closed, even under strain such as sneezing or laughing.

What we colloquially mean when we say that someone has hemorrhoids is medically referred to as hemorrhoidal disease. In this case, the vascular cushion becomes enlarged and causes unpleasant symptoms such as pain, itching, and burning around the anus.

Causes

The causes of hemorrhoidal disease haven't been fully researched yet, but several factors can contribute to it:

• Repeated hard straining on the toilet and chronic constipation
• A congenital weakness of the connective tissue, which leads to the supporting muscles slackening
• Lack of movement and mostly sedentary activities
• Low fluid intake
• Frequent diarrhea can also put a strain on the area
• Lifting heavy loads, since this increases the pressure in the lower abdomen
• Excess weight
• Pregnancy

Tips for Bowel Trouble

If hemorrhoid symptoms last longer or become more severe, medical treatment is advisable, so you should see your family doctor, who may refer you to specialists such as proctologists, surgeons, or gastroenterologists to restore the health of your bowel.

Blood on the paper or in your stool should always be checked out by a doctor – even if it looks like hemorrhoids. If the cause is clear and the symptoms are mild, there's plenty you can do yourself:

Sitz Baths for Hemorrhoids

Many people find lukewarm sitz baths soothing. Whether additives make sense is best clarified at the pharmacy or your doctor's office.

How Do I Clean the Anus With Hemorrhoids? Butt Shower Instead of Paper

Hard, dry toilet paper acts like sandpaper on the sensitive skin around the anus. That's why you should generally dab this area carefully instead of rubbing. Wet wipes usually contain fragrances and preservatives that irritate the skin even more and, in the worst case, can trigger allergies. Berlin proctologist Dr. Daniel Sterzing also considers cleaning with a butt shower and clear water to be easier on irritated skin (see the quote above). With the butt shower, you clean without rubbing. Many people with hemorrhoids find that far more comfortable than paper.

Ointments and Creams for Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids can come with problems like itching. There are ointments and creams for itching and sore skin. Your pharmacy or your doctor will know which one suits you.

How to Protect Yourself From Hemorrhoids

To keep hemorrhoidal disease – which can be very unpleasant and painful for those affected – from developing in the first place, there are plenty of things you can pay attention to that also support your gut health:

• Clean your butt gently and hygienically with the butt shower: the sensitive skin around the exit of the bowel tolerates neither aggressive shower products nor too much friction. So it's best to leave all of that out. Clear water is completely enough. The skin there doesn't need soap or shower gel.
• Eat fiber regularly to prevent constipation: foods rich in fiber include whole grain bread, muesli, psyllium husks, sesame, oats, legumes, vegetables, and fresh fruit. This supports your health and a healthy lifestyle anyway.
• In addition to high-fiber foods: drink enough throughout the day so the fiber can swell in your bowel.
• Regular movement supports gut health.
• Take enough time when you poop and don't strain hard.
• Listen to your body – only go to the toilet when you really need to, and prevent bowel problems that way.

Prevention Through the Right Toilet Posture: The Toilet Stool as Support

A poor sitting position while pooping can encourage the development of hemorrhoids, especially when constipation or hard straining happen frequently. A toilet stool helps you get into an ergonomic squat position, which brings the anal canal into a more natural angle. This makes it easier for stool to pass without excessive straining. Straining less is one of the things that's generally recommended with hemorrhoids – and that's exactly where the squat position helps many people.

Especially in combination with a butt shower, a toilet stool can help reduce the symptoms of hemorrhoids. While the butt shower takes care of gentle, irritation-free cleaning, the toilet stool supports a relaxed, healthy bowel movement – a perfect combination for long-term gut health.