Top questions

If this is the first time you've developed piles, then yes, it's best to get a proper diagnosis from your doctor. That way you can make sure you're using the most appropriate and effective treatment from the start.

It's hard to say, as piles are different for everyone. But there's plenty you can do to try and prevent them, involving a few simple changes to your diet and lifestyle.

No! This is a myth. Sitting down for long periods of time can make piles worse, but it doesn't cause them. Developing piles has nothing to do with the temperature of what you're perched on.

Piles can affect anyone. They're caused by increased pressure in the blood vessels in your bottom and there's no discrimination between the sexes.

Overweight people have a fairly high chance of getting piles due to the extra pressure their weight puts on their abdomen. But this pressure can also be the result of constipation, straining on the loo, pregnancy and lifting heavy weights.

The Anusol™ range offers a variety of product formats for the effective treatment of all types of piles. Applying the right cream, ointment or suppositories, the symptoms can go away in a matter of days or even quicker depending of the severity.

Sometimes they do, and other times you’re simply not feeling them anymore, like in the case of internal piles. The important thing is there's action you can take as soon as you feel the first symptoms. Find out more about the benefits of Anusol™.

Anusol™ cream is used to relieve the swelling, itching and irritation of internal or external piles (haemorrhoids).

Anusol™ is the number 1 selling brand* in the UK but there is a variety of products available on the market. Anusol™ contains several active ingredients able to provide soothing relief from piles, for example:

• astringents to reduce swelling
• emollients to protect sore skin
• antiseptic to reduce the risk of infection.

The Anusol™ 4-way formula also contains hydrocortisone which reduces inflammation, swelling, redness and itching.

Typically, the recommendations for getting rid of piles involve:

• creams to ease the pain, itching and swelling
• treatment to help constipation and soften poo
• use cold packs to ease discomfort

Piles are swollen blood vessels but things that make piles more likely are:

• constipation
• pushing too hard when pooing
• pregnancy – read about piles during pregnancy
• heavy lifting

If there's no improvement to your piles after home treatments, you may need hospital treatment. Talk to your doctor about the best treatment for you. Treatment does not always prevent piles coming back.

If you are experiencing piles, you can use Anusol™ cream for the treatment of haemorrhoids.

Anusol™ is the number 1 selling brand in the UK but there is a variety of products available on the market. Anusol™ contains several active ingredients able to provide soothing relief from piles, for example:

• astringents to reduce swelling
• emollients to protect sore skin
• antiseptic to reduce the risk of infection.

The Anusol™ 4-way formula also contains hydrocortisone which reduces inflammation, swelling, redness and itching.

Depending on severity, symptom management can include the following measures:

• Topical haemorrhoid preparations, used morning and night, and after a bowel movement. These include creams, ointments and gels (generally for external haemorrhoids, although some may come with a nozzle for internal application) and suppositories (generally for internal haemorrhoids).
• Simple painkillers
• Warm baths or ice packs
• Non-surgical treatments (such as rubber band ligation, electrotherapy or sclerotherapy)
• Surgical treatments

Yes, you can gently push a pile back inside.

While there’s no guaranteed way to permanently get rid of piles, along with the right treatment, it can help to make some positive lifestyle changes too. Here are just a few: include more fibre-rich food in your diet, drink plenty of water, cut down on anything that causes constipation - like alcohol and caffeine, exercise regularly, and try not to spend too much time on the loo!

Yes, you can buy piles treatment online. The Anusol™ range is widely available online and in store. See here the most suitable place for you.

Choose the most suitable Anusol™ product for your needs and treat piles at home. During a haemorrhoid episode, you can also:

• drink lots of fluid and eat plenty of fibre to keep your poo soft
• wipe your bottom with damp toilet paper
• take paracetamol if piles hurt
• take a warm bath to ease itching and pain
• use an ice pack wrapped in a towel to ease discomfort
• gently push a pile back inside
• keep your bottom clean and dry
• exercise regularly
• cut down on alcohol and caffeine (like tea, coffee and cola) to avoid constipation

There is a variety of lifestyle factors that can have an impact on the incidence of haemorrhoids which you can adjust to prevent re-occurrence of piles:

• Constipation
• Chronic diarrhoea
• Straining while trying to pass stools; prolonged time sitting on the toilet
• Low-fibre diet
• Obesity
• Regular heavy lifting
• Ageing
• Cirrhosis with ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity)
• Chronic cough