Can wiping too hard cause hemorrhoids?

Toilet paper has an abrasive texture; you are basically wiping with wood mixed with chemicals. While rubbing gentle skin in your private area with toilet paper, you perform mechanical (or physical) exfoliation, like on your face or the rest of the body, where you apply scrubs to remove dead cells – a top layer of the skin.

Wiping too hard can cause irritation, sore feeling, and pain. The mechanical exfoliation performed with dry toilet paper aggravates the discomfort for those with hemorrhoids or anal fissures.

According to Dr. Evan Goldstein, a rectal surgeon in New York City, when wiping after a bowel movement with rough toilet paper, there is a high chance of anus injuries. Moreover, toilet paper contains bleach which also harms the gentle skin of the perianal area, as chemicals like chlorine dioxide and formaldehyde are used for toilet paper whitening and softening. 

So toilet paper does not cause hemorrhoids directly, but piles can get worse due to over-wiping. Wiping too much or too roughly with dry toilet paper will aggravate hemorrhoids and anal fissures, causing more itching, bleeding, and burning.

What to wipe hemorrhoids with?

People with hemorrhoids can find it difficult and painful to wipe clean, and toilet paper can get stuck in the anus. Instead of using dry toilet paper, doctors recommend washing the area after a bowel movement or gently tapping the anus with soft, moist toilet paper or a wet towel. As toilet paper can dissolve quickly, you can wet it with a witch hazel gel, like WipeGel, or use witch hazel flushable wipes. However, if we are honest, if these wipes are flushable, they won’t be moist enough.

But anything is better than rough toilet paper, damaging the skin, right? Fecal particles are left behind when using dry toilet paper, and it is a great tool for spreading bacteria, which can cause infection. Thus, when we exfoliate this area using rough toilet paper or dryish wipes, we make the microbiome more exposed and vulnerable to infections.

Perianal and perineal microbiome

We have good and bad bacteria on our skin on all body parts – armpits, feet, scalp, and so on. The combination of these bacteria is called the skin microbiome.

A certain microbiome exists in the perineal and perianal areas (on the skin). Also, there is a rectal microbiome, which is a group of bacteria that live in the anal canal.

The perianal area refers to the skin surrounding the anus. 

The perineal area (perineum) is the skin between the vagina and anus in women and the scrotum and anus in men. 

Commensal microorganisms are important for maintaining a healthy human skin microbiome. Read more about the types of microorganisms on our skin here. 

An imbalanced microbiome can cause diseases, both in the digestive system and on the skin. The anus is the gateway of the digestive tract to the external body, which also represents a potential entry for pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Thus, perianal health is closely related to a balanced microbiome. 

Why are external hemorrhoids so painful?

Our whole body, inside and outside, is covered with epithelial tissue. The outside part of this tissue is the skin, and the inside parts (which are yet outside) are the mucus membranes.

These tissues are a protective layer covering our nerves and serving as a barrier against infection. When the protective layer is compromised, pain is a natural reaction. The more nerve endings you have in the area, the more painful the injury would feel.

The anus is one of the most sensitive parts of the human body, with one of the densest concentrations of nerve endings.

Health issues, such as anal fissures or piles, affect the integrity of the skin and mucous membranes around the anus. For example, when you get external hemorrhoids, the overlying skin becomes irritated and eroded because the swollen veins stretch it out. The affected skin can no longer protect the nerves surrounding the anus, resulting in severe pain.

It’s just common sense to keep your skin in a healthy condition so that it can protect you. Yet, when it comes to our anuses, we keep using the dry toilet or rough wet wipes that can impact the integrity of sensitive skin.

Best way to wipe after a bowel movement

To avoid infections, it is recommended to wipe from front to back. To make the process more comfortable, you can wet toilet paper with water. However, there are high chances your toilet paper will simply dissolve. So we recommend applying a drop of toilet paper gel with witch hazel, WipeGel, to your TP for better cleaning and creating a soothing, protective layer when wiping. 

If you already got irritation from dry toilet paper, you can always apply SALVE with natural vitamin E and gorgonian extract. It will soothe the irritation and heal small cuts from toilet paper faster.

There is another alternative to wiping – bidet. Sometimes bidet is even recommended by doctors, but use it with caution. 

Bidet and hemorrhoids – not a solution for everyone 

The bidet has recently become very popular and is even recommended by doctors, including those suffering from hemorrhoids. However, it isn’t the best choice, especially for females, and here is why.

According to research, frequent use of bidet harms vaginal microflora by depriving normal microflora or by spreading infection of fecal bacteria and other microorganisms with streams of water.

And if you decide to use a bidet as it seems to you as a good alternative to toilet paper due to hemorrhoids, anal fissures, or pruritus ani, make sure the pressure is not too high. According to Dr. Swartzberg, clinical professor emeritus at UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health, “it causes reflex contractions of the anal sphincters and might damage the mucosa and anal sphincter in the long term.” Moreover, using a bidet can be painful for those who have hemorrhoids due to the high pressure of the water stream.

Can wet wipes cause hemorrhoids?

You may ask, why wet toilet paper when there are wet wipes? They are even worse, especially when used frequently.

Many people use wet wipes for hemorrhoids instead of toilet paper because it feels better than wiping with dry TP. Wipes for hemorrhoids often contain witch hazel astringent. Witch hazel is great for relief of itching and swelling associated with hemorrhoids (but more on that later).

Unfortunately, wet wipes contain preservatives used to prevent microbial contamination. And many preservatives are associated with allergic reactions, and we need no rashes, especially on already damaged skin, right?

Although wet wipes do not cause hemorrhoids, they can add chafing to your already irritated butt. Chafing is the result of frequent skin rubbing against skin or irritating fabric especially mixed with moisture (usually it’s your sweat).

The skin between the buttocks (butt crack) is the most vulnerable to chafing. This area is almost always covered with underwear and another layer of clothing, so it doesn’t breathe. 

There are eccrine glands in the buttocks too. Good news – eccrine glands produce odorless sweat. However, there is still moisture. And there is hair in the butt crack, which keeps this moisture. 

Being overweight or performing certain activities, like running or cycling, can provoke chafing, as there are more chances of rubbing skin against skin or skin against clothes, getting hot, and sweating. 

You are also exposing your butt to chafing when you use wet wipes. They are made of polyester fibers, and chemicals in these wipes stay on the skin and dry it out. Wiping too much causes more irritation of the skin, chafing around the anus and between the buttocks.

If you decide to use wet wipes on your intimate area anyway, at least avoid wipes with alcohol and fragrances. You might also want to avoid flushable wet wipes since they have the least moisture because they are designed to dissolve in water.

Do hemorrhoids cause odor?

Yes, hemorrhoids can cause odor and there is a couple of reasons for that.

First of all, you can’t wipe clean with dry toilet paper. Fecal particles are left behind, mixed with all the other smells you might have in your pants (sweat, discharge, urine), they produce an unpleasant odor.

Second, you might have an inflammation. Then, the veins and tissues around the anus swell, and you may lose some control of the anal sphincter muscle. This may cause discharge with stool and anal fluid, which is enough to cause smell.

If this happens, all you can do is add additional hygiene steps to your routine. For example, you can take with you this Mini WipeGel bottle every time you go to the bathroom, just in case. It not just cleans. Witch hazel removes anus odor. WipeGel is slightly acidic (ph 4.6) and has prebiotics, so it will acidify the skin and support healthy flora, which also prevents the bad smell.

Should I use witch hazel for hemorrhoid treatment? 

To relieve discomfort in the care of your anal, perianal, and perineal skin, apply toilet paper gel – WipeGel – to your TP before wiping, especially if you suffer from hemorrhoids. It will refresh, soothe, and cool the inflamed area. WipeGel contains 30% of witch hazel, so you basically wipe with witch hazel gel. WipeGel is a healthy alternative to witch hazel wipes and can be applied as a leave-on gel.

Witch hazel is a botanical astringent from the Hamamelis virginiana – a plant growing in North America and is mostly used in the USA. It has powerful medicinal properties that can be used in a variety of ways. Witch hazel can be taken orally, but it is more often applied directly to the skin. When applied topically, witch hazel helps with the itching, redness, pain, and swelling associated with hemorrhoids due to its anti-inflammatory effect. 

Witch hazel is also used for the treatment of mucous membrane inflammation, vaginal dryness after menopause, itching, pain, swelling, skin injury, varicose veins, insect bites, and other skin irritations.

Can soap irritate hemorrhoids?

Naturally, when you feel discomfort in anal, perianal, and perineal areas, you think making it squeaky clean will help. And if you already suffer from hemorrhoids or anal fissures, practicing good hygiene is a must, but don’t use soap, as it only aggravates the condition. 

Soaps and cleansers can be too harsh for delicate skin. Over-cleaning, mixed with aggressive wiping and rubbing, leads to the removal of protective oils secreted by the anal glands. Thus, the skin gets drier and is prone to micro-abrasions (small injuries or micro cuts).

These micro-abrasions are instantly infected, as the anus is populated by billions of bacteria. 

Imagine you have a small cut on your arm, and your rub your feces into it, of course, it will get infected too. While you can wash your arm and keep it clean, you can hardly achieve such cleanliness with your anus, as you cannot avoid defecation. 

So when you wash your bottom, use just warm water or microbiome-friendly and fragrance-free products like this WASH.

Can you swim with hemorrhoids?

Recommended exercises for hemorrhoid management and prevention include swimming, walking, yoga, pilates, and other controlled-movement exercises.

When it comes to swimming, those who suffer from hemorrhoids or piles often think that it’s unsafe to swim in public swimming pools filled with germs. However, chlorine is added to the water for disinfection, providing a safer swimming experience. The amount of chlorine in tap water in your house and swimming pools is perfect and won’t harm hemorrhoids unless they are broken or you have any tears or wounds on the anus. Seawater or salt water pool would be even better, as salt relieves pain and reduces inflammation. Sometimes an ice bath or warm soaks (sitz baths) are recommended for hemorrhoids – consult your doctor.

By the way, swimming in relatively cold pool water will help you feel relieved. It is even recommended to place an ice cube on the anus for hemorrhoid relief (wrap it in a cloth before applying and hold no longer than 20 minutes) or make a cold compress, which will reduce blood supply to the swollen part, and hemorrhoids will shrink.

One more trick for piles treatment at home – a black tea bag. Black tea contains tannic acid, which has astringent properties. Let the tea back cool and apply to your anus. The tannic acid will help to reduce the swelling and discomfort associated with inflamed external hemorrhoids.

Why is diarrhea causing irritation?

Having diarrhea means frequent going to the bathroom. Thus, it requires frequent use of toilet paper. Diarrhea can even burn the skin, especially when the stool is very loose and acidic. So apart from having irritation from diarrhea itself, you are making it even worse by using dry toilet paper.

Advice – don’t rub that area too much. If you already have irritation after a bowel movement and after using dry toilet paper, sit in a few inches of warm water for a minute and then pat your irritated rectal area with a clean, soft towel. 

Colon therapy

Some experts recommend improving bowel movement problems like constipation, colitis, diarrhea, bloating, indigestion, abdominal pain, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with the help of colon therapy (also known as colon cleansing or colon hydrotherapy). 

Colonic therapy is an alternative healing procedure that involves flushing the colon with water.

The procedure should be avoided by those with diverticulitis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or ischemic colitis; anyone who has kidney disease, heart disease, or has had colon surgery.

A coffee enema is a type of colon cleanse. During this procedure, a mixture of brewed, caffeinated coffee and water is inserted into the colon through the rectum. Coffee enema is a part of Gerson therapy, which also includes an organic vegetarian diet and taking vitamins and supplements. 

How exactly does a coffee enema work? When the mixture is introduced into the colon, it passes through the colon wall into the system of blood vessels that take blood from the intestines to the liver.

The difference between these two is that the purpose of colon therapy (with water) is to clear out the lower colon, allowing the natural process of evacuation to reappear. And the aim of a coffee enema is not to clean the colon but rather to detoxify the liver. 

Coffee enema has many benefits: relieving digestive issues, such as frequent constipation, bloating, and nausea, cleansing the liver, increasing immunity, and improving moods and low energy levels. However, there are potential side effects. They include diarrhea, dehydration, loss of appetite, fever, sweating, weakness, constipation, and colitis (particularly from long-term use). 

Moreover, no generally accepted scientific proof supports the supposed benefits of coffee enemas.

Anyway, if you wish to have a colon cleanse with water or coffee enemas, speak with your doctor first. 

Summary:

1. Hemorrhoids are common in both men and women and affect about 1 in 20 Americans. Nearly half of adults older than age 50 have hemorrhoids.
2. Toilet paper does not cause hemorrhoids directly. But wiping too hard or too roughly with toilet paper can aggravate hemorrhoids, anal fissures, pruritis ani, irritation, bleeding, and burning.
3. Chemicals in toilet paper could be harmful to female health, causing vulvar allergens, vaginitis, and contact dermatitis.
4. Physical exfoliation while using rough toilet paper makes the microbiome of the perineal and perianal areas more exposed and vulnerable.
5. Frequent use of bidet harms vaginal microflora by depriving normal microflora or by spreading infection of fecal bacteria and other microorganisms with streams of water.
6. Using too many wet wipes causes even more irritation of sensitive skin and chafing around the anus and between the buttocks. Use WipeGel as an alternative to wet wipes.
7. Soaps and cleansers are usually too harsh to use for cleaning the anus; it’s better to use just warm water.
8. Witch hazel is a great ingredient for hemorrhoidal care.