Hygiene

Anal Hygiene: Proper Cleaning & Washing Technique.

Avoid rubbing with toilet paper or moist towelettes. This aggravates the colon and irritates the skin.

Whenever possible, clean the area in a bath or use a detachable shower handle without using soap (soap is an irritant). Plain water or natural cleansing products are usually OK. Be sure to rinse the area well. Then gently dry the area by blotting it with a towel, then use a blow dryer set to light warm or cool.

Thick-quilted disposable baby wipes can be a suitable substitute for toilet paper when bathing is impractical. Be sure to wipe slowly and gently, and never scrub the area.

Anal Hygiene: Proper Way to Experience a Bowel Movement
Use the toilet whenever you feel the urge to have a bowel movement, even if it is several times throughout the day. Try to go as soon as you feel the urge to go; if you delay this urge by more than a few minutes, you might get a reflex constipation and loose the urge to go again for several hours.

Prolonged sitting or excessive straining while on the toilet, allows the hemorrhoidal venous cushions to expand unnecessarily, causing hemorrhoid disease to develop or worsen. Avoid excessive straining with any bowel movement. A gentle pressure or straining of the abdominal and pelvic muscles is OK, but not for more than 30-consecutive seconds.