How to Remove External Hemorrhoids at Home Safely

Can You Remove External Hemorrhoids at Home?

When people say they want to “remove” an external hemorrhoid, they often mean they want the swelling and pain to go away. This part can usually be handled at home. You can reduce the size, calm the irritation, and make it easier to sit, walk, and go to the bathroom.

But “removal” in the medical sense is different. Fully removing a hemorrhoid means a procedure done by a doctor. This cannot be done safely at home, and trying it can lead to bleeding or infection.

At home, you can focus on steps that lower swelling, ease discomfort, and help the hemorrhoid shrink naturally. What you cannot do is cut, pop, or drain it, because this makes the problem worse. Home care works best when you aim to support healing, not force the hemorrhoid to disappear quickly.

Effective Home Remedies for External Hemorrhoids

Simple daily habits can make a big difference when you’re trying to shrink an external hemorrhoid at home. These steps help reduce swelling, calm irritation, and support faster healing.

Warm Sitz Baths

Warm water relaxes the muscles around your anus and increases blood flow. This helps reduce swelling and makes the area less painful.

Sit in warm water for about 10-15 minutes, two or three times a day. The water should cover your hips and feel warm, not hot. Gently pat the area dry afterward instead of rubbing.

Ice Packs

Cold slows down the blood flow in the swollen area. This helps the hemorrhoid shrink and reduces the throbbing sensation.

Use an ice pack for 10-15 minutes at a time. Wrap it in a thin cloth so it doesn’t irritate your skin. Give your skin a break between sessions to prevent discomfort.

Increase Fiber and Water Intake

Fiber makes your stools softer and easier to pass. This lowers the pressure on the hemorrhoid and prevents more irritation.

Easy ways to add fiber daily

• Add fruits and vegetables to two or three meals a day.
• Include whole grains in your routine.
• Drink enough water to help the fiber work properly.

Gentle Cleaning Routine

Clean the anal area with warm water after bowel movements. Pat dry with a soft cloth or use unscented, gentle toilet paper.

Don’t use scented products, alcohol-based wipes, or anything that leaves a burning feeling. These can inflame the hemorrhoid and slow down healing.

Physical Activity and Movement

Light activity improves blood flow and prevents the pressure that builds up from long periods of sitting. This helps the hemorrhoid shrink faster.

Tips for people who sit long hours

• Stand up and move every 30-60 minutes.
• Use a cushion instead of a hard chair.
• Keep gentle walks in your daily routine.

These steps don’t just help you feel better right now. They also lower your chances of getting new hemorrhoids in the future by reducing pressure, irritation, and strain around the area.

Natural Remedies That May Help

Some natural ingredients can ease irritation and make an external hemorrhoid feel more comfortable. They won’t remove the hemorrhoid completely, but they can help with itching, swelling, and dryness. 

These ingredients are usually applied directly to the hemorrhoid, but only in a thin, gentle layer to avoid irritation.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera can calm irritated skin and reduce the burning feeling many people get with hemorrhoids. It helps moisturize the area and creates a soothing layer.

What it cannot do is shrink the hemorrhoid on its own or replace proper hygiene and lifestyle changes.

Witch Hazel

Witch hazel has a cooling effect and may help reduce mild swelling. It’s often used to calm itching and tighten the skin slightly around the area.

What it cannot do is fix deeper inflammation or treat severe hemorrhoids.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil works well as a gentle moisturizer. It helps reduce friction during daily movements or bowel movements, which can lower irritation.

What it cannot do is treat the root cause of the hemorrhoid or reduce significant swelling.

Do These Remedies Work for Internal Hemorrhoids?

These home remedies can help with internal hemorrhoids too, but they work a little differently. Internal hemorrhoids sit inside the rectum, so you won’t apply anything directly on them the way you do with external ones. Instead, the goal is to reduce pressure, calm inflammation, and make bowel movements easier.

Warm sitz baths, more fiber, enough water, and gentle cleaning help both internal and external hemorrhoids. They make the area less irritated and lower the strain that makes internal hemorrhoids worse.

Natural ingredients like aloe vera or coconut oil won’t reach internal hemorrhoids, but they can help if the hemorrhoid has swollen outward or causes irritation around the anus.

When Home Remedies Don’t Work

Home treatment helps many people, but not every hemorrhoid responds the same way. Some cases need more than warm baths and lifestyle changes.

Signs that the hemorrhoid is too severe for self-care

• Constant or increasing pain
• Bleeding that doesn’t stop or starts getting heavier
• A lump that becomes harder and more swollen
• Signs of infection, such as warmth, redness, or discharge

What doctors can do

If home treatment isn’t helping, a doctor can offer quick options to reduce the swelling or remove the hemorrhoid safely. These are short procedures done in a clinic and are used when the hemorrhoid is too painful, too large, or keeps coming back.

A doctor can also check for other issues if your symptoms are unclear or more serious than a typical hemorrhoid.