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Gold Bond for anal fissure relief

Published 13 March 2026 ·Last reviewed 13 March 2026 by the editorial team ·How we create our content

At a glance

Gold Bond is a well-known over-the-counter product available as medicated powder and cream. Some people wonder whether it can help with anal fissure symptoms. While certain Gold Bond products may provide temporary comfort for perianal irritation, they are not a treatment for anal fissures and carry a risk of irritation on broken skin.

What Gold Bond contains

Gold Bond products vary, but common active and inactive ingredients include:

Zinc oxide — a barrier ingredient that protects skin from moisture and irritation
Menthol — provides a cooling sensation but can sting on broken skin
Petrolatum — a skin protectant
Lidocaine (in some formulations) — a local anaesthetic for pain relief

The specific formulation matters. A plain zinc oxide cream is very different from a heavily mentholated powder in terms of suitability for sensitive, broken skin.

How people use it

People who have tried Gold Bond for fissure-related symptoms describe:

Using the medicated powder to keep the perianal area dry and reduce moisture-related irritation
Applying the cream as a barrier after bowel movements
Finding temporary relief from itching around (not on) the fissure

The limitations

For fissure pain

Gold Bond does not address the tear or the sphincter spasm. It is a comfort measure for surface-level symptoms, not a treatment for the condition. For pain relief, a proper topical anaesthetic (lidocaine) is more appropriate.

Risk of irritation

Products containing menthol, camphor, or fragrance can sting or irritate an open fissure. The perianal area is sensitive, and adding active ingredients to broken skin can make things worse. If you try a Gold Bond product and it stings or burns, stop using it.

Better alternatives

For the benefits people seek from Gold Bond:

Moisture protection: Plain zinc oxide cream or petroleum jelly
Pain relief: Prescribed lidocaine gel or cream
Itching relief: Addressing the underlying cause (moisture, hygiene, or an itch-scratch cycle)
Fissure treatment: Prescribed topical treatments (GTN, diltiazem) that actually address the sphincter spasm

The bottom line

Gold Bond is not harmful in most cases when used externally and carefully. But it is also not treating the fissure. If you are looking for relief, there are more effective and more appropriate options. Discuss these with your clinician.

Common questions

Can Gold Bond help with an anal fissure?

Gold Bond products (powder and medicated cream) contain ingredients like menthol, zinc oxide, and sometimes lidocaine that can provide temporary relief from itching and minor skin irritation. Some people describe using Gold Bond for perianal itching or irritation around a fissure. However, Gold Bond is not a treatment for a fissure itself — it does not address the underlying tear or sphincter spasm.

Is Gold Bond safe to use on the anal area?

Plain zinc oxide-based Gold Bond products are generally safe for external perianal use. However, products containing menthol, camphor, or other active ingredients may cause stinging, burning, or irritation on broken or sensitive skin — including a fissure. If you try it and experience increased discomfort, stop using it. Gold Bond should only be applied externally, not inside the anal canal.

Is there a better alternative?

For skin protection, plain petroleum jelly or a simple zinc oxide barrier cream provides the protective benefit without the risk of irritation from menthol or other active ingredients. For pain relief, a prescribed lidocaine product is more appropriate. For treating the fissure itself, your clinician can recommend proper topical treatments that address the sphincter spasm.

When to seek care Heavy bleeding or feeling faint? Get emergency help now. Emergency: 911

Not sure how urgent it is? Get help today.

Emergency
Heavy bleeding, black tarry stools, feeling faint, severe pain or trouble breathing.

Call 911 or go to the ER.
Today
Fever, pain getting worse, a hot swollen lump, or trouble passing urine.

Call your doctor or go to urgent care.
Soon
Bleeding or bowel changes nobody has checked, or anything lasting 3 weeks.

Book a doctor’s appointment.

Feeling overwhelmed? Call or text 988, any time.

See all the signs

For this topic, get medical advice if you notice:

Heavy or persistent bleeding that does not settle
Severe pain that is getting worse rather than better
Fever or signs of infection
Symptoms that have not improved after 4 to 6 weeks of self-care

Recording how you feel is not the same as being checked. These are the signs that need a doctor’s attention.

Call 911 or go to the emergency room now if you have:

bleeding that will not stop, a lot of blood (the toilet water turns red, or you pass large clots), or any bleeding with feeling faint or dizzy
fainting, a racing heart or trouble breathing
confusion or slurred speech, extreme shivering, no urine in a day, or blotchy skin
sudden severe belly pain, or a swollen, hard belly with vomiting or not passing stool or gas
you cannot pass urine at all, or your bladder feels full and painful and you can’t empty it
redness, swelling or severe pain spreading quickly around your anus, genitals or groin, especially with a fever or feeling very ill
a fever with a painful swelling near your anus if you have diabetes or a weakened immune system (for example, from chemotherapy or transplant medicines)
black, tarry stools

Call your doctor or go to urgent care today (or the ER if you can’t be seen today) if you have:

a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, chills, vomiting, or feeling generally unwell
pain that is getting worse over days, or severe pain that stops you sitting or sleeping
a hot, swollen or very tender lump near your anus or at the top of the crease between your buttocks, or foul-smelling discharge
trouble urinating
bleeding that is getting heavier or more frequent, or blood mixed into your stool
feeling much more tired than usual, looking pale, or getting out of breath more easily than you used to
not passing stool for several days, or new belly pain

Make an appointment with your doctor if:

you have never had these symptoms checked by a doctor or nurse — whatever your age
you have had rectal bleeding for more than 3 weeks
your bowel movements have been looser, thinner or more frequent than usual for 3 weeks or more, or you have lost weight without trying
symptoms have not settled after a week or so, or keep coming back
you notice a new lump near your anus, between your buttocks or in your belly, or an itch or discharge that does not clear
you have new leakage or trouble controlling your bowels
you are 45 or over, or have a family history of bowel cancer or inflammatory bowel disease, and any of these symptoms are new for you

If you are unsure, it is always reasonable to ask. If things feel overwhelming, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or chat at 988lifeline.org, any time. If you don’t feel safe, call 911.

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Related symptoms

Bleeding Pain during bowel movements Pain after bowel movements Spasm or cramping Constipation

Discreet symptom tracking

Symptoms that come and go? Keep track, day by day.

For hemorrhoids, fissures, fistulas and other anal and rectal problems. A short, discreet email asks how things have been, and saves each answer, so you can look back at every flare and every good week in your own words. If you haven’t had your symptoms checked, see your doctor first.

About ten seconds a check-in. No app, no password.
Nothing in the subject or preview says what it’s about.
Each Sunday, a link to your week, ready for your next appointment.

Start tracking →

Your notes

Your check-in

Takes about ten seconds.

20:00

Example. Nothing on the lock screen hints at symptoms or conditions.

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