Starting your fissure healing path

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

At a glance

If you are here because you are dealing with an anal fissure for the first time — or you think you might be — you are in the right place. This condition is common, treatable, and nothing to be ashamed of.

This guide gives you a straightforward starting point: what a fissure is, what to do first, and how to build the daily routine that gives your body the best chance of healing.

What you are dealing with

An anal fissure is a small tear in the lining of the anal canal. It causes pain — often sharp or burning — during and after bowel movements. There may be bright red blood on the toilet paper. The pain can last minutes to hours after going.

It is not dangerous. It is not a sign of something serious in most cases. But it is painful, and it can be frightening when you do not know what is happening.

Where to start

Today

  • Drink more water. This is the single most impactful immediate change. Hydrated stools pass more easily.
  • Take a warm sitz bath if you are in pain. Fill a basin or the bathtub with warm water and sit for 10 to 15 minutes. This relaxes the sphincter and provides real relief.
  • Stop straining. If a bowel movement is not coming easily, get up, walk around, and try again later.

This week

  • Increase fibre intake — gradually, not all at once. Fruits, vegetables, porridge, and possibly a fibre supplement like psyllium husk.
  • Consider a stool softener — available over the counter. Docusate sodium or an osmotic laxative like macrogol.
  • Book a GP appointment. Getting a proper assessment is important for confirming the diagnosis and starting any prescribed treatment.
  • Establish sitz bath routine — after every bowel movement and once or twice additionally if helpful.

The coming weeks

  • Maintain consistency. The routine matters more than any single product or technique. Daily fibre, hydration, sitz baths, and any prescribed treatment.
  • Track your symptoms. A simple daily note of pain level and stool type helps you see progress that is invisible from day to day.
  • Be patient. Most fissures take four to eight weeks to heal. Some take longer. Improvement is often gradual.

The basics of fissure care

Stool management

This is the foundation. Soft stools that pass without straining give the fissure time to heal. Hard stools or straining re-tear the tissue and reset the healing clock.

  • Fibre (25 to 35 grams daily, built up gradually)
  • Water (two to three litres daily)
  • Stool softener if needed
  • Good toilet posture — feet elevated on a stool, leaning slightly forward

Pain management

  • Warm sitz baths — the most consistently helpful measure
  • Over-the-counter pain relief (paracetamol)
  • Prescribed topical treatments if your GP provides them
  • Breathing exercises to reduce clenching before and during bowel movements

What to avoid

  • Straining on the toilet
  • Spending extra time sitting on the toilet
  • Ignoring the urge to go (delayed bowel movements become harder)
  • Very spicy food, alcohol, or highly processed food during active healing (these affect stool quality for some people)

You are not alone

Anal fissures are one of the most common colorectal conditions. Millions of people deal with them. The embarrassment people feel about the condition is understandable but not necessary — this is a normal medical issue with well-established treatments.

If you want to understand your experience better or prepare for a conversation with your doctor, our chat can help you think things through in a private, judgement-free space.

Common questions

What should I do first if I think I have a fissure?

Start with the basics: increase your water intake, add fibre to your diet, and avoid straining on the toilet. A warm sitz bath after bowel movements can provide immediate comfort. Then make an appointment with your GP to get a proper assessment. In the meantime, do not panic — fissures are very common and most heal with conservative care.

How common are anal fissures?

Very common. Anal fissures affect people of all ages and are one of the most frequent reasons for anal pain. Many people are surprised to learn how common they are — the condition often feels isolating because people do not talk about it.

Will this get better?

For most people, yes. The majority of acute fissures heal within six to eight weeks with consistent self-care. Chronic fissures can take longer and may need additional treatment, but effective options exist. The key is consistency with the basics — fibre, hydration, stool softening, and sitz baths.

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

Not sure how urgent it is? Get help today.

  1. Emergency

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

    Call 911 or go to the ER.

  2. Today

    Fever, pain getting worse, a hot swollen lump, or trouble passing urine.

    Call your doctor or go to urgent care.

  3. 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:

  • Rectal bleeding — always worth getting checked
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Persistent change in bowel habits
  • Severe or worsening pain

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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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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Sitz bath routine: tips and mistakes

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Acute fissure: sharp pain after BMs

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