Hemorrhoids are a common condition involving swollen veins in the rectum or anus. Also known as piles, these vascular structures typically aid in stool control but can become enlarged and inflamed. This overview focuses on their observable signs.
Types and Locations
Hemorrhoids manifest differently depending on their location and type.
Internal hemorrhoids are located inside the rectum and are generally not visible from the outside unless they protrude. They are usually painless because the rectum lacks pain-sensing nerves. If internal hemorrhoids swell or become irritated, they can extend outside the anal opening. When this occurs, they may appear as small, soft, pinkish or reddish lumps around the anus, sometimes retracting on their own after a bowel movement.
External hemorrhoids form under the skin around the anus and are often more readily visible or palpable. They can look like small, soft lumps or bumps around the anal rim. They may be skin-colored or slightly darker, but when irritated, they can become swollen and turn red. A bluish color may be visible beneath the anal skin surface if the veins are dilated.
A thrombosed hemorrhoid is a complication where a blood clot forms inside a hemorrhoid. This type often appears as a firm, dark purplish or black lump near the anus. Thrombosed hemorrhoids can affect both external and internal hemorrhoids, though external ones are more commonly affected and visible. The blood clot gives it a distinctive dark coloration, appearing blue, black, or purple.
Associated Visual Cues
Several other visual signs can accompany hemorrhoids, providing further indications of their presence without being the hemorrhoid itself.
Bleeding is a common visual cue associated with hemorrhoids, particularly internal ones. The blood typically appears bright red and may be noticed on toilet paper, in the toilet bowl, or streaked on the surface of the stool. This bright red color indicates the blood is fresh and usually originates from the lower digestive tract.
General swelling and inflammation around the anal area can also be visible. This swelling may make the area appear puffy or distended, even if a distinct hemorrhoid lump is not clearly defined. It often accompanies external hemorrhoids when they become irritated or thrombosed.
A prolapsed hemorrhoid refers to an internal hemorrhoid that has swollen and extended outside the anus. It typically looks like a moist, pinkish, or reddish lump of tissue protruding from the anal opening. These lumps can vary in size and may be visible upon examination.
Skin tags are small, fleshy growths of skin that can remain around the anus after a hemorrhoid has shrunk or healed. They appear as small, soft flaps of skin, often the same color as the surrounding skin or slightly lighter. These are remnants of stretched skin and do not typically cause pain or bleeding.