A bump could be a hemorrhoid (swollen vein, often soft, itchy, or bleeding) or something else like a pimple, skin tag, or abscess (warm, tender, pus-filled). Key differentiators: Hemorrhoids are often painless lumps that bleed bright red blood, feel itchy, or bulge. A thrombosed hemorrhoid is a hard, painful, purple/blue lump with a clot. An abscess is warm, very tender, might have pus, and can cause fever. A hard, irregular lump, persistent bleeding, or severe pain needs a doctor to rule out serious issues like anal cancer, says MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Hemorrhoid symptoms
Swelling protruding from the anus. In some cases, the hemorrhoids might feel like small lumps in the anus and project from the back passage only after straining on the toilet; in severe cases, the swellings will be constantly visible. Itching, discharge or dull pain.
While many of the symptoms of hemorrhoids can improve with lifestyle changes, it's important to talk with your doctor if you experience any of the following:
Several conditions mimic hemorrhoids, including anal fissures (tears), anal skin tags, anal abscesses/fistulas, anal warts (condyloma), and even more serious issues like IBD (Crohn's/Colitis) or anal cancer, all presenting with similar symptoms like bleeding, itching, pain, or lumps, making proper medical diagnosis crucial.
Anal cancer may present with lumps or growths near the anus that are firm, irregular in shape, and may bleed. Hemorrhoids typically present with soft, swollen blood vessels around the anus, which may protrude during bowel movements.
Drainage or swelling: Abscesses can drain pus or create a warm swollen area. Hemorrhoids may feel like soft tissue or a firm tender lump if a clot is present. Bleeding: Bright red blood on the toilet paper or in the bowl is more typical of internal hemorrhoids. Abscesses do not usually cause noticeable rectal bleeding.
An internal hemorrhoid is mostly colored red because it forms on the mucous membrane that lines the inside of the anus. If either an internal or external hemorrhoid develops a blood clot inside it, it may take on a blue, purple, grey, black or dark brown color (depending on your skin color).
Are Hemorrhoids Cancerous? While hemorrhoids can be uncomfortable, they are not cancerous. According to a 2021 study, however, people with hemorrhoids may be at higher risk for developing colorectal cancer.
Diagnosis
External hemorrhoids form under the skin around the anus and can easily be felt with your fingers. Internal hemorrhoids form in the lining of the anus or lower rectum, and you can't feel them unless they form outside the anal opening.
If you're experiencing severe or persistent symptoms lasting longer than a week, seek medical attention. Persistent pain or bleeding could indicate more serious hemorrhoid conditions, like a thrombosed hemorrhoid. Thrombosed hemorrhoids can cause severe pain and swelling, and they require professional care.
A hemorrhoid to the touch often feels like a soft, skin-colored lump or bump around the anus, potentially rubbery and sometimes tender or itchy, but if it's thrombosed (clotted), it becomes a hard, very painful, purple/blue lump that's firm and doesn't yield easily. Internal hemorrhoids are usually not felt unless they prolapse, at which point they feel like a soft lump extending from the anal opening, potentially causing a feeling of fullness.
To shrink hemorrhoids fast, use witch hazel pads, hydrocortisone cream, or phenylephrine products for quick relief and swelling reduction, combined with soothing sitz baths, cold compresses, and a high-fiber diet with plenty of fluids to soften stools and avoid straining. These remedies, especially topical treatments with astringents or vasoconstrictors, can significantly reduce inflammation and size, but see a doctor if symptoms are severe or persist beyond a week.
Piles (haemorrhoids) are lumps inside and around your bottom (anus). They often get better on their own after a few days. There are things you can do to treat and prevent piles.
How can I treat hemorrhoids at home?
They also can protrude, or pop out, with a bowel movement; usually, they return to the inside by themselves. External hemorrhoids are felt as a lump near the anus that can cause pain. The lump is caused by a blood clot, causing a purple-blue color.
Symptomatic hemorrhoids can be internal (inside the anus) or external (on the skin outside of the anus). Pain, bleeding, and lumps in the anus can all be signs of anal cancer and hemorrhoids. See a doctor if you have symptoms that last for more than two weeks.
Many people experience pain and discomfort when they have hemorrhoids. Thankfully, urgent care clinics can provide quick and effective treatments. They can offer a range of options, including medication and non-surgical procedures, and referrals for surgery in more severe cases.
Hemorrhoids typically last from a few days to several weeks. However, some internal hemorrhoids, which are swollen veins located inside the rectum, won't heal on their own.
Yet one of the key distinguishing features of anal cancer is bleeding. The blood may either be dark or bright red in color. (If you have hemorrhoids, the blood is usually only bright red.) Another sign of anal cancer is changes in bowel habits, such as having persistent diarrhea or constipation.
Hemorrhoids often bleed during bowel movements. If left untreated, the bleeding can become more frequent and severe. Excessive bleeding can lead to anemia, a condition characterized by a lack of healthy red blood cells, which transport oxygen to the body's tissues.
He or she can diagnose external hemorrhoids by checking the area around your anus. To diagnose internal hemorrhoids, your doctor will perform a digital rectal exam and may perform procedures to look inside your anus and rectum.
If an internal hemorrhoid becomes severely inflamed, it can prolapse, or fall outside of the anus. Many times it will retract on its own but not always. If it can't easily be pushed back in, or it causes pain or bleeding, early hemorrhoid treatment from a doctor is important.
Rectal prolapse occurs when your rectum, part of your large intestine, slips down inside your anus. It's caused by a weakening of the muscles that hold it in place. Rectal prolapse may look or feel like hemorrhoids, but unlike hemorrhoids, it doesn't go away on its own.
Hemorrhoids are “cushions” of blood vessels and supporting tissue found at the end of the rectum, just inside the anus. We all have them. If hemorrhoids become enlarged, they can cause symptoms like bleeding, itching and burning around the anus.