How Long Do Hemorrhoids Last During a Typical Flare-Up?
If you have itching, soreness or a little bright red blood after a bowel movement, the first thing you probably want to know is how long it will go on. Hemorrhoids, also called piles, are swollen veins around the anus or in the lower rectum. They are very common, and about half of adults over 50 have them.[1]
So how long do hemorrhoids last? Many flare-ups get better on their own within a few days.[2] With treatment, pain and swelling usually ease within 2 to 7 days, although a firm lump from a clotted hemorrhoid can take 4 to 6 weeks to shrink fully.[3] Treatment makes those days more comfortable. Through Starfish.com, a licensed clinician can review your symptoms and send a prescription hemorrhoid treatment to your pharmacy, usually within 1 to 2 hours.
A Typical Hemorrhoid Healing Timeline
Find the situation closest to yours, then read across to see how long it usually lasts and when to get it checked.
| Your situation | How long it usually lasts | When to get it checked |
|---|---|---|
| A mild flare-up with itching, soreness or a little bleeding | Often better within a few days[2] | Still there after 1 week of home care[4] |
| Pain and swelling while you are treating it | Usually eases in 2 to 7 days[3] | It gets worse instead of better |
| A sudden, painful lump from a blood clot | Pain can build over the first 48 hours, then eases over a few days. The lump shrinks over 4 to 6 weeks[3] | The pain is severe. See a clinician in person |
| Hemorrhoids that keep coming back or slip out of the anus | They can return until the cause is dealt with | If symptoms continue, in-office treatments such as rubber band ligation can help[5] |
What Helps Hemorrhoids Heal Faster
Most of what speeds healing comes down to softer stools and less pressure on the area. A major surgeons’ guideline strongly recommends more fiber and more fluids, and more fiber cut persistent symptoms by 53% compared with usual care.[5] These steps can help a flare-up heal:
- Eat more high-fiber foods and drink water or other nonalcoholic drinks each day.[6]
- Do not strain, and do not sit on the toilet for long periods. Both are common causes of hemorrhoids.[4]
- Sit in warm water, called a sitz bath, for 10 to 15 minutes to ease the pain.[7]
- Use a hemorrhoid cream for itching, pain and swelling. Creams with hydrocortisone help reduce pain and swelling,[7] and our prescription lidocaine-hydrocortisone cream pairs hydrocortisone with a numbing medicine.
These steps help the flare-up you have now. Plenty of fluids and fiber also help prevent the constipation that leads to the next one.[7]
How Prescription Treatment Fits In
Our hemorrhoid treatment is a lidocaine-hydrocortisone rectal cream. Lidocaine is a numbing medicine, and hydrocortisone is a steroid that calms inflammation. Together, they relieve itching, pain, soreness and discomfort from hemorrhoids.[8] If some of your symptoms are inside the rectum, you can also request a hydrocortisone suppository.
A licensed clinician reviews your questionnaire and, if treatment is right for you, sends the prescription to the pharmacy you chose. You pay for the medication at the pharmacy, the same way you would with a prescription from your own doctor. Use the cream for the time your prescription states. Its label advises against using it for a long time inside the anal canal.[8]
Ease a Hemorrhoid Flare-Up Sooner
Answer a short questionnaire about your symptoms. If a licensed clinician approves treatment, your prescription goes straight to your pharmacy.
When a Hemorrhoid Needs a Closer Look
Most hemorrhoids are not serious. Still, a few signs mean it is time to be seen in person.
Symptoms last longer than a week. The NIDDK advises seeing a doctor if symptoms are still there after 1 week of home treatment.[4]
You have bleeding from the rectum. Hemorrhoids are the most common cause of symptoms around the anus, but bleeding from the rectum can also be a sign of other bowel conditions, such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis or colorectal cancer.[4] Most people with hemorrhoid symptoms do not have cancer,[5] but the NIDDK advises having rectal bleeding checked by a doctor,[4] especially if it is new for you or has changed.
You lose a lot of blood, or you bleed and feel dizzy, lightheaded or faint. Get medical help right away.[7] The same goes for severe anal pain together with rectal bleeding.[6]
You are pregnant. Pregnancy raises the chance of hemorrhoids,[1] but we do not treat anyone who is pregnant, so contact your obstetrician.
FAQ
Can hemorrhoids go away on their own?
Often, yes. Many get better on their own within a few days.[2] Fiber, fluids and not straining help, and treatment can ease the itching and pain while they heal.
How long does a thrombosed hemorrhoid last?
A thrombosed hemorrhoid is one with a blood clot inside. The pain can get worse over the first 48 hours and then eases over the next few days, while the lump can take 4 to 6 weeks to go down.[3] If the pain is severe, a clinician may remove the clot with a small cut,[3] so see someone in person.
Why do my hemorrhoids keep coming back?
Straining, constipation or diarrhea, a low-fiber diet, sitting on the toilet for long periods and heavy lifting all raise pressure on these veins.[4] Changing those habits is the best way to cut down on flare-ups. If they still come back, in-office treatments can help.[5]
How long should I use hemorrhoid cream?
Doctors most often suggest over-the-counter products for 1 week, and a follow-up with a doctor if they have not helped by then.[6] For our prescription cream, use it for the time your prescription states, and not for long periods.[8]
Can I get hemorrhoid treatment online the same day?
Yes. If the clinician approves your request, the prescription usually reaches your pharmacy within 1 to 2 hours, so you can often pick it up the same day.
Get Hemorrhoid Relief Today
Tell us about your symptoms in a short questionnaire. If treatment is right for you, your prescription can be ready at your pharmacy within 1 to 2 hours.
References
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. “Definition & Facts of Hemorrhoids.” https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/hemorrhoids/definition-facts
- NHS. “Piles (haemorrhoids).” https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/piles-haemorrhoids/
- American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. “Hemorrhoids.” Patient information. https://fascrs.org/patients/diseases-and-conditions/a-z/hemorrhoids
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. “Symptoms & Causes of Hemorrhoids.” https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/hemorrhoids/symptoms-causes
- Arnold MJ, Smith D. “Management of Hemorrhoids: Guidelines From the ASCRS.” American Family Physician, 2025. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2025/1200/practice-guidelines-hemorrhoids.html
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. “Treatment of Hemorrhoids.” https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/hemorrhoids/treatment
- U.S. National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus. “Hemorrhoids.” Medical Encyclopedia. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000292.htm
- U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed. “Lidocaine hydrochloride and hydrocortisone acetate cream.” Human prescription drug label. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=0cd1394d-e7b2-4e60-87ac-e12a0bda9d67
