What Do Hemorrhoids Look Like? Hemorrhoid Pictures, Photos and More!

Do you wonder what do hemorrhoids look like? Most hemorrhoids are detected by the symptoms they come with rather than their visible appearance.

Itching, pain, bleeding, and burning are common symptoms that alert patients to the fact that they may have hemorrhoids. If you do hemorrhoids, hemorrhoid photos would give you the opportunity to possibly see what type of hemorrhoids you have. If you know what type you have, you may be able to treat your hemorrhoids.

While you should contact your hemorrhoid doctor or physician if you are concerned about your hemorrhoids, you're likely wondering, "what does a hemorrhoid look like?" In this guide, we're going to show you hemorrhoid pictures, video and everything in between.

This helps patients to avoid panic and clarify what they are dealing with when they experience rectal symptoms.

This hemorrhoid treatment guide details everything you need to know about properly treating hemorrhoids. Our top pick for hemorrhoids is also Amazon's Top Selling hemorrhoid supplement, HemRid Max. 

With this cream, you can improve your hemorrhoid health care within seven days! But first...

Want to know what may be causing your hemorrhoids? Several things can cause your hemorrhoids, here could be the cause of yours. Hemorrhoid Causes

Here is a Youtube Video that Shows What Hemorrhoids Look Like

What Do Internal Hemorrhoids Look Like?

Hemorrhoid tissue is a part of every individuals body makeup. Normal hemorrhoid tissue cannot be seen by the naked eye.

It is when hemorrhoid tissue becomes inflamed that we can visibly notice hemorrhoids.

No matter what type of hemorrhoid you have, they are characterized as swollen veins in the lower part of the rectum or anus.

Hemorrhoids that become more irritated cause the veins to bulge. This results in the vision of hemorrhoids that you may already have in your head.

Internal hemorrhoids are a little different. Because there are no pain-sensing nerves where internal hemorrhoids are located, you often will not realize you have them.

Internal hemorrhoids form in the same way external hemorrhoids do, but we cannot see them due to their location. This is why external hemorrhoid pictures are more difficult to get.

With internal hemorrhoids, the lining of the rectum becomes substantially enlarged.

When an internal hemorrhoid becomes prolapsed, this will be the only type of internal hemorrhoid that is visible.

What Do Hemorrhoids Look Like When They Fall Out?

Internal hemorrhoids can get to the stage where they become prolapsed. Prolapsed hemorrhoids are internal hemorrhoids that become so big that they bulge outside of the opening of the anus.

So, if your hemorrhoid has fallen out, you have an internal prolapsed hemorrhoid.

When you have a prolapsed hemorrhoid, you will notice a moist bump that is pinker than the surrounding area. What does a prolapse look like? This is a picture of a prolapsed hemorrhoid.

Prolapsed hemorrhoids usually go back on their own, but some can be gently pushed back into place.

Internal hemorrhoids are generally divided into one of four stages. The more serious the stage of the internal hemorrhoid is, the more likely it is to be seen. Stage one internal hemorrhoids are not seen externally.

Although they cause some hemorrhoid bleeding, they will not push out of the opening of the anus. Internal hemorrhoids at stage 2 begin to prolapse.

Although they might be seen on the outside of the opening of the anus, they generally retract back into the rectal cavity on their own.

Stage 3 internal hemorrhoids have prolapsed externally and often require at-home or physician treatment.

The most serious internal hemorrhoids, stage 4, protrude out of the opening of the anus and are likely to become thrombosed.

Prolapses can often be the result of the combination of hemorrhoids and pregnancy, when there is a big increase in the pressure surrounding the veins in the anal canal.

Internal hemorrhoids are typically found in the right anterior, right posterior, and left lateral positions (1).

What Do External Hemorrhoids Look Like?

Hemorrhoids, often referred to as piles, get their name from the Greek word “haimorrhoides.” If you do hear someone talking about piles, just know that piles and hemorrhoids refer to the same thing.

This means veins that are liable to discharge blood. Do external hemorrhoids go away? Yes, in most cases, they'll go away in a few days and won't require any medical treatment.

These products can be used to help reduce the symptoms of external hemorrhoids.

1. Hemorrhoid Cream (2)
2. Hemorrhoid Wipes
3. Hemorrhoid Supplement
4. Hemorrhoid Pillows

External hemorrhoids, unlike internal ones, are noticeable to the human eye. They are located underneath the skin that surrounds the anus.

When external hemorrhoids swell, they can be visible. When an external hemorrhoid becomes swollen, it will prolapse to the outside of the anus and can then be seen or felt.

External hemorrhoids appear as clumps of dilated blood vessels outside the opening of the anus.

When hemorrhoids swell, the veins enlarge, and their walls become stretched, causing the swollen bulges we see in external hemorrhoids.

External hemorrhoids appear in bunches as soft lumps. They are generally soft or squishy to touch and can range in size. Witch hazel is often used for external hemorrhoids.

External hemorrhoids can be as small as a pea and as large as a grape. There is a mucus covering on hemorrhoids that can become damaged during bowel movements.

This is when bleeding external hemorrhoids occur.

External hemorrhoids that become thrombosed may appear different as explained in the next section.

You may experience serious hemorrhoid pain with a thrombosis.

Take a look at this guide to hemorrhoid itching and burning for information on how to get hemorrhoid relief.

Depending on the type of hemorrhoid treatment you undergo for your external hemorrhoid, they may have different appearances. There are several techniques used to destroy a hemorrhoid.

A rubber band ligation involves placing a small band around the hemorrhoid to cut off its blood supply.

Sclerotherapy is another technique where a chemical is injected into the hemorrhoid, causing it to die and fall off. Both techniques will cause the hemorrhoid to turn blue in color as the blood supply dies.

Home remedies for hemorrhoids can make a big difference in the amount of pain you experience.

What Does a Thrombosed Hemorrhoid Look Like?

Thrombosed hemorrhoids are a form of external hemorrhoid that are visible. When external hemorrhoids become prolapsed, they form soft clumps around the outside of the opening of the anus.

In some cases, external hemorrhoids could form a blood clot. These can be extremely painful and are called a thrombosis.

Thrombosed hemorrhoids can be frightening. They can form into a hard lump and can turn purple or blue. They may also bleed. 

Most thrombosed hemorrhoids appear as a lump on the edge of the opening of the anus and protrude out.

They appear in a dark bluish color because of the blood clot that is contained inside the swollen vessel.

When thrombosed hemorrhoids are treated medically, a hemorrhoid surgery is typically involved.

A healed thrombosed hemorrhoid may leave behind scarring or a tag of skin protruding from the anus.

What Does a Small Hemorrhoid Look Like?

Many small hemorrhoids go undetected. Internal hemorrhoids that are small are not visible. They may bleed during bowel movements, this being the only indication that you have hemorrhoids.

External hemorrhoids that are small may still go undetected. They form as pillow-like, soft lumps around the opening of the anus. Usually, internal hemorrhoids that have not prolapsed exhibit little to no hemorrhoid pain.

It is common for a thrombosed hemorrhoid to burst and bleed. The clot will usually only bleed for about 10 seconds. 

They often go away on their own without treatment. It is not until an external hemorrhoid becomes increasingly prolapsed that they can be easily felt or seen. Small hemorrhoids have been compared to the size of a pea.

Can Hemorrhoids Look Like Warts?

In some cases, hemorrhoids may be confused for anal warts and vice versa. They are both lumps or masses of tissues around the anus.

If you are concerned of whether you have anal warts or hemorrhoids, a hemorrhoid doctor or proctologist can perform a scan to determine the diagnosis.

What Do Hemorrhoids Feel Like to Touch?

Hemorrhoids usually feel wet to touch. This is because the veins are broken and damaged. Don't touch your hemorrhoids with your bare hands.

The last thing you want to do is touch your hemorrhoids and pass germs on to them.

If a hemorrhoid gets infected, that can be a problem. If you have to touch your hemorrhoids make sure your hands are clean. Even better, you may use toilet paper, towel, or medicated wipes.

Do Hemorrhoids Look Like Blisters?

Although it is not uncommon to confuse a hemorrhoid for a blister, there are noticeable differences. Blisters develop on the surface of the skin (3), while hemorrhoids originate from below the skin.

They form noticeably different lumps.

Another way to tell the difference between a hemorrhoid and a blister is the size.

While some hemorrhoids can be as small as a pea, most blisters do not get any larger than the size of a pea. Blisters have a thin membrane and are only located on the surface of the skin.

If it feels as though the lump has a mucus protective membrane and originates from deeper below the skin, chances are you are dealing with a hemorrhoid and not a blister.

What Do Hemorrhoids Look Like When They Fall Out?

A prolapsed hemorrhoid looks like mucous-coated, flesh-colored sacs and can be seen coming through the anal opening. 

Some bulges of the inflamed prolapsed hemorrhoids may be a dark red color, and some areas may have blood. 

While prolapsed hemorrhoids do occasionally happen, you can nudge them back inside the rectum with your fingers.

If the prolapsed hemorrhoids do not retreat inside the rectal area, either on their own or with gentle pushing, then they will have likely progressed to a more aggressive grade. 

If this is the case, consult your doctor on appropriate treatments for your prolapsed hemorrhoids. 

What Do Hemorrhoids Look Like on a Woman?

Hemorrhoids do not look any different on women than they do on men. 

External hemorrhoids are still flesh-colored sacs of inflamed blood vessels, some darker than others. 

This cluster of lumps forms around the anal opening and can range in size, from grape-sized to the size of a golf ball.

The skin stretches tightly over the most inflamed and irritated part of the hemorrhoids and can become loose near the outer region.

A thrombosed hemorrhoid appears bluish or purple, signifying the blood trapped beneath the skin's surface. 

When burst open, thrombosed hemorrhoids can be an intense red with visible bleeding. 

Prolapsed hemorrhoids can be flesh-colored or various shades of red, usually coated in mucous or other body fluids.

What Do Hemorrhoids Look Like in Pregnancy?

Depending on what type of hemorrhoid you have during pregnancy, hemorrhoids will look like a skin-colored cluster of bumps, and the size of which depends on the severity.

These are external hemorrhoids, and when they become thrombosed, they can appear blue or purple due to the blood clot formation trapped inside of them.

Internal hemorrhoids are not visible because they are located in the lowest part of the rectum. 

During pregnancy, you may experience rectal bleeding, and this is the only indication of the presence of irritated internal hemorrhoids. 

What Do Bad Hemorrhoids Look Like? 

Bad hemorrhoids, or severe grades of hemorrhoids, look different depending on which type of hemorrhoid they are. 

Considerably severe external hemorrhoids can take the shape of a cluster of lumps, with tight skin stretching over the highly inflamed areas of the blood vessels. 

If your external hemorrhoids are bad, then it is probable that they have become thrombosed, which will look like large lumps that are bluish or purple due to the underlying blood clot. 

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Internal hemorrhoids can become prolapsed, and this appears as a cluster of mucous covered bulges emerging from the anal opening. 

Later stages of hemorrhoids become enlarged and painful, and sometimes are a visible mix of blood, flesh-colored engorgements, or a purplish blue hue if a blood clot is present.

What Do Hemorrhoid Bands Look Like?

Hemorrhoid bands are those that are placed on the base of problematic hemorrhoids, cutting off blood supply and forcing the hemorrhoid to fall off. 

The bands themselves are small and are installed on the bottom of a hemorrhoid with a specialized application tool by your doctor. 

Hemorrhoid bands are usually black, and available in different sizes and materials, like rubber or silicone. 

This technique is non-operative and is successful in relieving chronic internal hemorrhoid conditions. 

After rubber band ligation, patients may feel some pain and discomfort, bleeding from the anal opening, and the hemorrhoid will fall off in about seven to ten days.

What is the Best Treatment for Hemorrhoids?

The best treatment for hemorrhoids include a combination of creams, wipes, and fiber supplements. With all three, you are assured of faster improvements. As a matter of fact, it's advisable to consult a medical reviewer if your hemorrhoids don't become considerably better after 7 days of combining all three.