It gives new meaning to the phrase “sweet cheeks.”
It’s certainly no fun to have hemorrhoids, swollen veins that grow in or around the anus and cause pain, itching and bleeding — so it’s not terribly surprising that people might be desperate to find a quick way to banish the uncomfortable bulge.
But is a DIY sugary paste really a secret booty balm — or just a messy waste of a pantry staple?
Although these real pains in the tush can clear up on their own, hemorrhoids can become severe enough to require medical attention or even surgery.
And while a treatment you have in your own pantry may be tempting, Dr. Ekta Gupta, a gastroenterologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center, recommends keeping sweeteners for desserts.
“There is no good scientific evidence to support this,” Gupta told The Post. “This doesn’t provide sustained relief and has not been shown to be either safe or effective for hemorrhoid treatment in clinical studies.”
She added that this unusual treatment doesn’t address any of the underlying causes, such as pressure, constipation, straining or even “TikTok Tush.”
Dr. Carmen Fong, a colorectal surgeon and chief medical officer at Bummed, echoed these sentiments and explained why people might believe the sweet trick works.
“Sugar and salt are solutes, and therefore, they will draw fluids out,” Fong told The Post. “This is the same reason why you salt meat before cooking it or using a ton of salt to cure it (an insane comparison, I know.)”
But she and other pros warn against doing this yourself at home because “it can be messy, cause infections, [and] most importantly, you don’t know what you’re sugaring.”
Throwing sugar back there can bring about additional health risks like irritation, infection, worsened pain or inflammation and potentially making the hemorrhoid chronic, according to Gupta.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the latest food-related “cure” for hemorrhoids to earn attention on social media. Previously, some people were saying sticking slices of potato inside could clear things up. (Note: It won’t.)
Fong also emphasized that no home remedy can treat two particular types of hemorrhoids.
“I wouldn’t want someone to have a thrombosed hemorrhoid or a strangulated hemorrhoid and try to treat it with sugar,” she said. “Those conditions are more serious and can require immediate medical attention, rather than home remedies.”
Both doctors stress the importance of picking more traditional methods, from supplements and topical treatments to surgical options in severe cases.
Gupta recommends short-term topical treatments like hydrocortisone and fiber supplementation, along with other lifestyle modifications like hydration and limiting bowel movements to help soften stool and avoid increased pressure in blood vessels.
Other options involve rubber band ligation to cut off the blood supply from the hemorrhoid or surgical options.
There are things you can do at home to remedy symptoms of a mild to moderate hemorrhoid.
“For painful, prolapsed, or slightly bleeding hemorrhoids, I generally recommend an ice pack for five minutes and a warm bath in a bathtub for 10 to 15 minutes,” Fong said.
These methods, as well as over-the-counter creams and avoiding tight clothing or underwear, can “reduce anal pressure, improve stool consistency and decrease inflammation and irritation,” according to Gupta.
