What does anal fissures feels like to the touch? Is it soft, hard or mushy?

An anal fissure is one of the common yet often overlooked medical conditions out there. It is a small crack or tear in the anal area and its effects vary from mildly uncomfortable to considerably painful.

However, you might be wondering what this condition actually is and feels like. What does anal fissures feel like to the touch? Is it soft, hard, or mushy? Is it treatable? Here are a few important details that might just answer these.

Cause

Anal fissures primarily occur when too much strain is placed on the lining around the anal and rectal areas. Although the area is made up of fat and muscles, it is actually one of the more sensitive areas. If, for example, abnormally large and hard stool passes through the area, the lining would be pushed to its limits and small ruptures can be formed in the area.

Soon enough, those small ruptures lead to a gradual tearing in the lining which causes a “wound” in the form of a fissure. Aside from constipation and diarrhea, anal fissures can also be formed through erratic muscle spasms in the sphincter, sexually transmitted disease, and conditions like Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis.

The person’s lifestyle can also lead to them developing fissures. For instance, diets that result in hard and large stools can make a person vulnerable to the formation of anal fissures while smoking might lead them to develop respiratory conditions like asthma and bronchitis. These, in turn, can affect the anal sphincters which can lead to the formation of fissures in the anal area.

Symptoms

The first sign that an anal fissure is formed is the presence of a burning or itching sensation in the area. This is because the tear is relatively new and the tissue is reacting to the wound. If it deepens, the pain would gradually increase and the presence of blood can often be detected when one defecates.

In most cases, the blood would be fresh which means that it should be bright red in color. There are also instances when the person suffers from Dysuria characterized by an overall discomfort when urinating. However, this is not true for all cases as some patients tend to have their urinations unaffected.

Texture

What does anal fissures feel like to the touch? Is it soft, hard, or mushy? The answer to this depends on the case. When the fissure is new, blood would constantly pour out which gives the surface a slippery texture. As the wound ages, the affected area would developed a stiff and rugged texture akin to a scar.

If infection does set in, however, the fissure reddens and enlarges which should occur for fissures that are located nearest to the rectum as this is where the feces would emerge. In time, the fissure would develop a soft and bulbous appearance while discharge might be noticed within a few days. Medical experts recommend that you have an anal fissure checked and treated at its initial phases to avoid complications in the future.