What a pain in the bum! (Anusol Cream)

Member Name: thehonesttruth

Product:	Anusol Cream
Date:	24/10/08 (327 review reads)
Rating:

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I have periodic bouts of anaemia. To combat this, I take iron tablets, most of the time without and ill effect - however, sometimes they make my number twos as hard as a brick and about the same size (slight exaggeration perhaps) . As you could imagine, these take quite some shifting, usually involving lots of pained grunting and me being left feeling like mt backsides been cut with a razor .

A love of incredibly spicy foods doesn't do my delicate little poo-ring much good either - so fairly often, I need something to relieve the soreness and itching.

Anusol is widely available from supermarkets and chemist - I actually get mine on prescription from the doctor. It comes in three forums, ointment, cream, and suppositories . I've always used the cream , which comes in a green and white box, with the Anusol logo in big white letters on the front .

The cream comes packaged within a toothpaste style tube , with a lid that has a pointed end for piercing the foil seal on the tube . It also comes with a nozzle for internal application.

To use it, you have to first make sure the area is clean - I use baby wipes to give it a thorough clean, and then apply either by massaging it in with your fingers for external relief, or with the nozzle for internally . You need to use it in the morning when you get up, before going to sleep at night, and in between every time you do a poo.

As my problem is a combination of internal and external ( I get small tears, or fissures, when constipated which need treating both ways) I had to do a bit of both. The nozzles small, so not too unpleasant to insert, although it does require some awkward angling, and the cream feels cold as it goes inside . I wiggled the nozzle about a bit to smear it inside ( no way is my finger going up there!) and then popped it into a cup of boiling water to clean.

On the outside, I massaged in the cream - its quite easy to massage in, and its quite thick , so no runny mess . It started to work right away in soothing the area - helped in part by the fact that I keep it in the fridge so its lovely and cool, and within about 10 minutes I felt loads better , and much less inclined to scratch my itchy bum. Just don't forget to wash your hands after applying.

Generally, I only need to use this for a couple of days in a row and the problem clears itself up . Tubes have quite a long date on them (mine has 2011) and mine (23g) lasted me quite a while, maybe 4 months on the current tube, but imagine this varies from person to person .

I've never has any side effects, although the manufacturers leaflet does mention a rash as the only likely side effect . I'd also like to praise the manufacturers leaflet for giving some advice about how to prevent piles in future - little tips about eating lots of fibre, and drinking plenty of water . I don't have piles, just tearing and itching occasionally, but I do think its a nice touch .

The active ingredients in the cream are Zinc Oxide , Balsam Peru, and Bismuth Oxide .

Overall, I'd recommend this for use if you suffer from bum pain due to spicy food , constipation, or piles . It works well, is easy to apply, and a tube lasts a long time . Although I don't pay for mine with it being on prescription, its not overly expensive - I've seen it on sale from between £2- £7 , and there are two sized available, 23g and 43g.

Definately recommended .

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