I've placed a call to my dermatologist asking about anoderm. Am hoping he will have ideas to promote healing. Just as importantly, I'd like to know about things that discourage it.
What about a wound-healing specialist?
Has anyone ever consulted either of the above docs? and what did they say?
Thanks.

I have had no experience with either of these so I can't comment. I don't see how visiting a wound healing specialist could hurt...as long as they are board certified.

That's interesting, not sure why no one else really thought of that yet. Let us know how it goes!

Sorry I haven't replied sooner. My dermatologist was on vacation and then I was on vacation.
My dermatologist said he doesn't deal with anal fissures and isn't comfortable addressing that issue. And, he said he was sorry. So am I. I think he probably could have said something about how skin heals.
I still think learning about wound healing might help. Our bodies do a great job of healing usually, so I'm most concerned about what inhibits healing, mainly regarding the ingredients in ointments, creams, etc. Many years ago, I think I read petroleum jelly can be a problem, but I could be wrong.
I received good news yesterday. Went to my CRS who said my fissure is healed, but now have two small thrombosed hemorrhoids. I say "good news" because I believe hemorrhoids are easier to deal with. To hear that my fissure was healed was so unbelievable that I began questioning what I thought I had heard, so I wrote back to the doctor today to make sure, and she confirmed it.
I have no idea when the fissure healed since I still have pain from the hemorrhoids. In the past few months, I took 3 Colace per day (could never tell it helped me much, but works for some people), Sitz baths 0-3 times per day (very warm water), switched from dairy to soy (wouldn't say that helped consistency, either), became almost vegetarian because of braces on my teeth, used Nifedipine ointment two times per day (applied externally, pea-size), used baby wipes or toilet tissue dampened with water (dab or touch till clean, don't wipe), conciously tried to relax the muscles in the area several times per day, avoided acidic and spicy foods, didn't wash with soap (rinsed with cool or slightly warm water). In the past two weeks, I have been sitting on a special cushion that has a valley down the middle of it (thanks Lecia)and, most importantly, have been using Miralax for the past two weeks. Miralax has relieved more pain for me than anything. The CRS says I can use it for 4 more weeks. She, also, wants me to continue with the Sitz baths and Nifedipine.
My concern is what caused the hemorrhoids. I've never had external hemorrhoids before, although I've always had constipation. Maybe it's simple aging, but I always feel pressure when sitting in the Sitz bath, so I'm going to take Lecia's suggestion and try a bath. Also, I'm wondering if Nifedipine could have caused them. I think Nifedipine was originally intended as a blood pressure medicine. I believe these meds usually cause veins to expand or dilate which is sort of what a hemorrhoid is. Have any of you acquired hemorrhoids soon after using Nifedipine?
I want to thank all of you on this forum for your posts and encouragement. And, thank you for mentioning Miralax. I'd never heard of it before. The doctor never mentioned it, although to be fair, I never told her the Colace wasn't working. I'm sure this is not my last fissure, but next time I'll be better prepared to deal with it because of all of you.
Thanks, everyone.

Thanks for the update on everything. That is too bad the dermatologist would not at least attempt to discuss potential applications he might have at his disposal.
I know when my fissure was at its worst I thought about using hyperbaric oxygen therapy but the doctor said that the side effects were pretty gnarly so although it could potentially help with the wound it could create more problems and frankly he hadn't heard it being used on fissures.
I even wondered about ultrasound but no bites on that one either.
I wonder if the blood pressure ointments could lead to hemmies. I don't know. I guess anything that causes blood to pool in the area could lead to that. But I know that increasing blood flow helps to heal hemmies too by getting things moving and bringing the right enzymes to the area to break up the clot which usually begins in 72 hours after formation but it can take weeks for it to go away.

Thanks for the hemmie info. Your note about increasing blood flow, Lecia, reminded me to add that until the summer temps got too hot, I was walking two miles every evening. At the start of the walk, my pain was there, but not the worst since it's always better with standing rather than sitting. By the end of the walk, the pain was much better - not gone completely, though.
And, I always tried to keep the skin lubricated with something - Nifedipine, usually - to keep friction minimal throughout the day.
Maybe I was unusually susceptible to stretching of the fissure. I had to watch very carefully about even bending down to pick up something off the floor. I looked like a weird ballet dancer bending only my left knee and kicking my right leg behind me and pointing that toe to the left side (the fissure was sort of on the right in the front.)
I'm still amazed the pesky thing healed. I've got to learn how to soften the stool consistency between now and my last Miralax dose.