I am shocked to learn this today....
"In cases of pre-existing or suspected fissure, use of a lubricating ointment (It is important to note that hemorrhoid
ointment is contraindicated because it constricts small blood vessels,
thus causes a decrease in blood flow, which prevents healing.)" (source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anal_fissure)
So people, please stop buying Hemorrhoid cream for fissures !

Wahh this sucks! It's hard to treat the internal hemmies I got from birth and my fissure. Learned that the hard way

That info is in lots of threads in here...

So is cortisone creams, they also restrict blood flow. I use them sparingly for itching though. As a matter of fact all things that would make us more comfortable are contradicted: alcohol, pizza, morphine.

Many hemerrhoid cremes contains cortisone, and thats poison for a fissure.
Learned this the hard way, as I treated my fissure as a hem for 14 days, and it only got worse.

guiness wrote:So is cortisone creams, they also restrict blood flow. I use them sparingly for itching though. As a matter of fact all things that would make us more comfortable are contradicted: alcohol, pizza, morphine.

lol guiness !

Hemorrhoid cream tubes were the only tubes in the market that came with an applicator. I used it solely for convenience.
How else is it possible to lubricate the anal canal without damaging it? Those glycerine suppositories were dreadful. I would feel like my butt was trying to suck up a needle.
Well.. I guess, I did damage it evidently. Had to go in for a Fissurectomy. aaarrggghh.. too late now.
JHH, i am a newbie here. I registered after I had my fissurectomy. In any case, my fissure had reached the chronic stage, so I am sure, it would have made no difference, had I known this, or not.
Thought this post would benefit the "acute" ones out there :).

Hmmmm. Both my traditional CRS/PA and naturopath recommend steroid cream for a while to help the inflammed tissue. i found it to be associated with improvement in my symptoms. Just another thought......

Thanks for that info. Have never used OTC hemmy creams etc., but have been on the cortisone. Got off that quick. Thinned my skin...

I learned the hard way too! a HORRIBLE general doctor assumed I had a hemmy and put me on cortisone suppositories and WITCH HAZEL for 2 MONTHS before she would refer me to a CRS.... CRIMINAL!