If you stop by your local drug store you will find that there are a host of over the counter products designed to treat hemroids symptoms. While these concoctions may or may not cure hemroids, they greatly reduce or eliminate hemroid symptoms.

There are as many over the counter treatments as there are active ingredients. it is difficult to say that one is better than the other, though, due to the fact that they do not all target the same symptom. These are some of the more common forms of hemroid treatments:

Ointments
Preparation H is one of the most common ointments for treating hemroids. The Ointment contains Petrolatum, Mineral Oil,Shark Liver Oil and Phenylephrine HCl.

Petrolatum is basically petroleum jelly and lubricates the affected area, mineral oil and shark liver oil are also included to provide the user with varying degrees of symptomatic relief in particular before and during defecation.

Phenylephrine is a vasoconstrictor. Vasoconstrictors are chemicals that resemble epinephrine, a naturally occurring chemical. Vasoconstrictors make the blood vessels become smaller, which may reduce swelling. They also may reduce pain and itching due to their mild anesthetic effect. Vasoconstrictors applied to the perianal area - unlike thosentaken orally or by injection - have a low likelihood of causing serious side effects, such as high blood pressure, nervousness, tremor, sleeplessness, and aggravation of diabetes or hyperthyroidism.

Creams
Again, Preparation H is one of the most prevalent products under the "cream" category. The Maximum Strength Cream contains White Petrolatum 15%, Glycerin 14.4%, Pramoxine HCl 1% and Phenylephrine HCl 0.25%. Glycerin may help to prevent constipation and is a protectant while petrolatum is a lubricant or protectant.

Protectants prevent irritation of the perianal area by forming a physical barrier on the skin that prevents contact of the irritated skin with aggravating liquid or stool from the rectum. This barrier reduces irritation, itching, pain, and burning. Many products contain a protectant in addition to other medications.

Protectants include: Aluminum hydroxide gel, Cocoa butter, Glycerin, Kaolin, Lanolin, Mineral oil (Balneol), White petrolatum, Starch, Zinc oxide or calamine (which contains zinc oxide) in concentrations of up to 25%, Cod liver oil or shark liver oil if the amount of vitamin A is 10,000 USP units/day.

Phenylephrine is a vasoconstrictor and Praxomine is an anesthetic that is used on the skin to relieve minor pain, itching, and discomfort. Local anesthetics: Local anesthetics temporarily relieve pain, burning, and itching by numbing the nerve endings. The use of these products should be limited to the perianal area and lower anal canal. Local anesthetics can cause allergic reactions with burning and itching; therefore, if burning and itching increase with the application of anesthetics, they should be discontinued.

Local anesthetics include: Benzocaine, Benzyl alcohol, Dibucaine, Dyclonine, Lidocaine, Pramoxine and Tetracaine.

Antiseptics: Antiseptics inhibit the growth of bacteria and other organisms. However, it is unclear whether antiseptics are any more effective than soap and water.

Examples of antiseptics may include: Boric acid, Phenol, Benzalkonium chloride, Cetylpyridinium chloride, Benzethonium chloride, Resorcinol

Pads
One of the more popular products under this category are Tucks Medicated Pads. Hemroidal Pads with Witch Hazel help give temporary relief of external itching, burning and irritation associated with hemroids. The prevalent ingredient is Witch Hazel. Witch hazel is an astringent produced from the leaves and bark of the North American Witch Hazel shrub. Astringents cause coagulation (clumping) of proteins in the cells of the perianal skin or the lining of the anal canal. This action promotes dryness of the skin, which in turn helps relieve burning, itching, and pain.

Astringents include: Calamine, Zinc oxide, Witch hazel

Suppositories
Preparation H suppositories contain Cocoa Butter.5%, Shark Liver Oil 3%, and Phenylephrine HCl 0.25%. Cleanse the affected area by patting or blotting with an appropriate cleansing wipe. Gently dry by patting or blotting with a tissue or a soft cloth before insertion of this product. Detach one suppository from the strip; remove the foil wrapper before inserting into the rectum as follows:Carefully separate foil tabs by inserting tip of fingernail at end marked "peel down",slowly and evenly peel apart (do not tear) foil by pulling tabs down both sides, to expose the suppository. remove exposed suppository from wrapper, insert one suppository into the rectum up to 4 times daily, especially after each bowel movement.

A couple of other chemicals that may be used in hemroid treatments are:

Keratolytics: Keratolytics are chemicals that cause the outer layers of skin or other tissues to disintegrate. The rationale for their use is that the disintegration allows medications that are applied to the anus and perianal area to penetrate into the deeper tissues.

The two approved keratolytics used are:

Aluminum chlorhydroxy allantoinate
Resorcinol

Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids reduce inflammation and can relieve itching, but their chronic use can cause permanent damage to the skin. Do not use these for more than short periods of a few days to two weeks. Only products with weak corticosteroid effects are available over-the-counter. There are stronger corticosteroid products available by prescription that should not be used for treating hemroids.

While these are all commonly used treatments they are not considered a hemroid cure, due to the fact that they do not cure the underlying cause.