PROTECTANTS
Place in Therapy
Place in therapy
Protectants provide a physical barrier to irritation and prevent excessive water loss from tissues to provide short-term relief of burning, itching, discomfort and irritation. However, there is no evidence in the literature suggesting that these agents have any efficacy whatsoever.
Although there is no efficacy for their use as single agents, protectants are found in many available commercial products as additives. Protectants are amongst the safest ingredients to be used for hemorrhoid treatment, possibly only causing transient stinging or burning upon application. Although there is no evidence to support their use, their benign side effect profile make them suitable ingredients as additives to other products. Protectants should not be used alone in treatment of hemorrhoids, due to lack of evidence supporting their use.
References
1. Carruthers-Czyzewski P. Hemorrhoids. In Patient Self-Care 1st ed. 2002. (pp.287-293). Ottawa, ON: Canadian Pharmacists Association.
2. Kaidar-Person O, Person B, Wexner SD. Hemorrhoidal Disease: A Comprehensive Review. J Am CollSurg 2007;204 (1): 102-17.
3. Rivadeneira DE, Steele SR, Ternent C, Chalasani S, Buie WD, Rafferty JL. Practice parameters for the management of hemorrhoids (revised 2010). Dis Colon Rectum 2011; 54:1059-64
.
Protectants provide a physical barrier to irritation and prevent excessive water loss from tissues to provide short-term relief of burning, itching, discomfort and irritation. However, there is no evidence in the literature suggesting that these agents have any efficacy whatsoever.
Although there is no efficacy for their use as single agents, protectants are found in many available commercial products as additives. Protectants are amongst the safest ingredients to be used for hemorrhoid treatment, possibly only causing transient stinging or burning upon application. Although there is no evidence to support their use, their benign side effect profile make them suitable ingredients as additives to other products. Protectants should not be used alone in treatment of hemorrhoids, due to lack of evidence supporting their use.
References
1. Carruthers-Czyzewski P. Hemorrhoids. In Patient Self-Care 1st ed. 2002. (pp.287-293). Ottawa, ON: Canadian Pharmacists Association.
2. Kaidar-Person O, Person B, Wexner SD. Hemorrhoidal Disease: A Comprehensive Review. J Am CollSurg 2007;204 (1): 102-17.
3. Rivadeneira DE, Steele SR, Ternent C, Chalasani S, Buie WD, Rafferty JL. Practice parameters for the management of hemorrhoids (revised 2010). Dis Colon Rectum 2011; 54:1059-64
.