Dr. Marc Brand explains the difference between internal and external hemorrhoids?
Dr. Brand:
Internal hemorrhoids are up inside the anal canal. That’s their normal position, whereas external hemorrhoids are at the anal opening, outside the anal canal. The covering is different. The internal hemorrhoids have a bowel type of lining, and the external hemorrhoids have a skin type of lining. The bowel type of lining has very little sensation so it doesn’t cause much discomfort, but it’s fragile so it can easily be made to bleed.
The external hemorrhoids have a tough skin covering so they can be very sensitive and painful, but because they have a tough covering, it’s hard to make them bleed. Then finally because the internal hemorrhoids belong up inside the anal canal, they have the potential to hang outside the anal canal, and that can cause problems.
About Dr. Marc I. Brand, M.D.:
Dr. Marc I. Brand, M.D., received his Bachelor’s Degree in biomedical engineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1986 and graduated from Rush Medical College in 1990. Dr. Brand completed eight years of surgical training at the Cleveland Clinic, including a five-year residency in general surgery, a two-year fellowship in surgical research and a one-year fellowship in colorectal surgery.
Visit Dr. Brand at University Surgeons