Fissure
A split or a crack in the skin, of considerable length and depth, particularly around the anus or on the bottom of the feet, is referred as a fissure and is generally classified as:
- Anal Fissures:
These are tears in the skin of the anus, often caused by exerting during bowel movements, constipation, or diarrhoea. The symptoms are severe pain and sometimes bleeding during and after bowel movements, and at times a skin tag near the tear.
- Foot Fissures:
These are cracks observed mostly on the heels, a condition often caused by dry skin, pressure, or friction.
Causes of fissure:
- Trauma: Injury or stretching of the skin beyond its capacity.
- Inflammation: Disease like Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative colitis which are common Inflammatory bowel diseases. can increase the risk of fissures.
- Infections: Infections in the anal or foot area can also be an attribute to formation of fissures.
- Chronic Conditions: Certain medical conditions, like diabetes, can result in dry skin and thus develop fissures.
- Constipation/Diarrhoea: Anal fissures can also be caused by straining during bowel movements or having very loose stools.
Tight Anal Sphincter: A tight anal muscle makes it harder for the anus to stretch, increasing the risk of tearing during bowel movements, resulting in fissures.
