Q. A reader recently reported using zinc oxide to treat hemorrhoid symptoms. I just wanted you to know that I have been using zinc oxide for this purpose for years. I thought no one else knew about it!
It’s something I just tried on my own after little or no relief from such ointments as Preparation H. Zinc oxide provides almost instant relief. I told my doctor years ago, but she had never heard of using zinc oxide for hemorrhoids.
A. Zinc oxide appears to be a safe, inexpensive alternative to other external hemorrhoid creams. When we looked for it at the drugstore, we found it sold as a diaper rash cream.
