Sitz Baths: How to Use This Effective Home Remedy for Hemorrhoids, Anal Fissures, and More

Sitz baths might sound like something you would do at a fancy spa. But they’re actually a simple type of bath that you can do at home. The name comes from the German word for sit (“sitzen”). They help treat problems in and around your anus and bottom — like hemorrhoids, anal fissures, and postpartum discomfort. 

Learn more about how to do a sitz bath, what conditions it can help with, and what the risks are.

What is a sitz bath?

Sitz baths are a soak for the perineal area — the area around your anus and genitals. Taking a sitz bath involves soaking this area in warm water. Healthcare professionals might recommend that you do them several times a day, usually for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. 

Sitz baths can be the main treatment or a supplemental treatment for conditions involving the vagina or anal region. They can help treat:

• Hemorrhoids 

• Anal fissures

• Constipation 

• Postpartum pain 

• Abscesses (a collection of fluid or pus)

• Bartholin’s cysts (a specific type of abscess near the vagina)

• Pain or swelling from surgery 

What are the benefits of a sitz bath?

Sitz baths have several benefits for your body. They can help the above conditions in a few specific ways. Let’s review how they work. 

Improve blood flow

If you’ve ever soaked in a hot tub after a long day, you know how relaxing it can feel. Similarly, sitz baths help relax the skin and muscles around your genitals and anus. When the muscles relax, it allows better blood flow to this area. And better blood flow means faster healing and relief from pain.

This may be particularly helpful if you have hemorrhoids. A warm sitz bath can ease the pain by relaxing the anal sphincter (muscles around your anus). It can also make it easier to pass stool and relieve constipation.

Reduce itching 

Some people add baking soda or Epsom salts to their sitz baths. In combination with warm water, this can help soothe irritated or itchy skin. 

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• Benefits of hot baths: A warm bath can be a great way to unwind and relax. Learn more about this form of hydrotherapy. 

• Epsom salt baths: Learn about the benefits of Epsom salt baths, from muscle relaxation to stress relief.

• What to do about itchy hemorrhoids: If you have hemorrhoids, you’ve likely tried a sitz bath to relieve the itch. Learn why hemorrhoids itch and what else you can do.

If you want to give this a try, first talk with a healthcare professional. This is because adding extra ingredients to a sitz bath might make some conditions worse. For example, these extra ingredients may worsen pain from cuts, anal fissures, and vaginal infections. And since the vaginal area should be slightly acidic, adding baking soda or other ingredients might upset the delicate pH balance there.

May help drain an infection

If you have a painful infection — like an abscess or infected cyst — you may get some relief by soaking in warm water. It’s possible that the warm water may help draw the infection to the surface. After several soaks, it might burst on its own and relieve the pressure underneath the skin. Many people are firm believers in this method, but there’s not much evidence to support it. It may be worth a try if you’re in the mood for a soothing soak though. 

How do you make a sitz bath?

Making a sitz bath is easy. Most people can do it in a bathtub or basin. There are also commercial sitz bath tubs available at stores and on the internet.

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Here’s how to do a sitz bath in five simple steps:

1. Find a quiet, comfortable place. 

2. Fill your tub or basin with warm tap water.

3. Add baking soda or Epsom salts, if a healthcare professional gives you the OK. There’s no official recommendation on how much Epsom salt to use for a sitz bath. Many brands recommend using 1 to 2 cups to get the benefits.

4. Soak in the bath for 10 to 20 minutes.

5. Drain the tub or basin and wash it out with warm, soapy water.

You can repeat this three or four times daily and when your symptoms bother you.

Are there any risks to sitz baths?

Generally, sitz baths are considered to be very safe. There are two potential risks that are easy to avoid:

• Burns: To avoid harming your skin, use warm but not scalding water.

• Skin infection: Use fresh tap water and thoroughly wash your basin or tub before each bath. 

When should you see a healthcare professional?

If you notice your condition is worsening even while using a sitz bath, connect with a healthcare professional. This is especially true if you have:

• New fever or chills

• Worsening redness

• Worsening pain

• Worsening swelling

• New or an increased amount of blood in your stool (poop)

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Written by:

Nicole Rowe, MD

Dr. Nicole Rowe, MD, is a telehealth family practice physician. She received her medical degree from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and completed her residency in family medicine at University of Colorado’s Swedish Medical Center.

Edited by:

Alex Eastman, PhD, RN

Alex Eastman, PhD, RN, is a California-based registered nurse and staff medical editor at GoodRx, where he focuses on clinical updates and Latino health.

Reviewed by:

Farzon A. Nahvi, MD

Dr. Nahvi is an emergency medicine physician and author of “Code Gray: Death, Life, and Uncertainty in the ER.” He works clinically at Concord Hospital in Concord, New Hampshire, and is a clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. Prior to this, he worked as an ER physician and clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine at the Mount Sinai Health System, NYU Langone Health, NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, and the Manhattan VA. He is a graduate of Cornell University and NYU School of Medicine.

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