About hydrocortisone for piles and itchy bottom

Hydrocortisone is used in some medicines to treat:

• piles (haemorrhoids) inside or around your bottom (anus)
• itchy bottom

These treatments do not cure piles, but they can help with the pain and itching.

Hydrocortisone is a type of medicine known as a steroid (also called a corticosteroid). Corticosteroids are not the same as anabolic steroids.

Hydrocortisone treatments for piles and itchy bottom come as creams, ointments, sprays and suppositories. You can buy some smaller sizes from a pharmacy, but others are only available on prescription.

Some of these medicines also contain local anaesthetics and other medicines to soothe the symptoms.