Fissure Doctors

An anal fissure is a cut or a tear in the thin, delicate lining of your anus.

The tear often exposes the muscle around the anus, called the anal sphincter. The damage can cause that muscle to spasm, which can pull apart the edges of the fissure even more. The spasms can cause pain and slow down the healing. Bowel movements can also keep the fissures from getting better.

An anal fissure is considered acute if it recently happened or if you've had it less than 6 weeks. It's considered chronic if it's been more than 6 weeks or it comes back often.