Does Toilet Paper Cause Hemorrhoids? What You Need to Know

Most people assume hemorrhoids come solely from sitting too long or skipping vegetables. They overlook the one thing that touches the most sensitive part of their body multiple times a day.

The medical reality is nuanced. Toilet paper does not cause the hemorrhoid itself, but using the wrong toilet paper frequently keeps the cycle of pain and bleeding alive. Harsh fibers and hidden chemicals can irritate the skin, worsen symptoms, and prevent the relief you are looking for.

This guide explains:

• What actually causes hemorrhoids

• How wiping after a bowel movement can help or hurt

• Whether dry toilet paper and over‑wiping can lead to hemorrhoids or just aggravate them

• The best tissue options and habits to help prevent hemorrhoids from coming back

At Wype, we design unbleached bamboo toilet paper specifically for sensitive skin, using simple, nature-friendly ingredients and evidence‑informed guidance, not guesswork.

>Hemorrhoids Are Common (and Often Misunderstood)

The U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases NIDDK notes that hemorrhoids are common in both men and women and “affect about 1 in 20 Americans,” and that “about half of adults older than age 50 have hemorrhoids.”

In other words, hemorrhoids are common, and you’re far from alone.

Medically, hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the lowest part of the rectum and anus. These swollen veins can cause rectal discomfort and cause symptoms such as

• Bright red blood on the toilet paper or in the toilet bowl

• Itching or soreness in the anal area

• A feeling of swelling or a lump

• Pain and inflammation during or after a bowel movement

You’ll often see two types mentioned:

• Internal hemorrhoid – inside the rectum; internal hemorrhoids may bleed but don’t always hurt.

• External hemorrhoids – under the skin around the anus; these may bleed, itch, and swell, and sometimes a blood clot forms inside an external hemorrhoid, causing sudden, intense pain.

The Mayo Clinic explains that key factors can cause hemorrhoids, including “straining when passing stool, sitting for long periods of time on the toilet, chronic constipation or diarrhea, obesity, pregnancy, and anal intercourse.”

These factors can cause increased pressure on the blood vessels at the base of a hemorrhoid and also lead to pain and bleeding.

Toilet tissue doesn’t create that pressure alone, but it’s the last thing that touches the anal area before you stand up from the toilet seat, which is why comfort and chemistry still matter.

How Wiping The Wrong Way Can Cause Symptoms to Flare

1. Friction in the Anal Area

The skin around the anus is thin and sensitive. Repeated passes with dry toilet paper, especially if it’s stiff or thin, also cause friction that can:

• Create tiny surface tears

• Aggravate hemorrhoids and anal fissures

• Make any existing rectal bleeding more evident on the paper after wiping

If you notice red blood on toilet paper or on toilet surfaces after heavy scrubbing, friction is probably playing a role, even if hemorrhoids initially caused the bleeding.

2. Chemicals That Cause Irritation

Fragrances, dyes, and certain preservatives can irritate the anal skin. Dermatology groups highlight fragrance and some preservatives as leading triggers for contact dermatitis, and that’s magnified when products are used on mucosal or near‑mucosal areas.

For people with hemorrhoids or anal fissures, that means:

• More burning in the area after a bowel movement

• Ongoing itching and inflammation that doesn’t match how often you go

• A sense that even gentle cleaning of the anal skin hurts

Wype the Right Way

Your skin absorbs more than you think. That’s why Wype’s bamboo tissue keeps it clean—no bleach, no fragrance, no toxins. Just natural bamboo care that feels good and does good.

• ✔ Naturally Hypoallergenic
• ✔ No Bleach, Toxins, or PFAS
• ✔ FSC Certified

Buy Now

Choosing fragrance‑free, dye‑free, unbleached toilet paper removes several of those variables at once.

The Best Toilet Paper Choices for Hemorrhoids

If you want to help prevent hemorrhoids from getting worse, or to help reduce irritation associated with hemorrhoids, start with what’s on your roll.

Bamboo Toilet Paper And Why It Works Well

Bamboo fiber is naturally soft yet firm, making it easier to pass through your daily routine without constant over‑wiping. When made without bleach and fragrances, it aligns with what sensitive skin and people with hemorrhoids tend to tolerate best.

Wype’s rolls sit in that space deliberately:

• Organic Bamboo Tissue Paper from FSC‑certified sources

• No bleach, no PFAS, no dyes or added fragrance

• Dual‑sided sheets to match how you like to wipe, one side softer, one side with more grip

Texture and Ply

Look for:

• A soft, non‑scratchy feel

• At least 2‑ply, so you don’t have to wipe repeatedly

• Low‑lint construction so fibers don’t cling to the anal area

Thin or very rough rolls force you to wipe harder, which can cause bleeding and flare‑ups.

Ingredients and Processing

Aim for:

• Fragrance‑free, dye‑free formulas

• Unbleached toilet paper or totally chlorine‑free tissue

• No “lotion‑infused” or heavily coated sheets

That simple ingredient list is one reason Wype focuses on unbleached bamboo toilet paper for everyday anal cleaning.

READ MORE: Safer toilet choices if your skin is reactive

• Best Nontoxic Toilet Paper for Sensitive Skin & Sustainable Homes

• Hypoallergenic Toilet Paper: The Best Choice for Sensitive Skin

• Chlorine Free Toilet Paper Brand: How to Find Safe, Sustainable Tissue That Actually Delivers

Step‑by‑Step: Wiping After a Bowel Movement

1. Sit on the toilet only as long as needed.
   

   Staying on the toilet for a few minutes is reasonable; lingering with your phone for 20 minutes increases pressure and blood flow to the hemorrhoidal blood vessels.

2. Avoid heavy straining.
   

   If nothing is happening, get up and try again later instead of pushing hard.

3. Use folded pads of tissue.
   

   Fold your toilet paper rather than scrunching it. With soft, unbleached bamboo toilet paper, a few folded sheets usually provide enough coverage.

4. Dab, don’t scrub.
   

   Gently blot the area after a bowel movement instead of using a back‑and‑forth motion that can also cause trauma in the anal skin. This matters even more if you have hemorrhoids or anal fissures.

5. Introduce water for stubborn residue.
   

   If the stool is sticky or you find yourself wiping again and again, use a bidet, peri bottle, or a little warm water on the paper itself. Then always pat completely dry with fresh tissue.

6. Stop when the paper is mostly clean.
   

   Endless passes of dry toilet paper do more harm than the faint trace you’re trying to eliminate.

Comfort Measures Many People Find Helpful

While not a cure, some simple comforts can help reduce the day‑to‑day impact associated with hemorrhoids:

• A short sitz bath (sitting in a few inches of warm water) after a bowel movement to calm the anal area

• Cool compresses

• Over‑the‑counter creams or pads with witch hazel, if recommended by your clinician

None of these replaces medical care, but they can make treatment for hemorrhoids more tolerable while you work on the underlying cause.

READ MORE: How your tissue choices fit into the bigger picture

• Bamboo Toilet Paper vs Regular: Which One Should You Trust for Comfort?

• Is Bamboo Toilet Paper Septic‑Safe? Plumber‑Backed Guide

• Can You Use Toilet Paper Instead of Tissues?

The Bottom Line

• Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the lower rectum and anus, and hemorrhoids are usually caused by pressure from straining, constipation, diarrhea, and prolonged sitting, not the roll alone.

• The way you wipe and the tissue you use can still cause symptoms, cause bleeding, and aggravate the anal area, especially when hemorrhoids are active.

• Softer, fragrance‑free, unbleached toilet paper and gentle wiping make it easier to treat hemorrhoids, reduce irritation, and help them come back less often.

• Supporting bowel health with high‑fiber eating, adequate hydration, and, where appropriate, a fiber supplement makes stools easier to pass and reduces the strain that can lead to hemorrhoids in the first place.