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Overview


A fissure is a tear in the skin of the anus, usually caused when a large, hard stool overstretches the anal opening and damages the fragile skin. It is often associated with constipation, and less frequently, with chronic diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease or sexually transmitted diseases that involve the anus and rectum. Sometimes, the cause is unknown.

Anal fissures can be acute or chronic. An acute fissure is a superficial tear and a short-term condition. A chronic fissure ...Read the full article