Chronic anal fissures are tears in the tissue of the anal canal that last for more than 8 weeks. Unlike acute fissures that often heal on their own, chronic anal fissures require medical treatment.

You can typically treat an acute anal fissure at home if you’ve had mild symptoms for fewer than 6 weeks. An anal fissure is a common condition. It’s a superficial tear in the skin near the anus.

In many cases, anal fissures can heal fast with the help of nonsurgical treatments, such as dietary changes, over-the-counter stool softeners, and topical creams. However, they may recur if the ...