How to Treat Pilonidal Cysts

A pilonidal cyst, or pocket with pieces of hair and skin inside, forms at the base of the tailbone, between the buttocks. Men are more prone to pilonidal cysts than women are, with most cases occurring between the ages of 15 and 24. It is thought pilonidal cysts are caused by ingrown hairs or repeated injury/abuse to the tailbone region. If symptoms develop, they include pain and inflammation, redness and swelling around the lower spine, sometimes with accompanying drainage. Fever is also present in rare cases.

Things You'll Need

• Gauze pads Antiseptic Gloves Pain medication (optional) Razor or hair removal cream

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Instructions

How to Treat Pilonidal Cysts

• 1

  Visit your primary physician if the pilonidal cyst becomes infected and symptoms occur. He will perform a simple procedure in his office to drain the cyst. A local anesthetic will be injected around the cyst area to numb it, then an incision will be made and the hair and other matter inside the cyst will be removed. The physician will then pack the wound to allow it to heal from the inside out. The Mayo Clinic states up to 60% of cases are cured with this procedure.

• 2

  Clean and apply new packing a few times daily until healed. Some drainage may occur after the procedure, so packing will need to be replaced. Take precautions against drainage stains by wearing extra underwear and applying new packing quickly enough.

• 3

  Undertake surgical procedures if the pilonidal cysts persist. Recurrent pilonidal cysts with sinus tract infection require more invasive surgical procedures. Surgical options include open or closed surgery. Both procedures involve opening the cyst and cleaning out all hair and other substances, along with cleaning the sinus tracts. With open wound surgery, the wound is packed and left to heal as in the earlier procedure, whereas with closed wound surgery, the wound is sewn shut. Open wound surgery offers a better cure rate than closed wound surgery.

• 4

  Keep the surgical area clean per doctor's instructions, redo packing and dressing as advised, and shave around the area to avoid infection and recurrence of pilonidal cyst. Keep the area clean and dry, and do not sit any more than necessary to advance healing time. It is also advised that obese patients lose weight to avoid recurrence of cysts.

• 5

  Take ibuprofen or another over-the-counter pain medication if needed and your physician allows. Medication is not likely to be needed with the first simple procedure, but it might be called for in the more advanced surgical procedures.