CHECK-UP: Obesity, inactivity and excessive sweating can result in a condition called pilonidal sinus
I have recently had an operation for a condition called a pilonidal sinus. Although I had not heard of the condition before, having spoken to friends and colleagues about it, I have since been surprised at how common it is.
Pilonidal disease (from the Latin pilus – meaning hair – and nidus – meaning nest) is a condition that results from hair that penetrates the skin at the top of the cleft between the buttocks.
When a cyst or abscess develops at the site it typically causes pain, localised swelling and inflammation and the draining of fluid, pus or blood.
A pilonidal sinus may appear as a tract or passage below the surface of the skin that connects the infected pilonidal cyst to the opening on the skin’s surface.
More than one sinus tract may form to drain a single infected cyst. Although the most common site for the condition is the buttock cleft, it can rarely develop on other parts of the body. It occurs more often in men than women and more frequently between the age of puberty and 40 years. Risk factors for the condition include obesity, excess body hair, inactivity and excessive sweating.
Occupations or sports that involve long periods of sitting, pressure or friction add to the risk of pilonidal disease.
My problem was treated surgically and I had a substantial time away from normal activities. Is there anything I can do to prevent it recurring?
Nearly all sufferers experience an acute abscess which may resolve by itself but more usually requires treatment by incision and drainage, with the removal of the fluid, hair and other debris from the area.
The wound is then packed with dressings to promote healing from the inside out.
Although for some sufferers this treatment may be completely effective, others will require a more extensive surgical procedure to clean out the cyst and the sinus tracts. Healing can take some time depending on the extent of the surgery. Normal activities which irritate the area should be avoided or minimised during the recovery period.
To help prevent the recurrence of pilonidal cysts you should regularly remove hair from the affected area by shaving, using depilatory creams or laser treatment.
While the area should be washed, rinsed and dried thoroughly on a daily basis, the use of talc, powders, creams and oils is not recommended.
Sitting for prolonged periods for work or leisure activities should be avoided.