ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Pilonidal cyst

What is pilonidal cyst?

4 May 2021

It is a hole developed in the circumference of a hair follicle in the coccyx, in the center of the crease that separates the buttocks.

Formed with skin tissue and villi, it usually appears when there is ingrown hair, which can later become infected and cause intense pain. When an abscess forms, it needs to be drained, and if it continues to have problems, it must be removed by surgery.

The population sector with the highest incidence of pilonidal cysts is young men, especially those who spend long hours sitting.

In case you have an infected pilonidal cyst that is not treated properly and becomes recurrent, there is an increased chance of developing squamous cell carcinoma, which is a form of skin cancer.

Signs and symptoms Pilonidal cyst

When there is an infection, symptoms include:

  • Affected area that produces intense pain.
  • Reddened skin.
  • Foul purulent fluids.

Potential risks:

  • Being male
  • Be between 21 and 32 years old.
  • Overweight and obesity.
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Sitting for long periods.
  • Excess hair.

How to prevent its appearance:

  • Practice thorough hygiene.
  • Lower your body weight to optimal levels.
  • Don’t stay seated for a long time.

Diagnosis and treatment Pilonidal cyst

The diagnosis of this condition is very easy for the doctor since it is possible to distinguish it with the naked eye.

Likewise, the treatment to follow is to drain it through a cut that allows the pus to be expelled, a procedure that the doctor can perform in their office since only a little local anesthesia and a scalpel are required.

Once the drainage has been performed, if the cyst reappears, it is recommended to remove it definitively through surgery in which the wound must receive the necessary care afterward, such as:

  • Changing bandages.
  • Shaving around the wound area to prevent hair from arising that could complicate the evolution or create a new cyst.
  • Have medical follow-ups to avoid complications.

Two alternatives are usually used in this surgery:

  • Open wound to promote healing and prevent recurrence.
  • Sew the wound to decrease healing time, although in this case, the risks of recurrence are higher.

At the Saludora Medical Center Internal Medicine Department we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies, of chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.

Related centers and departments Pilonidal cyst

Internal medicine
High Specialty Surgery Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

  • topdoctors.es
  • mayoclinic.org
  • medlineplus.gov
  • msdmanuals.com
  • cun.es
  • medigraphic.com
  • Gamboa PC. Quiste pilonidal. Rev Med Cos Cen. 2015;72(614):201-203.
  • Poletti ED, Lima GLZ, Muñoz SMR. Tétrada de oclusión folicular. Dermatología Cosmética, Médica y Quirúrgica. 2009;7(1):66-71.
  • Cruz-Mendoza I, Hernández-Jesús B, López-Pérez E, et al. Tumor epidermoide moderadamente diferenciado asociado con quiste pilonidal. Cir Cir. 2014;82(1):87-92.
  • Polo AIL, Gómez MCR. Puntos para el cierre primario luego de la extirpación de quiste o fístula pilonidal. Medicentro. 2012;16(4):256-258.

How can we help you?

    The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the Saludora Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.