Pilonidal cyst is a type of pouch or lump that develops at the end of the spine, just above the glutes, which is composed of hair, sebaceous glands, sweat and skin debris from embryonic development, which can result in pain and swelling Of region. Understand what a cyst is and how to identify it.
The pilonidal cyst, when it causes symptoms, is usually treated by surgery, in which its complete removal or drainage of its contents is done. Although it is more common to appear at the end of the spine, the pilonidal cyst can also appear in other regions of the body, such as around the navel, armpits or scalp.
Pilonidal cysts occur more frequently in young men and tend to recur. It is believed that people who work seated for long periods of time are more at risk of developing a pilonidal cyst.
Treatment for pilonidal cyst
One form of treatment for a pilonidal cyst is to drain the purulent content, which is done with local anesthesia. In addition, the use of antibiotics may be recommended if the presence of bacteria in the cyst is verified.
The drainage of the cyst is quite effective, however some people, even after draining the purulent content, have the pilonidal cyst again, being recommended in these cases to perform surgery. Surgery to remove the pilonidal cyst consists of opening it, scraping the inner wall, removing the hair and cauterizing the wound, which remains open to heal better. Find out what general care is after surgery.
During the healing time, a daily dressing should be performed to speed up the wound healing process. There is rarely a spontaneous cure without proper treatment.
Dressing for pilonidal cyst
The dressing for the pilonidal cyst is performed, after the surgery, daily, with the washing of the wound with saline and passing gauze or cotton to clean it; at the end, a new gauze is placed for protection. With this method, there will be a uniform healing of the crack. When the wound is almost closed, there is no need to apply gauze to protect it. Care must be taken when dressing, so that loose hair does not fall on the wound, causing new infection. Learn more about how to make a dressing.
The treatment for the pilonidal cyst depends on the stage of the disease, and treatment is not necessary for people who have only a small cystic structure that does not infect, however, drainage can be recommended, so it is important to consult the doctor for that the need for treatment can be verified. In addition, oral antibiotics are used in cases of severe infections in the pilonidal cyst.
Pilonidal cyst symptoms
The symptoms of pilonidal cyst only exist when there is inflammation, in these cases, patients initially experience:
- Pain in the crease area between the buttocks, which, in a few days, can get worse; Swelling; Redness; Heat in the cyst region ; Fissures in the skin when the inflammation is very intense, leading to the appearance of small "little holes" in the skin where the pus comes out.
There are cases in which the pilonidal cysts do not become inflamed, and the patients do not experience any symptoms, sometimes seeing only a small opening in the skin in the region above the anus or in any other area of ​​occurrence of the pilonidal cyst.
The best doctor to treat and cure the pilonidal cyst is the surgeon with a specialty of coloproctology, however this cyst can be treated by a dermatologist or a general practitioner.
