Why are pilonidal cysts so painful

A pilonidal cyst can appear as a small pimple or an oozing cyst. Your doctor can also order an MRI or CT scan to check for a pilonidal sinus underneath the surface of your skin. A pilonidal cyst can be extremely painful, especially if it becomes infected. Keep in mind, though, pilonidal cysts can become chronic when those that do not drain on their own are left untreated.

A pilonidal cyst might remain until your doctor opens and drains the cyst, or surgically removes the cyst. But even after treatment, it can take one to two months for the wound to heal. Sometimes, it takes longer — up to six months. Treatment for a pilonidal cyst depends on the severity of symptoms and the infection.

Treatment to drain a cyst is typically completed in the doctor's office or a same-day surgery center. Your doctor will numb the area with an injection and then make a small incision, draining the cyst. Sometimes, surgery is needed to remove the cyst entirely. This procedure is called a pilonidal cystectomy. After surgery, your doctor may leave the wound open, packing it with dressing so it can support drainage, or may need a temporary draining tube.

This approach has a longer healing time, but a lower chance of the infection returning than closing the wound with stitches. Your doctor will show you how to change the dressing before you go home, and will explain what follow-up is needed if a tube is placed. The doctor will also likely monitor you for healing and any signs of infection with follow-up visits. Other measures that can prevent an infection from returning include: While not life-threatening, a painful cyst can make it difficult to sit, stand, or walk for long periods, which can interfere with working or driving.

Some people also develop a chronic condition, where cysts recur even after surgical treatment. According to research published in in the Journal of Surgical Research , the recurrence of pilonidal disease after treatment is as high as 30 percent.

Additionally, these cysts increase the skin of a systemic infection and squamous cell carcinoma. Pilonidal cysts are common, with more than 70, cases reported in the United States each year. It typically occurs between ages 20 and Certain conditions may increase the likelihood of developing a pilonidal cyst. These include: 2, Although pilonidal cysts are more common among young men, it can affect children, too. KidsHealth provides information to help you identify this skin condition in your child.

Cleveland Clinic. Whether you need information on prevention, treatment, or diagnosis, the Cleveland Clinic gives a comprehensive overview of pilonidal cysts.

The ASCRS provides a thorough overview of pilonidal cysts and other useful resources related to this condition. This includes images and a video explaining causes and symptoms.

Pilonidal Support Alliance. If you have pilonidal disease, this website is an excellent place to learn more about your condition and receive support from a community. You can share your personal story, read the experiences of others, or drop by the patient forum to ask a question or get tips. Think you might have a pilonidal cyst? If you have questions, concerns, or need a diagnosis, you can speak with an online dermatologist anytime, anywhere. Simply upload a photo of your skin. By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Health Topics. Only a doctor can tell you for sure since Pilonidals take different courses in different people. Some people may just experience a bit of a pain when sitting, others may only have some drainage and no pain, still others will be making a trip to the ER or surgeon because they are in excruciating pain.

The usual signs of an acute infection are swelling and pain in the tailbone region. Most people end up at this site by Googling "tailbone pain". The most singular common symptom is discomfort in the area around the tailbone. Even the doctors don't agree on this issue but we can give you the primary prevailing opinion: Without getting too technical, the primary theory on Pilonidal Disease involves "follicular occlusion" which is the blocking and inflammation of pores in the midline of the buttocks.

This tends to occur in the tailbone area because of the friction and pressure on the area that stretches the pores when the person is sitting. We caution people to make sure your doctor has the latest info on Pilonidal Disease. There are an appalling number of "old school" doctors out there who still think that Pilonidal is completely congenital and there is no way to get rid of it. You can usually spot these doctors by their use of the phrase "the cure is worse than the disease.

There are plenty of instances where multiple family members have Pilonidal Disease. It is generally suggested that being overweight does encourage Pilonidal Disease but is not a sole cause.

Pilonidal Disease occurs most frequently in those with deep natal cleft aka: your crack , as most of us gain weight, out butts get bigger and the cleft gets deeper. Plumper buttocks also create a greater seal that keeps out oxygen and provides a happy living accommodation for anaerobic bacteria to thrive.

Very rarely. As of , fewer than 50 cases have been reported and those were mostly in people who had refused treatment for many, many years. When you undergo surgery, your doctor will probably send the tissue to the lab for testing just to be sure. You may run across references to Pilonidals in other body regions, but technically a Pilonidal occurs in the natal cleft area only. There are similar type cysts that have been reported in the Umbilicus Navel , on the breast, in the pubic region and in the armpit There is a similar disease called Barbers Pilonidal Sinus that is caused by hair digging into the soft tissues between the fingers.

Treatment for a pilonidal abscess depends on how severe the infection is. Home care with sitz baths and warm compresses can treat mild infections. If home care doesn't work or the infection is more serious, doctors might make a small cut to drain the abscess.

They might prescribe antibiotics if the infection spreads to skin around the cyst. After the infection heals, the doctor may suggest surgery to remove the cyst. Even after surgery, pilonidal cysts sometimes come back. Keeping the area clean and free of hair can help prevent an infection and new cysts. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is a Pilonidal Cyst?

A cyst that isn't infected might not cause any symptoms. Someone with an infected cyst can have: pain, redness, and swelling in the area of the cyst pus or blood draining from a small opening called a sinus tract in the skin over or near the cyst a fever What Causes a Pilonidal Cyst? Who Gets Pilonidal Cysts?