It’s not clear what causes a pilonidal sinus. A skin problem, pressure or friction may cause hair between the buttocks to be pushed inwards. This may either be hair growing around the buttock area, or loose hair shed from the buttocks or elsewhere that gathers around the buttock cleft and enters the pilonidal sinus.
How does pilonidal sinus get infected?
Pilonidal cysts usually occur when hair punctures the skin and then becomes embedded. If a pilonidal cyst becomes infected, the resulting abscess is often extremely painful. The cyst can be drained through a small incision or removed surgically.
How do you prevent a pilonidal sinus infection?
How can pilonidal cysts be prevented?
- Regularly washing and drying your buttocks (to keep the area clean).
- Losing weight (if you are currently overweight) to lower your risk.
- Avoiding sitting for too long (if your job allows) to keep pressure off the area.
- Shaving the hair around your buttocks (once a week or more).
Can a pilonidal sinus infection spread?
In other cases, the areas may become infected and filled with pus, creating a so-called pilonidal abscess. When the condition is particularly severe, the infection can spread, creating multiple abscesses and sinus tracts (abnormal paths of tissue destruction).
Can pilonidal sinus heal itself?
A pilonidal sinus is a space under the skin that forms where the abscess used to be. The problem with the sinus is that it can lead to repeated infections. The sinus connects to the skin with one or more small openings. In some cases the sinus may heal and close by itself, but usually the sinus has to be cut out.
Is pilonidal sinus harmful?
While the cyst is not serious, it can become an infection and should therefore be treated. When a pilonidal cyst gets infected, it forms an abscess, eventually draining pus through a sinus. The abscess causes pain, a foul smell, and drainage. This condition is not serious.
Is pilonidal sinus cancerous?
Pilonidal cysts, better known as pilonidal sinuses, are not inherently cancerous. Rather, this is a benign skin condition that is caused by irritation in skin tissue.
Can you live with a pilonidal sinus?
Many can live a lifetime with a pilonidal sinus without PSD, even if they are hirsute. It is coarse, thick hair that will create PSD when it glides over the surface of the lower back and upper buttocks and pierces through the cutaneous barrier at the base of a pilonidal sinus funnel.
