What is the Cause of a Pilonidal Cyst?

Pre-Treatment

Pre-Treatment

Post-Treatment – 1 year

If you have a painful, sore bump on or near the tailbone, you may have a pilonidal cyst. They are common, annoying, and easy to pass to others if you are not careful. People are always asking why these things happen. Well, it’s a combination of things: hair, skin rubbing and germs. Understanding why it occurs is one thing, but taking the time to have a pro look at it’s really the only way to keep this coming back. Think you might have one? A pro can perform pilondial cyst medical treatment and work wonders to help you feel good again.

Pilonidal Cyst? What’s That?

It’s this little pocket that kind of bulges out under your skin at the top of your butt crack. Pilonidal actually comes from the Latin words pilus (for “hair”) and nidus (“nest”), which is fitting — these puppies usually are filled with hair and little pieces of skin. They start off small enough, but when they get infected, they can blow up to become sore lumps that may ooze with pus or blood. Just because you refuse to use his name, don’t think it will go away — it won’t. See a doctor who understands pilonidal cysts. Advice early on can prevent you from getting recurrent infections or having to have pilonidal cyst surgery down the line.

How Do These Things Start At All?

The big problem is when hair becomes trapped in your skin. Loose strands from anywhere can poke your skin out, even sitting on the couch after a shower or whatever else you do. But once one hair sneaks in there, your body recognizes it as a foreign invader and creates a little space — technically called a cyst — around that hair. This becomes filled with a bunch more hair, skin gunk and yucky germs, which cause it to swell up and get infected. Still getting cysts or sore flare-ups? Quit hoping they will be gone of their own accord. Find a doctor who can help you fix the cause of why you get them, not just the pilonidal cyst symptoms​.

Pre-Treatment

Post-Treatment – Week 1

Post-Treatment – 15 weeks

Why Do I have a Pilonidal Cyst?

There are some people who just have them more than others. Sitting for long periods, tight pants or really anything that rubs against the bottom of your spine increases your chances of getting one. Being kind of heavy, having thick or curly hair and sitting all day for work — say, driving a truck or sitting at a desk — can make you more likely to get one, too. If you have risk factors, or if you just have a concern, see a cyst doctor before your symptoms change for the worse. 

Here are some ways that germs interfere with normal bodily functions.

A small cyst can get infected very quickly once germs get in. This makes it a painful abscess that could drain stuff out. Every infection just makes things more inflamed and can potentially create new tunnels under your skin. These tunnels make it more difficult to repair later. So rather than waiting, get it checked out! A doctor can remove the cyst and the infected crap, which helps you quit getting them again and again. Had an infection before? Do not wait for another one — get to a specialist and get pilonidal cyst treatments.

Does Being Clean Help?

To reduce your risk of cysts, a clean act isn’t the only part of the puzzle. Keep the area clean, dry and avoid wearing tight clothes like shrink pants or hot pant — this might help. Even if you are extremely hygienic, you can get cysts from hair becoming trapped in the skin over and over. This is something that makes people feel embarrassed and they think of themselves, “Oh, this is my fault.”. But in reality, pilonidal cysts are a medical issue that requires help from a doctor, not just an indication you’re not clean enough. Don’t feel guilty about that, even if you finally found your way there only to catch a cold or cough. You need to consult an expert who is going to help you find a way out of your problem.

Can My Life Cause Cysts?

Yes, your lifestyle can play a role. Jobs or fun things that involve sitting for hours can also worsen rubbing and pressure on your spine. That will make hair get in easily and it will lead to cysts. Being overweight can also increase pressure there, and could increase the risk. You may not be able to quit your job or transform your life, but you *can* address the cyst. Do not let your life be intercepted by pain or shame.

Can I Ignore a Pilonidal Cyst?

If you leave a cyst alone, it typically doesn’t improve on its own. The cyst may enlarge, break and drain out and then flares up again. There’s more to it than just scarring of the infected skin, too — recurrent infection worsens things further by tunneling even deeper under the skin. Ignore it and you leave yourself open to surprise abscesses, which can hurt really bad and demand immediate attention. Instead of waiting for bad thing after bad thing, take a step as soon as possible. The sooner you are able to see a doctor, the better the chance that it will be straightforward and that recovery will be faster. If you’ve been waiting for your cyst to disappear on its own, here’s your sign that it’s time to finally pay a visit to a pilonidal cyst expert.

How Much Is Seeing an Expert Worth?

With pilonidal cysts, the best way to fix them is to go see somebody who knows what they’re doing and open you up and figure out what’s up and take it out. Depending on what they find, they could drain it, go in and cut it out or do more radical surgery so that large, inflamed mass doesn’t come back. Somebody who is specialistic can tell you advice on what you can do to prevent it from happening again, like shaving hair, being clean and taking some different habits. It’s not just watching an expert treat the pain; it also comforts by making you feel you’ve taken control of your health. Don’t wait and go sit in urgent care once it gets so bad, schedule an appointment now!

Conclusion

Pilonidal cysts are the result of hair clogging, friction and germs. They may not feel like much to begin with, but they’re unlikely to clear up by themselves — and the condition can worsen. The thing to do is have a professional who understands pilonidal cysts see you and fix it. In deciding that you will go somewhere to seek out a professional, you’re not just putting up with immediate pain; you’re taking charge and preventing flares so that you can enjoy your life once more. Don’t wait for another infection. Schedule an appointment with a pilonidal cyst expert and take control of your health.