INTRODUCTION : A pilonidal sinus or cyst is an abnormal pocket in the skin that usually contains hair and skin debris. A pilonidal cyst is almost always located near the tailbone at the top of the cleft of the buttocks.
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.
Pilonidal cysts most commonly occur in young men, and the problem has a tendency to recur. People who sit for prolonged periods of time, such as truck drivers, are at higher risk of developing a pilonidal cyst
CAUSES : The exact cause of pilonidal cysts isn’t clear. But most pilonidal cysts appear to be caused by loose hairs that penetrate the skin. Friction and pressure — skin rubbing against skin, tight clothing, bicycling, long periods of sitting or similar factors — force the hair down into skin. Responding to the hair as a foreign substance, the body creates a cyst around the hair.
SYMPTOMS : When it’s infected, a pilonidal cyst becomes a swollen mass (abscess). Signs and symptoms of an infected pilonidal cyst include :
· Pain
· Reddening of the skin
· Drainage of pus or blood from an opening in the skin
· Foul smell from draining pus
RISK FACTORS : Certain factors can make you more susceptible to developing pilonidal cysts, such as:
· Male sex
· Younger age (pilonidal cysts are most common in people in their 20s)
· Obesity
· Inactive lifestyle
· Occupation requiring prolonged sitting
· Excess body hair
· Stiff or coarse hair
COMPLICATIONS : If a chronically infected pilonidal cyst isn’t treated properly, you may be at slightly increased risk of developing a type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma
PREVENTION : To help prevent pilonidal cysts, try to:
· Keep the area clean
· Lose weight if needed
· Avoid prolonged sitting
If you’ve had pilonidal cysts in the past, you might want to regularly shave the area or use hair removal products to reduce the risk of recurrence.
MANAGEMENT : Pilonidal sinus usually goes away on its own, without medical intervention. However, if the cyst becomes infected, it may have to be operated or drained. The commonly used treatment procedures are-
• Conservative treatment – If the condition is diagnosed at an early stage, your doctor will prescribe a broad-spectrum antibiotic to treat a broad range of bacterial infection. This will relieve you from the pain and discomfort resulting from infection.
• Lancing – This procedure involves using a scalpel to open the abscess. Your doctor will give you an anaesthetic prior to the operation. The channel is then cleaned properly to drain out blood, pus or hair. The wound is packed with a sterile dressing and left to heal. It usually takes about a month for the wound to heal, after which no further treatment is required.
• Phenol injections – For this procedure, first and foremost, your doctor will give you anaesthetic so that you don’t feel any pain. A chemical compound known as Phenol is injected into the cyst. Phenol acts as an antiseptic and is used to harden and eventually close the lesion. This procedure needs to be repeated multiple times to achieve the desired result.
• Surgery – If the pilonidal sinus tends to recur, or if you develop multiple sinus tracts, the most preferred choice of treatment is surgery. The surgeon will open the lesion, remove the debris and pus, and then suture the wound. You will be given an anaesthetic prior to the surgery, and once the treatment is done, you will need to change the dressing more often.
If you suffer from pilonidal sinus, you will also need to maintain good hygiene. Make sure you clean and wash the area with a mild soap, and rinse properly. If your job requires you to sit for a prolonged period, take a break in between your work. Avoid wearing skin tight clothes. Adopting these measures will help prevent the occurrence of pilonidal sinus.
HOMEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT :
Homeopathic medicines are easily available for the treatment of Pilonidal Sinus. Homeopathy boasts the immunity of the person suffering from Pilonidal sinus or cyst. For this reason, the accumulation of pus stops gradually. As a result, the sinus or cyst cures permanently.
Myristica
This is one of the most effective homeopathic remedies for pilonidal sinus. Myristica is antiseptic in nature and promotes the quick healing of the pilonidal sinus. This remedy also prevents the pilonidal sinus from getting larger and speeds up the drying. Myristica works best by curing the initial stage of pilonidal sinus.
Silicea
Homeopaths recommend Silicea to stop the drainage of pus from the pilonidal sinus. Usually, the discharge from pilonidal sinus is very foul-smelling and causes a lot of discomfort and embarrassment. So, silicea is an effective homeopathic remedy to get rid of the purulent discharge and subsides the swelling.
Merc Sol
This medicine readily treats pilonidal sinus even in its later stages. Merc sol helps in bringing fast relief from sticky excessive discharge. It also alleviates the soreness, itching and other discomforts of pilonidal sinus.
Hepar Sulph
Hepar Sulph significantly reduces the pain and bleeding from the pilonidal cyst. It amazingly helps in getting rid of the stinging pain and soreness of the pilonidal sinus. This medicine is highly recommended when a person again faces the problem of pilonidal sinus even after undergoing surgery.
Lycopodium Clavatum
Lycopodium Clavatum works proactively on the problem of discharge from the cyst. A person suffering from the pilonidal cyst can face fever and chills if the condition gets severe. So, Lycopodium Clavatum also helps in dealing with these problems related to the pilonidal cyst.
Calcarea Sulph
This homeopathic medicine aids in stopping the formation and drainage of yellow discharge. As the pus formation stops, the pilonidal cyst dries and starts healing. So, this is how Calcarea Sulph helps in quickening the drying and healing process of the pilonidal sinus. Calcarea Sulph is among the best homeopathic remedies for pilonidal sinus.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is a very widely used medicine for pilonidal sinus in homeopathy. This homeopathy medicine stops the bleeding and discharge from the pilonidal sinus. Phosphorus also relieves the burning sensation in the skin due to pilonidal sinus. Hence, it is the best homeopathic medicine to get rid of the burning feeling and profuse bleeding. Also, phosphorus promotes the fast healing process of the pilonidal sinus.
