Are you wondering what a pilonidal cyst is and how it is treated? If yes, then you have come to the right place as this article aims at addressing all the common questions surrounding the topic of pilonidal cyst. 

Pilonidal cysts are nothing but basically sac filled with -

• hair 

• skin debris. 

Generally, this accumulation of dirt forms on the lower back, more precisely the tailbone area. This sac of debris is however nothing to be scared of as it is -

• 

  pretty common in adults 

• 

  easily recoverable, considering proper measures towards healing are taken. 

Furthermore, here we will also discuss aspects like -

• pilonidal cyst excision steps

• surgery recovery time

• aftercare essentials

• pilonidal cyst removal surgery, etc.

What You Need To Know About Pilonidal Cysts

'Nest of hair' is what the term pilonidal refers to. Pilonidal cysts were once thought to be a congenital condition that developed in utero. However recent developments say otherwise. They are presently believed to be acquired by hair from nearby soft tissue and skin that grows internally, resulting in thicker tissue and a foreign body response. The initial experience of getting a pilonidal cyst condition can be scary and painful. The scary part can be a result of unfamiliarity as one might be confused about what exactly it is. However it is not an uncommon experience and about 3 per 10,000 people get it per year i.e roughly 0.7%. One thing that studies tell us is that pilonidal cysts are more common in adult males in comparison to females, males are impacted 2.2-4 times more frequently with young adults most likely to experience it. In a study of students in college, the prevalence rate was determined to be 1.1% (365 out of 31,497 individuals) for men and 0.11% (24 out of 21,367 individuals) for women.

Procedures That You Can Use To Treat A Pilonidal Cyst

1. Incision and drainage

This is considered as the most common and safe procedure when it comes to treating a 

pilonidal cyst. In cases where an individual is experiencing a pilonidal cyst for the first time and it is not exactly a chronic condition to them, doctors prefer to conduct this method of treatment. 

Furthermore, if the cyst is a minor one and the infection is not beyond control, then it is recommended that the incision and drainage method is employed. This is essentially because the recovery rate of this procedure is about sixty percent and if backed up by a good aftercare situation, it can do wonders. 

Your doctor might suggest you practice hair removal procedures, such as -

• Shaving

• Waxing

• laser hair removal. 

This will help in -

• preventing the relapse of your pilonidal cyst 

• keeping it healthy and safe.

2. Pilonidal cyst removal surgery

Although incision and drainage usually fix the problem, things can go wrong occasionally. It may happen that you’ve already had an incision and drainage procedure but your cyst keeps coming back due to certain infection issues. Or it may happen that your body is unable to fight the infection which is causing relapse. Also if the infection is severe to begin with then the doctors don't suggest the incision and drainage procedure, rather they directly skip to surgically removing the cyst. In case an individual is suffering from a condition where they are experiencing the development of multiple pilonidal cysts, then also surgical pilonidal cyst removal is suggested. 

Information on pilonidal cyst removal surgery

Pilonidal cysts can be treated surgically with a variety of techniques, including:

• Cut and drainage: To let the pus and liquids out of the cyst, a small cut is made in it. This short remedy should be used again if the cyst resurfaces.

• Excision: Total excision of the cyst together with any adjacent tissue. This is a more durable treatment, however more intrusive surgery might be required.

• Flap procedures: The surgical site is covered by tissue from another region of the body to -

  • expedite healing 

  • avoid recurrence. 

How Long Does It Take For Your Pilonidal Cyst To Recover?

This depends on the type of surgery that was performed. Several days following the incision and drainage, you can get back to your regular activities. After excision or flap surgeries, avoid hard lifting and intense exercise for a few weeks. It would be beneficial for you.

A few rare side effects from pilonidal cyst surgery include -

• Bleeding

• Infection

• cyst recurrence.

Keep the surgical site clean and dry after your pilonidal cyst removal surgery. To expedite healing, your physician might suggest -

• using a warm compress 

• taking a warm bath for the affected area.

Other important things to note!

• change your bandages

• take your medication as directed. 

• To ensure a proper recovery, a follow-up appointment with your physician is needed.

• Change your lifestyle to reduce the risk of a cyst recurrence. This can involve-

  • maintaining appropriate hygiene 

  • limiting prolonged sitting.

Final thought

For people with recurrent or infected cysts, there are two options: 

1. pilonidal cyst removal surgery or incision 

2. drainage. 

Recovery timeframes vary depending on the -

• type of surgery performed 

• severity of the cyst

Complications are rare but can occur. Besides, cautious follow-up and aftercare are essential for a full recovery and to prevent recurrence.