Pilonidal cysts are skin sacs located in the upper part of the gap between the buttocks; typically, they are diagnosed when they become infected and painful. If you have one of these cysts, read on to learn how to treat it.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Medical Care
Step 1. Go to the doctor
If the cyst becomes infected after trying several home remedies and without any success, it is advisable to go to the doctor. Call him if you are concerned that there is an infection, if the skin is hot, sore, red, swollen, or if the symptoms have worsened; you shouldn't try to drain it yourself.
- If you think it may be infected, you need to keep the area clean and protected until you can go to your appointment;
- Be very careful not to crush or damage it.
Step 2. Undergo a drain
This kind of infection must be treated surgically; the doctor makes a small incision in the cyst to release the contents, after having anesthetized the area. Typically, the material is made up of blood, pus, dead skin cells, and other debris.
- After the procedure, the pouch must remain open for it to heal; this involves longer recovery times, but less risk of relapse;
- Alternatively, the wound is sutured to allow it to heal;
- After incision and drainage, the cyst reforms in 20-50% of cases; the definitive surgical treatment is excision.
Step 3. Keep the area clean
After surgery, you must ensure the hygiene of the wound by changing the dressing regularly; the incision should be washed daily while taking a shower or in a sitz bath.
During the healing phase, cut any hair in the area and consider continuing to shave it in the future to prevent the cyst from re-forming
Method 2 of 3: Home Treatments
Step 1. Begin treatment as soon as the cyst forms
This is a condition that you can manage at home, but you should intervene as soon as you feel a little pain or swelling in the area, which are symptoms of the development of the sacrococcygeal cyst. If you notice any signs of infection, don't waste time and see your doctor.
- Wash your hands thoroughly before and after applying any home remedy;
- The signs of infection are redness, swelling, pain, warmth in the area, and smelly white pus that looks like cheese.
Step 2. Make a warm compress
It is an effective remedy because it reduces pain and swelling, and moist heat softens the cyst.
- Take a clean cloth and dip it in hot water; place it on the bag for at least ten minutes, four times a day at least;
- If you wish, you can wet the fabric with diluted chamomile tea (one part of water and one part of herbal tea prepared by leaving the sachet to infuse for 10 minutes) or with apple cider vinegar diluted with an equal amount of boiled and cooled water. If you prefer, you can add a few drops of essential oil to the mixture.
- You can make a warm compress with a wet chamomile tea bag. Place it directly on the cyst; this plant promotes healing.
Step 3. Use essential oils
Those of tea tree and turmeric are suitable for the treatment of the pilonidal cyst, thanks to their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that reduce swelling, minimizing the risk of infection. Many oils are also used to treat cystic acne and other types of infected skin disorders, as well as to control inflammation.
- Those used for the pilonidal cyst are tea tree, turmeric, garlic and frankincense; castor oil is a common anti-inflammatory agent that softens the growth and is also useful for speeding up the healing process.
- You can apply the essential ones directly to the cyst, although it is best to dilute them in castor oil in a 3: 7 ratio. Use a cotton ball or cotton swab to spread it over the area.
- Follow this remedy four times a day. You should cover the area with a band-aid; if you don't notice any improvement within a week or two, ask your doctor for advice.
Step 4. Apply a drying agent
You can pat the skin with witch hazel or apple cider vinegar to get rid of the cyst by drying it. Witch hazel has astringent properties due to the tannins it contains and, like apple cider vinegar, fights infections.
- If you feel a stinging sensation or your skin is too sensitive to vinegar, dilute it with an equal dose of water;
- Apply it using a cotton ball or cotton swab.
Step 5. Use greater burdock root
The dried one is able to extract the proteins present in the cyst and is a widely used herbal remedy for dermatological diseases.
Mix half a teaspoon of dried root with a tablespoon of honey and apply the paste to the area. Honey has antimicrobial properties and helps eliminate the material contained in the pouch
Step 6. Give the sanguinaria a try
It is a plant that is traditionally used by Native Americans to treat skin disorders; mix a pinch of it with two tablespoons of castor oil and apply it to the cyst with a cotton swab.
- Use only small doses of sanguinaria and only on intact skin that has no cuts or abrasions;
- You should never take it for internal use and you should never apply it around the eyes, mouth or genitals.
Method 3 of 3: Understanding the Pilonidal Cyst
Step 1. Learn what this growth is
It is a lump that forms in the upper part of the crack between the buttocks; when it becomes infected, it turns into an abscess, a pus-filled sac that needs to be drained.
Typically, it is caused by ingrown hairs or other fragments that get trapped under the skin
Step 2. Assess if you are at risk
Usually, it is a more common disorder among men between the ages of twenty and thirty; it occurs more frequently among people who perform sedentary activities, such as truck drivers and office workers.
- Also, individuals with a lot of frizzy-looking hair often tend to develop frizzy hair, as this type of hair is more prone to ingrowing.
- The other risk factors are obesity and overweight, recent trauma, localized irritation in the area, a crack between the buttocks that is particularly deep by nature or familiar to cysts.
Step 3. Recognize the signs and symptoms of the pilonidal cyst
If it is not infected, it does not usually cause ailments; however, if an ingrown hair pits, such as sitting too much, wearing tight clothing, or other unknown factors, an infection can develop. If so, you may complain:
- Swelling;
- Ache;
- Redness;
- Foul-smelling discharge;
- Fever;
- Formation of a cavity that contains granulation tissue, hair and debris.
