How to Prevent Pilonidal Cysts

If you’ve ever had a pilonidal cyst, you’d stop at nothing to keep them from happening again. A pilonidal cyst is a round, air- or fluid-filled sac found at the top of the crease of your buttocks (gluteal cleft) that contains hair and other debris. Often, this skin condition is painful and can lead to recurrent infections. 

Fortunately, with a little guidance, you can manage this problem well. 

Here, Dr. Michael Sutker walks through some practical ways to avoid pilonidal cysts and shares how we can help you get rid of them if and when they pop up. 

Keep the area clean

Because pilonidal cysts tend to stem from skin infections, it’s important to keep your buttocks and the area around them clean and dry. 

Know the risk factors

One of the best ways to avoid getting a pilonidal cyst is simply to identify the risk factors. Those who are most likely to get pilonidal cysts include:

• Males
• Those between puberty and age 40
• Office workers and truck drivers who sit for prolonged periods
• Overweight individuals
• People with thick, rough body hair
• Those who wear tight clothing

Pregnant women may also be at an increased risk, especially because some of the symptoms mirror normal pregnancy discomfort. 

There are some cases where pilonidal cysts run in families and can be hereditary. This is especially true if thick, rough body hair is common in your family. 

Manage your weight

Being overweight is a common denominator in individuals who have pilonidal cysts. If you shed some of those extra pounds, you could prevent a cyst from forming all together. 

Keep moving

Depending on your job, this can be difficult. But we strongly encourage you to move and relieve pressure on your buttocks to discourage the formation of cysts.

Try hair removal 

Though the exact cause of pilonidal cysts isn’t exactly known, it’s widely accepted that ingrown hairs in the crease of your buttocks trigger a skin infection that may cause a cyst. Therefore, regularly removing the hair around your buttocks, either by shaving or other hair removal methods, can reduce your risk for ingrown hairs. 

Treatment for pilonidal cysts

If the worst happens and you get a pilonidal cyst, it’s important that you get medical treatment. Without treatment, it can lead to an abscess, recurring cysts, and systemic infections.  

Seek immediate medical attention if you notice:

• Pain that gets worse with sitting
• A dimple or large swollen area between your buttocks
• Abscess draining pus, blood, and/or foul-smelling fluid
• Nausea, fever, and fatigue

If we determine that you have a pilonidal cyst, we recommend minimally invasive surgical techniques to excise the cyst and remove the growth. We may perform your excision in a surgery center or hospital setting. 

After your surgery, you can depend on Dr. Sutker’s years of experience in wound care to help you recover from the procedure. 

If you’d like more information, or if you suspect you have a pilonidal cyst, don’t hesitate to request an appointment online or over the phone at either our Dallas or McKinney, Texas, office today.