Pilonidal disease

[Dianne]

Pilonidal disease is an infection caused by a hair that injures the skin at the top of the cleft between the buttocks.

This disorder occurs when hairs near the buttocks grow into the skin.
If an infection develops, symptoms include pain, redness, and swelling and sometimes pus.
The diagnosis is based on an examination.
Treatment includes measure to remove abscesses and sinuses and repair cysts.

(See also Overview of the Anus and Rectum.)
Pilonidal disease usually occurs in young, hairy men but can also occur in women.
For unknown reasons, sometimes a hair irritates and grows into the skin, forming a cavity that may thus contain hair. Such a cavity is called a pilonidal cyst and typically forms at the top of the cleft between the buttocks. The cyst may cause no symptoms, or it may become infected and cause pain. If the infection causes a collection of pus to form, it is called a pilonidal abscess. A pilonidal sinus is a chronic draining wound at the site.
A pilonidal abscess causes pain, redness, and swelling. Sometimes pus drains spontaneously from the abscess.