A pilonidal cyst is a round sac filled with fluid or air. It is located at the crease of the buttocks or hips.
It is a common condition and is usually caused by a skin infection.
It is a very painful condition and requires treatment. If not treated on time, the cyst may progress to form abscesses or sinus cavities (the sinus is an empty surface underneath the skin).
It can occur at the crease of the buttocks, anywhere from the tailbone to the anus.
The sitting position causes extreme pain to the patient. The cyst often contains ingrown hairs inside.
It is more common in people who sit for an extended period.
A pilonidal cyst is not a contagious condition i.e., it does not spread from one person to the other.
Pilonidal Cyst Types
Depending upon the duration of the infection, the pilonidal cyst can be of two types, namely acute and chronic.
Acute pilonidal cyst:
It is a one-time occurring pilonidal cyst in a patient. It occurs and goes away with proper treatment.
Chronic pilonidal cyst:
A chronic pilonidal cyst is a recurring condition. The cyst keeps coming back even after resolving.
Pilonidal Cyst Causes
Ingrown hairs found in the crease of the buttocks which result in a skin infection may proceed to the formation of a pilonidal cyst.
All causes of the pilonidal cyst are not known.
If not treated on time, the pilonidal cyst can result in a sinus formation or an abscess.
The infection only gets worse if not treated properly on time.
Pilonidal Cyst Symptoms
Pilonidal causes several symptoms, let’s take a look at the symptoms one by one.
Pain:
Pilonidal cyst cause pain that gets worse on sitting.
Swelling:
Large swelling or a small dimple between the buttocks with redness and pain in the surrounding area.
Pus Formation:
The patient may notice pus or blood draining from the affected area. The pus can be foul-smelling.
Fever:
The patient may experience fever along with weakness, fatigue, nausea and vomiting.
Risk Factors for Pilonidal Cyst
Certain risk factors make a person more prone to get affected by a pilonidal cyst.
Male gender:
Men are four times more likely to get affected by a pilonidal cyst than women.
Age factor:
People of age between 20 to 40 are at a higher risk.
Sitting for long hours:
People who sit all day like truck drivers and office workers are more prone to get this infection.
Thick body hairs:
People who have thick or rough body hair ( genetically ) can get the infection.
Tight clothing:
People who wear tight clothes make their skin condition worse.
Hereditary:
In some cases, a pilonidal cyst can be hereditary i.e., transferred from one generation to the next via genes.
Pilonidal Cyst Diagnosis
The doctor will perform a full physical examination. He will inspect the area between the buttocks.
He will ask about the full medical history with symptoms. The pilonidal cyst is visible to the naked eye.
The doctor will ask about the changes in the skin and drainage of pus or blood from the affected area.
CT scan or MRI:
The doctor may advise a CT scan or MRI to check if there is a sinus formation.
Pilonidal Cyst Management
Certain management tips can be followed to make the recovery period faster.
Let’s take a look at them one by one.
Cleaning:
Regular washing and drying of the buttocks properly can prevent the recurring of the pilonidal cyst.
Weight management:
Overweight people are at a higher risk of developing a pilonidal cyst. Weight management helps in faster recovery of the cyst.
Avoid long sitting:
Avoid sitting for long hours in one position. Change position from time to time.
Shave the area:
Shave the area around the buttocks with the use of a hair removal cream to avoid getting ingrown hairs.
Best Homeopathic Medicines for Pilonidal Cyst
Homeopathy offers a very quick and safe treatment option for pilonidal cysts.
Homeopathic medicines are prepared from natural sources and are very safe to use.
There is a wide range of wonderful homeopathic remedies that can cure this condition and prevent the further recurrence of the same.
It can be used in patients of any age and sex as it has no adverse effects.
Let’s take a look at the indicated medicines one by one in detail.
1. SILICEA: For pilonidal cyst with a collection of offensive pus
Symptoms:
Silicea is a top-grade medicine for the treatment of a pilonidal cyst in homeopathy.
Silicea is also known as a “surgeon’s knife” due to its ability to treat surgical cases.
It has wonderful healing properties to cure the tough cases of boils, abscesses, and fistulas where pus build-up takes place.
The skin of the patient is delicate, pale and waxy. There is a painful swelling at the crease of the buttocks.
The patient experiences a collection of offensive pus in the affected area.
Silicea promotes easy recovery of the cyst. It promotes the expulsion of foreign tissues and pus collection from the cyst.
The pilonidal cyst is extremely sensitive. Silicea can treat long-lasting suppuration and fistulous formations.
The patient also experiences some symptoms of fever along with nausea and vomiting.
The affected area itch only in the daytime and evening. Silicea can prevent the recurrence of the pilonidal.
When these symptoms are present, Silicea is the suitable choice for treatment.
Potency and dosage:
Silicea 1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Silicea 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Silicea in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
2. HEPAR SULPH: For very sensitive pilonidal cyst
Symptoms:
Hepar Sulph has a magnificent healing power in obstinate cases of pus collection.
The cyst becomes very sensitive. The cyst is prone to suppuration and extension.
There is a pus collection with pricky pain at the crease of the buttocks.
The patient develops a pilonidal cyst due to a skin infection. The patient has unhealthy skin, every little injury suppurates.
The cyst is having bloody pus with an old cheese-like smell.
The cyst is very sensitive to contact, burning, stinging and bleeding easily.
The Hepar Sulph patient cannot bear to be uncovered and wants to be wrapped up warmly.
There is sticking and pricking pain in the crease of the buttocks.
There is great sensitiveness with the slightest touch.
Hepar Sulph is good medicine for chronic and recurrent pilonidal cyst.
The patient complains of constant offensive exhalation from the body.
Potency and dosage:
Hepar Sulph 1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Hepar Sulph 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Hepar Sulph in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
3. MYRISTICA SEBIFERA: For obstinate cases of pilonidal cyst
Symptoms:
Myristica Sebifera is a medicine of excellent capability and great antiseptic powers.
It is a very useful remedy for the treatment of obstinate cases of pilonidal cysts where the cyst refuses to dissolve.
The crease of the buttocks becomes red with a dimple or swelling with redness.
The affected area becomes extremely painful and inflamed.
Myristica Sebifera hastens the suppuration and shortens the duration of the disease.
The patient experiences extreme pain on sitting down with swelling, redness and pain in the affected area.
Myristica Sebifera acts more powerfully than Hepar Sulph or Silicea.
Potency and dosage:
Myristica Sebifera 1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Myristica Sebifera 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Myristica Sebifera in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
4. CALCAREA SULPH: For pilonidal cysts that refuse to heal
Symptoms:
Calcarea Sulph possesses a great ability to resolve pus collection and prevent its recurrence.
The patient complains of pain and swelling in the affected area. The pain increases on sitting down.
There is a collection of pus in the cyst. The cyst may contain ingrown hairs.
The patient may experience symptoms of fever with nausea and vomiting.
The pilonidal cysts that do not heal properly can be treated by this medicine.
There is a formation of yellow and purulent crust in the affected area.
The skin gets covered with yellowish scabs. The patient complains of worsening symptoms in the sitting position.
Potency and dosage:
Calcarea Sulph 1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Calcarea Sulph 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Calcarea Sulph in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
5. PHOSPHORUS: For pilonidal cyst worse on touch
Symptoms:
Phosphorus is a very helpful medicine for the treatment of pilonidal cysts that bleeds very much.
Pilonidal cysts that heal and break out again can be treated by this medicine.
Even small cyst bleeds often. There is the presence of swelling, pain and redness on the crease of the buttocks.
All the symptoms increase in the sitting position and with touch or pressure.
The patient feels better by lying on the right side. The patient may experience the symptoms of fever along with nausea and vomiting.
Potency and dosage:
Phosphorus 1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Phosphorus 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Phosphorus in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
6. MERC SOL: For pilonidal cyst with constantly moist skin
Symptoms:
Merc Sol is a very helpful medicine for the treatment of skin affections especially when the skin constantly remains moist.
Persistent dryness of skin contraindicates the use of Merc Sol.
Merc Sol is useful for patients of pilonidal cysts who have a general tendency of free perspiration but are not relieved thereby.
There is swelling or a dimple in the crease of the buttocks with pain and tenderness.
Sometimes, there is pus formation and the cyst may contain ingrown hairs.
Merc Sol can resolve the cyst and prevents further complications that may arise.
The affected area itches that become worse with the warmth of the bed.
There is a considerable amount of suppuration that makes the patient anxious.
Potency and dosage:
Merc Sol 1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Merc Sol 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Merc Sol in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
7. LYCOPODIUM: For chronic or recurrent pilonidal cyst
Symptoms:
Lycopodium is a medicine of magnificent healing powers capable of treating a large number of symptoms.
The skin of the patient ulcerates with a tendency of abscess beneath the skin.
The symptoms get worse due to warmth. There is violent itching.
Pilonidal cysts with urinary, gastric or hepatic disorders can be easily treated by this medicine.
There is painful swelling or a small dimple at the crease of the buttocks.
The symptoms get aggravated by sitting down. There are offensive secretions from the pilonidal cyst.
When these symptoms are present, lycopodium should be thought of.
Potency and dosage:
Lycopodium 1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Lycopodium 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Lycopodium in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
8. CALCAREA FLUOR: For pilonidal cyst with hard skin
Symptoms:
Calcarea Fluor can treat the cases of pilonidal cysts where there is hardness of the skin.
There is a marked whiteness of the skin. The skin is chapped with cracks and fissures.
The affected area is swollen with redness and pain. The surrounding skin becomes hard.
Calcarea Fluor hastens the recovery and prevents further complications of the pilonidal cyst.
There is pus formation in the cyst, and it may contain ingrown hairs.
Potency and dosage:
Calcarea Fluor 1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Calcarea Fluor 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Calcarea Fluor in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
9. LEDUM PAL: For pilonidal cyst with sticking pain
Symptoms:
Ledum Pal is a very useful medicine for the treatment of pilonidal cysts with sticking pains.
There is much itching in the affected area that becomes worse due to the warmth of the bed.
The patient complains of swelling in the area in between the hips with marked tenderness and sticking pains.
There is pus formation in the cyst and ingrown hairs are also present.
Ledum Pal can easily resolve the sticking pains and the suppuration.
There is tenderness in the affected area and the surrounding skin.
The patient complains that sitting makes the symptoms worse.
Potency and dosage:
Ledum Pal 1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Ledum Pal 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Ledum Pal in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
10. THUJA: For pilonidal cyst with tearing pains
Symptoms:
Thuja is an excellent homeopathic remedy known for its exceptional healing powers to treat skin affections, especially in the anogenital region.
There is sweetish and strong perspiration. The patient is having dry skin with brown spots.
There is tearing pain in the affected area that becomes worse on scratching.
The affected area is very sensitive to touch. There is much swelling and redness in the area between the hips near the tailbone.
Thuja can fasten the recovery and complete the cure and it also arrests the further progression of the disease.
Potency and dosage:
Thuja 1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Thuja 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Thuja in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
Remember that homeopathic remedies are prescribed based on individual symptoms and characteristics. It’s crucial to consult with a qualified homeopath for proper evaluation and personalized treatment. Homeopathy focuses on treating the whole person, so a detailed case study is necessary to select the most appropriate remedy.
Homeopathic medicines should be taken only when prescribed by a homeopathic physician. Self-medication may aggravate the original conditions.