Pilonidal cysts are quite common with men, although it may occur to anyone, including children. This is an abnormal pocket or sac in the skin, which commonly occurs near the tailbone at the top of the buttock crease. In most cases, the sacs are filled with hair. This abnormality is said to be more common to the truck drivers and dog groomers, with whom the cyst might occur in some other locations other than the tailbone.

Causes

The exact causes of pilonidal cyst is not determined. However, some risk factors have the role of making you more susceptible to this problem, such as:

• Sitting in prolonged periods.
• Wearing too tight clothing.
• Ingrown hair problems.
• Inactive lifestyle.
• Poor hygiene.

Some pilonidal cyst sufferers choose homeopathic treatments—letting the body’s natural treatments cure the cyst, in dealing with pilonidal cysts. However, there are many medical practitioners who hold surgeries for those suffering from the abnormal skin problem, both in children and adults. The surgery itself is done by creating incision to get the cyst and hair out. This incision is then enclosed using either bandages or stitches. Although the surgery is not classified as a major surgery, some of the patients experience post-surgery open wound which won’t heal.

Why pilonidal cyst incision won’t heal

There might be some reasons which make incision resulted from pilonidal cyst surgery won’t heal properly. These include:

• The location of the incision

In most cases, pilonidal cysts occur on the tailbone, at the top of the buttock crease. This is a location which can be quite complicated and tricky. When we are sitting, the incision might need to support our entire body weight, causing unnecessary pressure which may trigger it to re-open. Hence, take a break several times if you have to sit for a long period of time.

• Too-tight clothing

When in healing process from post-surgery pilonidal cyst incision, it is important to wear loose-fitting, breathable clothing pieces, which will not trap the sweat inside the open wound. Trapped sweat will irritate the incision, causing it to heal very slowly. Besides, unnecessary scratches between the clothes and the incision may cause re-bleeding and infection, which also slows down the healing process.

• Too-dry dressing

It has been researched that pilonidal cyst incision tends to heal quicker if it is enclosed using moist dressing rather than stitches. However, dry wound dressing will promote scab formation, not to mention re-opening the wound every time it is peeled for changing. Hence, it is important to have the incision check, so that the dressing can be monitored and promote faster healing.

• Too many hard works

During the couple of weeks of your healing process, hard works and hectic schedule might delay the incision healing process. Hence, it is important to limit what activities you are to do. Avoid activities which focus on your incised area, such as driving for a long period of time, sitting for hours, gardening, and other activities requiring weight-focusing around the buttock crease.

• Infection

It is not easy to observe the development of your post-surgery incision, especially when it is located in a rather tricky part of the body. Unfortunately, an incision which is left unmonitored and improperly treated tends to end up in an infection. This is also caused by the fact that there are numerous bacteria living on the skin, which can easily infest the incision. When this happens, your wound will not heal properly. Instead, it may restart the healing process from the beginning. Some symptoms of infection include elevating pain around the incision, bleeding, and foul-smelled discharge. Your GP might be able to look for these signs early. Hence, regular post-operative visits are required, so that you will not realize the fact when it gets too late. Prescribed antibiotics can promote proper healing after infection, as long as you also promote the right healing techniques at home, including:

• Taking a proper shower without trapping the water beneath the dressing.
• Limit difficult activities that inhibit healing.
• Promote a good hygiene. Applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly will be helpful and beneficial in triggering proper healing.