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Conditions

Pilonidal Sinus

Pilonidal sinus

This condition is more common than some might think, and is caused when a small tunnel or cleft develops under the skin at the base of the spine. This cleft fills with hair, bacteria and dead skin, eventually forming an abscess that can be sore and painful. The pain generally subsides when the pus is released from the abscess, but re-infection will occur as the hole continues to fill up with detritus. Symptoms can be alleviated by extensive washing of the infected area, but if it continue to reoccur, or occurs quickly and severely, surgery has to be considered. This normally involves the removal of the sinus, but reoccurrence is a possibility. In these cases laser hair removal can be considered if it is a hair follicle that is causing the problem.

What the Men in White Coats Say

Comments and Questions

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Hi,im 15 years old and have just recently had an operation to treat my pilonidal sinus,just over a week ago. I had mine drained and has been left open to heal. I have been having my wound packed everyday by district nurses,still not healed but hopefully it will heal all at once quickley as the nurses have said. I was in a lot of pain with my sinus and still am in quite a lot of discomfort. I can not yet sit down without be uncomfortable so tend to lie on my sides now,I am hoping to be back to school in another week or two,hopefully i will not have another pilanidol sinus. But i advize any person who thinks they could have a pilonidal sinus to go to your doctor or go to a+e. I only went after i saw that my bum was bleading. I was very embarrassed to tell my mum and show any doctor,but it gets sorted out and i recieved such good care at the hospital. My dad unfortunatly has had the operation for pilonidal sinus over 10 times,but it still keeps comming back. Hopefully ill be luckier than he was!





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i too have had this and im really fed up of it now it is causing so much disruption to my job and it is really making me feel depressed i first had this 3 years ago and i had mine operated on and packed this went on for about a good 6 months having it packed ,it has flared up over 5 times now and this recent time i went to my gp and she actually put a pin prick through it (no pain relief :(. )she basicaly drained it herself i didnt think gp could do this !!!! i was in tears and given antibiotics and this is now the 4th day and it is still very painfull ,i did ask her to refer me back to the hospital but she said she wanted to give the antibioctics another go i cant do this anymore as it is really getting me down any suggestions ????





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Hi I was wondering if anybody has had lazer treatment to prevent the abscess, and was it a positive outcome. Also how did the abscess heal? please reply back to me, thanks.





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hi there i am a 48 year old male and i have suffered with abcesses since i was a child and i have had so many different tablets and skin cleaners yet i still get them and they mainly come under my arm pits and between my legs i just dont know where i go from here





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Hi. My wife has suffered with this for many years now. She had the 1st operation in 2000, after she gave birth to my son. There was a hole at the botom of her scar thar oozed quite often. Some 10 years later she still has had no end of trouble with it. She has had. Another operation, all seems fine for a while until we think its nearly healed, and the scar keeps either splitting open or a black spot comes and bursts. We need some help with this as it really is causing my wife such distress and depression. We cant afford to go private. Please help, somebody!





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I would advise looking at this surgeon in Portsmouth for advise on pilonidal stuff. I had to go private in the end as my Primary Care Trust only offered an operation for mine that would have left me lying on my front in a hospital bed for a significant amount of time. Anyway, instead I had it done privately and so far it has stayed away. The procedure was a Cleft Lift... These things are such a pain! But don't feel alone with it. I had this since I was 17 - was on strong anti-biotics for a year and a half before i found a solution - but they are out there. And if you live in portsmouth - you'd get the same procedure I had for free! Postcode lottery! http://www.spirehealthcare.com/portsmouth/our-facilities-treatments-and-consultants/our-consultants/miss-asha-senapati/





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Hi Im 19. And Ive Had This Same Problem Since I Was Atleast 15. Ive Had Atleast 6 Operations And I Cant Get Rid Of It. Its Takin My Confidence Away Cuz Its A Serious Problem. I Know That Quite A Few People Hav Got This Same Problem. If Any One Can Help Me In Anyway Then Please Comment. Thanks





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hi i have had 16 operations to remove these and had 2 further planned operations to stop these in the last 2 1/2 years. the last operation was 7 weeks ago ago and this was called the linberg flap procedure. it is a bigger operation but this is meant to solve all the problems so fingers crossed for me. you could possibly ask to see if your eligable for this procedure hope this helps as i fully understand the pain that comes with these.

Hi I had my operation 7 weeks ago now, and had an open wound which has now healed but the outer layer of skin hasnt formed and has been bleeding a little. I still go to the nurse for dressings. She said if it hasnt stopped next week i will have to go see my doctor. Is this normal.........





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Hi, I wouldn't worry that it's taking time to heal - they usually cut very deep to make sure they get everything out. The nurse is prob telling you to see the doctor just to make sure it's all ok. Mine took about 10 weeks to heal but been fine ever since, 15 years on!

I've had pilonidal sinus for 3 years now and have had about 4 flare ups in this time. By treating these with antibiotics i found that the problem just went away. I was advised to have the op but i honestly dont see the point of going through this trauma, time off work, etc, when it can come back again anyway!?! Maybe if these ddflare ups where more regular then i could change my mind though...





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I've had a pilonidal sinus 0ver 3 years ago it kept getting infected and the antibiotics was only a short term treatment. so i had surgery and im very happy it hasn't flared up.i mite off had 3 mouths off cause off it but well worth it.

i keep getting these big abcess type spots but all over my buttox and groind area why and what can be done about it





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you may want to check your symptoms against those for hidradenitis suppurativa. this condition is centred around the groin area (along with armpits)





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It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





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Content supplied by NHS Choices

A pilonidal sinus is a small hole, or ‘tunnel’, in the skin, which usually develops at the top of the cleft of the buttocks (where the buttocks separate). Read More »

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