Pilonidal disease is a chronic medical condition that causes intense irritation, inflammation, and infection in the skin located near your tailbone — specifically, within the crease or cleft created by the buttocks.
If you have pilonidal disease, you’re not just prone to pain in this area: You’re also more likely to develop deep infections, cysts, and abscesses that require surgical intervention. What’s more, infections can — and often do — recur.
The good news: Recent research shows laser hair removal reduces these risks by targeting the root cause of pilonidal disease: irritation, inflammation, and infection caused by dense hair or ingrown hairs. As a leading provider of pilonidal disease treatment, Michael H. Tarlowe, MD, reviews the benefits of laser hair removal so you can decide if it’s right for you.
Laser hair removal uses targeted light energy to destroy hair follicles and prevent hair regrowth. In the case of pilonidal disease, this approach serves a particular purpose: preventing hair growth in and near the buttock cleft where pilonidal disease occurs.
With reduced hair growth in the area, the risks of irritation, ingrowth, and infection decrease significantly. As a preventive measure, laser hair removal can be especially beneficial for people with risk factors for pilonidal disease, such as dense hair growth, deep clefts, and sedentary lifestyles, as well as those with early warning signs of disease, such as local irritation, pitting, or minor infections.
For people who’ve had prior infections, laser hair removal promotes better healing and reduces the risk of recurrence, particularly in patients who’ve had surgery to treat deep infections in the past. In fact, research suggests laser hair therapy can be used as an adjunct to surgery to avoid the need for surgical intervention in the future.
From a day-to-day, practical point of view, laser hair removal also helps streamline our care routine. By preventing hair growth in the area, laser hair removal eliminates or limits the need for shaving and depilatory products, routines that can lead to irritation and, ironically, increased risk of pilonidal symptoms and infection.
Laser hair removal works in connection with the hair growth cycle, and to be effective, you need to have treatment while the hair is in an active part of that cycle. Because every hair grows at a different rate, you’ll need to have several laser treatments to ensure each hair is treated at the most opportune time.
For most patients, that means having a series of treatments spaced out over 4-6 weeks, with a total of 4-8 individual sessions. Dr. Tarlowe tailors every treatment plan to each individual’s unique needs for optimal results.
Dr. Tarlowe uses lasers developed for treating hair in sensitive areas, providing safe, effective treatment for different skin tones and follicle depths. After treatment, it’s normal to experience some mild redness and irritation in the area, temporary side effects that resolve within a day or two of treatment.
Finally, it’s important to note that laser hair removal doesn’t provide “instant” results; instead, hair reduction happens gradually during hair’s growth cycle, and in some instances — for instance, if a hair is treated at the “wrong” time — you might need follow-up treatments later on.
Cosmetic laser hair removal is available at lots of medical practices and “spas.” However, there’s a big difference between removing hair on your arms or back and treating hair in the sensitive buttock cleft area. There’s also a major difference between treating hair for cosmetic reasons and using the treatment for an underlying medical problem, like pilonidal disease.
For these reasons, it’s essential to have your treatment guided by a doctor with experience in managing pilonidal disease, so you can enjoy the benefits of treatment without risking serious complications.
If you have pilonidal disease or risk factors for developing the condition, laser hair removal could be the solution you’ve been looking for. To find out more about this innovative and effective therapy, call 954-210-7127 or request an appointment online with Dr. Tarlowe in Deerfield Beach, Florida, today.
