Pilonidal disease is a chronic skin condition that happens when hair and debris become trapped beneath the skin near the buttock crease, leading to inflammation, infection, and painful cysts. Symptom flare-ups can be unpredictable, often occurring after prolonged sitting or excessive friction in the area.
While many cysts require surgical intervention to remove the cyst and allow the area to heal, in the meantime, symptoms can be relieved with a bit of extra TLC focused on the area surrounding the cyst.
Michael H. Tarlowe, MD, is a top provider of pilonidal disease treatment, with care focused on relieving symptoms and preventing them from recurring. Here, learn three steps you can take to prevent flare-ups and how laser hair removal can provide a long-lasting solution.
When it comes to pilonidal disease, keeping the area clean is of paramount importance. Daily cleansing helps remove sweat, dead skin, and loose hairs that can otherwise get trapped in the upper buttock crease near your tailbone.
Using mild, non-irritating cleansers helps prevent irritation that can kick off inflammation and worsening symptoms. It’s also important to take steps to reduce perspiration, like wearing underwear designed to wick away moisture. Also be sure to thoroughly dry the area after cleansing to reduce the risk of bacterial growth that could lead to an infection.
Extended sitting increases pressure near the tailbone, making flares more likely. That’s because over time, prolonged skin pressure leads to irritation and skin breakdown, making it easier for painful irritation and infections to take hold.
Wearing loose-fitting clothing is one simple way to decrease pressure and friction caused by rubbing, and it also improves airflow in the area. You can counteract pressure from extended sitting by using a coccyx-cutout pillow or other cushioning support designed to protect the tailbone area while improving airflow in the area.
Finally, if you sit a lot at work (or at home), taking frequent breaks to stand and move around is another way to limit prolonged pressure — and it’s good for circulation as well.
Staying active improves circulation in the area to support skin health and prevent infections. Just be sure to clean and dry the area after any activity that causes sweating.
Regular exercise also helps you maintain a healthier weight. That’s important, because those excess pounds you’re carrying around tend to put considerable excess pressure on your tailbone area — and specifically your buttock crease — when you’re sitting down. Losing extra weight reduces that pressure while also improving circulation and reducing inflammation.
Excess or coarse hair around the tailbone is one of the biggest contributors to pilonidal flare-ups, so it makes sense that managing hair in this area can help reduce those flare-ups, too.
Loose hairs can break off, become embedded, and trigger inflammation or cyst formation. While trimming and (very careful) shaving can help, both methods carry a risk of cuts and abrasions that can actually make flare-ups more likely — and infections worse.
Laser hair removal offers a much safer alternative, using the focused energy of lasers to target individual hair follicles, slowing or even completely stopping future hair growth. Hair that remains tends to be much softer and thinner — and less likely to cause problems.
At the same time, laser hair removal helps keep the area smoother and easier to maintain, so cleansing and moisture control are more effective. Best of all, therapy is completely customizable, which means we can schedule the number and frequency of treatments based on your specific needs for long-term relief.
Dealing with pilonidal disease can be frustrating, especially when flare-ups are so unpredictable. Lifestyle changes combined with laser hair removal offer a sound strategy to prevent flare-ups and avoid painful symptoms.
To learn more about how we can help you design a strategy that keeps you comfortable and reduces the risk of complications, call 954-210-7127 or request an appointment online with Dr. Tarlowe in Deerfield Beach, Florida, today.
