Home Remedies for Pilonidal Cyst

What is a Pilonidal Cyst?

Pilonidal cyst occurs in the crease line of buttock and it is present in the form of sac or pocket like structure under the skin. Pilonidal cyst is an abnormal cyst and is found among some specific persons like truck drivers, barbers, and dog groomers. Actually the pilonidal cyst is commonly known as “nest of hairs” which means there is a bunch of hairy structure present near the buttock crease.

When hair appears or penetrates in the skin, it becomes infected so it turns to form cyst. Due to the increasing effect of infection, the skin becomes swallowed and very painful. In 1800s, pilonidal cyst was identified in the size ranging from very small to large and looked like a painful mass accumulated in the buttock crease.

This type of cyst can occur in any person but mostly in men. In adult men, pilonidal cyst is very common as women. But in children, girls are mostly affected by the pilonidal cyst rather than boys.

Pilonidal Cyst Causes

Still the exact causes of pilonidal cyst are not recognized.

• Wearing tight clothing or underwear would be the real cause of pilonidal cyst.

• Sometimes it may be seen like loose hair are re-entering the skin that can be said as ingrown hair which are the initial stage of pilonidal cyst or foreign body particle.

• Pilonidal cyst often occurs between the fingers of barbers and dog groomers.

• When the layers of the skin stretch deeply, the follicle of hair becomes enlarge and breaks.

• From the ruptured follicle, hair grows out which in turns develops in cyst.

• According to some believers, it has come to know that cyst occurs due to the trauma to the body area.

• The soldiers involved in World War II were find to have a pilonidal cyst because they used to galloped in jeeps over bouncy land and thus according to experts, the chronic irritation attacked them.

• For the past time, the cyst was called as “jeep disease”.

Some factors are there that can increase the risk of pilonidal cyst are as follows:

• Obesity

• Inactivity

• Long sit at the job time

• Excess hair in body

• Stiff hair

• Poor hygienic condition

5 Best Home Remedies for Pilonidal Cyst

1.  Epsom Salt

Take some quantity of Epsom salt and mix with water. Soak your body for half an hour in the water. Epsom salt is useful in pilonidal cyst to reduce the inflammation and pain. Epsom salt contains magnesium and sulfate that tend to release the toxic substance out of your body and shrink the cyst naturally.

Along with this remedy, you would have to keep walking around the house. Soak your body at least two times daily.

2.  Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is also very helpful to shrink the pilonidal cyst. This oil is used because it has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. You would use two to three drops of tea tree oil three times daily.

3.  Turmeric

Turmeric remedy is very natural and it is easily available at home. Turmeric is suggested for many diseases and disorders found in the skin. Turmeric also contains anti-inflammatory property which helps in quick relief from pain and removes swelling.

In some quantity of turmeric powder, add water then mix them together to make a thick paste. Now apply directly on the cyst three times daily. You should also use warm milk instead of water.

4.  Slaked Lime

Slaked lime is also used for shrinking the pilonidal cyst. Make a thick paste by mixing slaked lime and turmeric powder then apply thick coats over the cyst. Cover the area with the help of bandage.

5.  Castor Oil

Take some castor oil and slightly warm it then apply directly on the cyst and cover the place with a bandage. Do this remedy three times regularly with changing the bandage each time. Castor oil contains anti-inflammatory property which helps in removing the cyst quickly.

When Home Remedies Do Not Work

In case, when the pilonidal cyst turns to become large, you should go to consult the doctor for one of the following processes.

• If a cut or slit induce with gauze in pilonidal cyst, the follicles and debris become weak, removed, packed. The procedure is continued for three weeks.

• Another treatment is given with the sewing method in which the cyst is cut with needle then closes the wound. It takes two months approximately to heal properly.

• In most of the cases, the wound is not closed but a kind of pouch is sewn around the wound to minimize the size.

These home remedies are recommended usually for the small and frequent cysts and can be treated at home very easily. The treatment of pilonidal cyst is often depended upon the severity and occurrence. If you do not find the good results with these remedies, you should immediately seek for the medical help.