Do I Have Pilonidal Cyst?

Do you have pain between your buttocks which often gets worse when you’re sitting?

Do you have a small dimple or large swollen area between your buttocks?

Do you have redness and tenderness in the affected area?

Do you have a large “pimple” at the bottom of your tailbone?

Do you have drainage of pus or blood from an opening in the skin?

Does the drained liquid have an unpleasant odor?

Do you have nausea, fever, and extreme tiredness?

Do you spend a lot of time in a sitting position (truck drivers and office workers)?

Are you overweight?

Do you have a lot of body hair (especially a thick or coarse hair) or wear tight clothing that presses on the tailbone area?

Do you have family members with pilonidal cyst?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have a pilonidal cyst. A pilonidal cyst is a medical condition characterized by the formation of a pocket in the skin that contains hair and dead skin cells. It is usually located at the top of the buttocks near the tailbone. Pilonidal cysts are more common in men than in women. It is a common condition that affects about 70,000 people in America each year. They usually occur in people who spend a lot of time in a sitting position, are overweight or are very hairy, especially if the hair is thick or coarse. Pilonidal cysts tend to recur.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have a pilonidal cyst. A pilonidal cyst is a type of cyst that represents a round sac under the skin filled with fluid, hair and skin debris. Pilonidal cysts occur in the folds of your buttocks, anywhere from the tailbone to the anus. They can be very painful and are usually caused by a skin infection. It is believed that rubbing the skin against the skin, sitting for a long time or wearing tight clothes creates the conditions for the hair to break through and enter under the skin.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have a pilonidal cyst. A pilonidal cyst is a type of cyst that occurs when hair and dead skin cells get stuck under the skin at the top of the cleft of your buttocks. A pilonidal cyst can occur only once (acute) or several times during life, becoming a permanent problem (chronic). If left untreated, a cyst can become infected and lead to an abscess, which is usually very painful.