Pilonidal Cysts: Signs, Causes, And Effective Home Remedies

If you have a small cyst at the top of the cleft between your butt cheeks, it may be a pilonidal cyst, or pilonidal sinus. When infected, such a cyst starts to cause severe pain and emanate a foul odor. It may also ooze pus and blood. Pilonidal cysts are spots where hair and dirt collect in your buttock area. They are a common occurrence in men and young adults. Read on to know more about what signs can help you identify them, what causes them, and how you can treat them at home.

Signs Of Pilonidal Cysts

The first noticeable sign might be a small, dimple-like depression on the surface of your skin at the top of the cleft between your butt cheeks. Over time, this depression may become infected and form a bump beneath the skin that is filled with fluid (known as a cyst) or cause swelling in the tissues due to collected pus (known as an abscess). Other signs include:

• Swelling in the affected area
• Redness in the affected area
• Pus or blood oozing out of the formed cyst or abscess, resulting in a foul odor
• Pain in the buttocks while sitting or standing
• Hair protruding from the bump
• A mild fever (a less common sign)

Causes Of Pilonidal Cysts

While the exact cause of these cysts isn’t clear, they seem to be the result of loose hair that penetrate the skin. They may also be a result of hormonal changes during puberty. Friction due to skin rubbing against skin, tight clothing, cycling, and sitting for long durations is believed to force hair back into the skin. Your body considers this hair a foreign substance and reacts to it by forming a pilonidal cyst around it.

Now that you know what signs to look out for and what causes these cysts, here are a few simple remedies you can try at home to treat them.

4 Effective Home Remedies For Pilonidal Cysts

1. Tea Tree Oil

This essential oil, which is a popular home remedy for a number of ailments, is also quite effective against pilonidal cysts. It possesses antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, which reduce the infection and speed up the healing process.¹

How To Use

• Add 10 parts of water to 1 part of tea tree oil. Mix well.
• Apply this solution to the affected area and leave it on for about 10 minutes.
• Then, rinse the area thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry.
• Do this twice or thrice every day till you experience relief.

2. Castor Oil

Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, castor oil is believed to work wonders for infected pilonidal cysts by reducing the inflammation and hence the pain caused by the cysts.

How To Use

• Warm a small amount of castor oil.
• Dip a cotton ball in it and apply the castor oil on the affected area.
• Leave the cotton ball on the cyst, securing it with a bandage.
• Do this twice or thrice every day while using a fresh cotton ball and bandage every time.
• Repeat till the cyst reduces in size and disappears completely.

3. Garlic

Garlic contains a compound called allicin, which possesses a host of medicinal properties.² Its antibacterial and antifungal nature works great to promote fast healing of pilonidal cysts.

How To Use

• Crush a clove of garlic thoroughly and apply the paste you get on the affected area.
• Cover it up with a gauze and leave it on for a few minutes.
• Then, rinse well with plain water.
• Do this once every day till you experience relief.

4. Warm Compress

A warm compress works great for any sort of pain you experience. It is said to aid in draining the pus that accumulates in pilonidal cysts.

How To Use

• Dip a soft cloth in warm water. Let it soak and then wring out the excess water.
• Place the warm cloth on the affected area for some time.
• Do this 3 or 4 times a day till you notice the size of the cyst reducing.

Try these simple home remedies to experience relief instantly and get rid of those nasty cysts.