13 Pilonidal Cyst Home Treatments

A pilonidal cyst is a sac filled with skin debris and hair found at the crease that separates the two buttocks. Experts believe that hair trapped in the pores of the skin followed by constant friction or trauma to your buttocks can result in the development of cysts (1). While consulting a doctor and going for surgical intervention is the best way to remove the cyst, there are a few home treatment options for pilonidal cysts one can try to alleviate the pain. In this article, we take a look at who is at a higher risk of developing pilonidal cysts and the natural treatment options available.

Who Can Get Pilonidal Cysts?

The following factors can increase the chances of developing pilonidal cysts:

• A family history of pilonidal cysts
• Men with a deep natal cleft
• You sit around for extended periods (some amount of friction can cause a reaction to ingrown hair)
• You have thick body hair

Let’s look at the causes and symptoms in detail.

What Causes Pilonidal Cysts?

The main cause of pilonidal cysts is the presence of ingrown hair.

This happens as a result of hair becoming embedded in the skin. If the cyst gets infected, it can form a painful abscess.

Individuals between the ages of 20 and 30 are susceptible to pilonidal cysts.

Listed below are the factors that may contribute to the development of pilonidal cysts:

• Gender: Men are more likely to have pilonidal cysts.
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Lack of physical activity or exercise
• Excess body hair
• Poor hygiene
• Excessive sweating

Symptoms Of Pilonidal Cyst

The common symptoms of pilonidal cyst development include inflamed skin, collection of pus, and/or slight bleeding at the site of infection.

One may also experience pain and discomfort while sitting or standing. However, if the infection is acute, one may also have a fever or nausea.

Bikash Paneru, a blogger, shared his experience about his pilonidal cyst in his personal blog. He said, “I began to feel discomfort while sitting down during work. It was then that I noticed that there was a cyst on my left glute (i).”

You may be tempted to pop these cysts to relieve the discomfort. However, doing so increases the risk of infection and scarring. Hence, it is best to consult a doctor.

Medical Treatment

The doctor performs a simple procedure to drain the cyst. They will numb the affected area and make a small incision to drain the cyst. Once all the fluid and debris are drained, they will either close the wound with a sterile gauze or stitches. They may also prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection.

However, if these cysts reappear, you may need surgery.

Note: Consult a healthcare provider immediately if you experience continued discomfort or notice any infection-related symptoms, like increased redness, warmth, or pus.

Bikash Paneru further elaborated how surgery successfully removed the pilonidal cyst. However, it was the post-surgery period that was more challenging than the surgery itself. He said, “The post operation experience was interesting. It was difficult to sit down for long periods so I had to alternate between sitting, standing up and lying down in the prone position for almost a week.”

Here are a few home remedies you can try out to reduce the pain and discomfort.

13 Effective Home Remedies For Pilonidal Cysts

1. Warm Compress

Using a hot compress a few times a day can help soothe the inflammation (2). The heat from the washcloth enables the cyst to drain the pus, thus relieving pain. It is an excellent home care treatment option.

You Will Need

• 1 sterile washcloth
• A bucket of warm water

What You Have To Do

1. Start by soaking a sterile washcloth in hot water.
2. Place the warm cloth on the affected area for a few minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat as needed until the pain subsides.

2. Garlic

Garlic has antibiotic and antimicrobial properties (3). Hence, it may prove to be effective in reducing the symptoms of pilonidal cysts by consumption or a topical treatment.

You Will Need

A few cloves of garlic

What You Have To Do

There are two ways to use garlic:

1. Crush a garlic clove with the back of a knife and apply the paste to the affected area.
2. Cover the area with sterile gauze for a few minutes before rinsing it off.
3. Alternatively, you can ingest crushed garlic cloves with a glass of water.

How Often You Should Do This

Applying garlic: Once a day for a few days.

Ingesting garlic: 2-3 times a day.

3. Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil possesses antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties (4). These properties of this particular essential oil may help reduce inflammation and prevent further infection, thus promoting faster healing of the cyst.

You Will Need

• A few drops of tea tree oil
• Warm water

What You Have To Do

1. Dilute tea tree oil with water in the ratio of 1:10.
2. Apply the mixture to the affected area and leave it on for about 15 minutes.
3. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
4. Dry the area completely.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat 2-3 times daily.

Quick Tip

You can also use a carrier oil like coconut oil to dilute tea tree oil. Mix 2 to 3 drops of tea tree oil with 12 drops of coconut oil.

4. Castor Oil

Castor oil

contains ricinoleic acid, which possesses anti-inflammatory properties (5). This may help alleviate inflammation around the pilonidal cyst.

You Will Need

• A few drops of castor oil
• Cotton ball

What You Have To Do

1. Soak a sterile cotton ball in warm castor oil.
2. Apply generously to the affected area.
3. Leave the cotton ball on for 20-30 minutes or overnight.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat 2-3 times daily.

5. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is both anti-inflammatory and analgesic (6). It can thus help reduce pain and inflammation in the affected area.

You Will Need

½ teaspoon of organic coconut oil

What You Have To Do

1. Apply organic coconut oil to the affected area.
2. Leave it on for a couple of hours.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat 2 times daily.

6. Epsom Salt

The magnesium in Epsom salt can help reduce inflammation (7). Epsom salt baths may not only reduce pain but also promote the expulsion of pus from the cyst.

You Will Need

1 cup of Epsom salt

What You Have To Do

1. Add a cup of Epsom salt to a freshly drawn warm bath.
2. Soak your body in it for 15-20 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat as necessary.

7. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has antimicrobial properties (8). Hence, it may help prevent the pilonidal cyst from getting infected, thereby assisting in its healing.

You Will Need

• Apple cider vinegar
• Cotton ball

What You Have To Do

1. Dilute apple cider vinegar with water.
2. Soak a cotton ball in the diluted vinegar. Place the cotton ball on the affected area and press gently.
3. Secure it with a band-aid and keep it on for a few hours.
4. Remove the band-aid and rinse the affected area thoroughly with water.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat 2 times daily.

8. Turmeric

Turmeric contains curcumin that helps reduce inflammation and relieves pain in the affected area (9).

You Will Need

1 tablespoon turmeric powder

What You Have To Do

1. Add water to turmeric powder to make a paste.
2. Apply this paste to the affected area. Leave it on until it dries.
3. Rinse the affected area thoroughly.
4. Alternatively, you may also grind a turmeric root and gently press it on the pilonidal cyst.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat 2 times daily.

9. Black Tea Bag

The anti-inflammatory properties of black tea may help in treating the swelling and inflammation in the affected area (10).

You Will Need

1 black tea bag

What You Have To Do

1. Soak a tea bag in warm water for 5-6 minutes.
2. Wait for the teabag to cool a bit. Place the tea bag on the affected area.
3. Hold it in place for 8-10 minutes and then remove it.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this procedure 3-4 times daily.

10. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera exhibits anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties (11). Both these properties can help in reducing the pain and irritation caused due to pilonidal cysts.

You Will Need

Aloe vera gel

What You Have To Do

1. Apply aloe vera gel to the affected area.
2. Leave it on for 20-30 minutes.
3. Rinse off with plain water.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat 3-4 times in a day

Quick Tip

You can also mix aloe vera gel with a few drops of castor or olive oil. Apply the mixture to the cyst and leave it on for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Rinse it off with water.

11. Fenugreek

A novel fenugreek extract was observed to reduce cyst size and volume in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (12). Hence, it may similarly help treat a pilonidal cyst.

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon of fenugreek seeds
• A glass of boiling water

What You Have To Do

1. Boil the fenugreek seeds in water.
2. Strain the decoction and consume it.

How Often You Should Do This

Consume once daily until your symptoms show improvement.

12. Burdock Root

Burdock root

is an excellent herbal remedy for several skin infections (13). This alternative therapy works because burdock root contains active compounds that flush out toxins from the body and may also help in alleviating the symptoms of pilonidal cysts.

You Will Need

• ½ teaspoon dried burdock root powder
• 1 tablespoon honey

What You Have To Do

1. Mix half a teaspoon of dried burdock root powder and a tablespoon of honey to make a paste.
2. Apply this paste generously on the cyst and leave for a few hours.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this 2-3 times daily.

13. Onion

Onion possesses antimicrobial properties against a host of bacteria (14). This makes it suitable to treat an infected pilonidal cyst.

You Will Need

A thick slice of onion

What You Have To Do

1. Cut a thick slice of onion and place it on the pilonidal cyst.
2. Keep it in place with a band-aid.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this procedure every 2-3 hours by changing the onion slices.

Caution: Onions can sometimes irritate the skin. Do a patch test before trying this remedy.

Following and repeating these remedies as necessary may ensure a reduction in pain and inflammation. Additionally, some of these remedies are also applicable to sebaceous cysts. To know more, you can also explore home remedies for sebaceous cysts for better understanding. Remember, while these home remedies can be beneficial, it’s always important to consult a doctor for any health issues, including sebaceous cysts.

Prevention is better than cure and keeping a few key things in mind may help you avoid this condition. Learn more about it in the next section.

Prevention Of Pilonidal Cyst

Preventing pilonidal cysts primarily involves maintaining good hygiene and making lifestyle choices that reduce the risk of developing them.

• Practice proper personal hygiene.
• Cleanse your lower body regularly with mild soap and water.
• Ensure the affected area is kept clean and dry to prevent bacterial growth.
• Shave or wax the area around the tailbone to potentially reduce the risk of hair entering and getting trapped in the pilonidal sinus
• Avoid prolonged sitting or activities that cause excessive friction in the lower back region.
• Maintain a healthy body weight.
• Exercise regularly
• Avoid wearing tight-fitting clothing.
• Consult a healthcare professional if you have a family history of pilonidal cysts or recurring issues.

Infographic: 10 Simplest Remedies For Pilonidal Cysts

Pilonidal cysts demand prompt attention for quick healing and recovery. You can opt for effective home remedies as the first line of self-care treatment for these painful cysts to find relief from its symptoms. Amongst the many different remedies options, some are really easy and simple to create and apply.

Check out the infographic below to find the 10 simplest home remedies you can use at a moment’s notice.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do pilonidal cysts last?

After the diagnosis of a pilonidal cyst and subsequent cyst removal surgery, the wound will require 1-2 months to heal. However, in the case of complex or recurrent pilonidal disease, it may take up to 6 months to heal.

Why do pilonidal cysts come back?

It has been observed that it can be hard to remove the entire cyst. This would mean that there is a chance that it can recur.

Why do pilonidal cysts have a foul smell?

The cyst may be infected if it has a foul odor. This infection may cause the build-up of pus or blood.

Can a pilonidal cyst kill you?

Very often, pilonidal cysts can be removed with surgery. However, there is the possibility of the recurrence of abscesses. This happens if extensive scar tissue or sinus formation occurs.

How can I prevent the development of pilonidal cysts?

Here are the ways you may prevent the development of pilonidal cysts:

• Avoid being sedentary. If your job requires you to sit for long periods at a stretch, remember to stand up at regular intervals and take a quick walk.
• Watch your weight. Being overweight can make you susceptible to developing pilonidal cysts.
• Maintain hygiene in the area between the cheeks of your buttocks.

Will a pilonidal cyst burst on its own?

In some cases, a pilonidal cyst may burst on its own or release pus and drain out slowly over a period of time. However, the process may take a long time or be painful and uncomfortable. It is better to get a pilonidal cyst treated, either with home remedies or medical/surgical intervention.

Can you put hydrogen peroxide on a pilonidal cyst?

While there is no evidence to suggest the efficacy of using hydrogen peroxide on a pilonidal cyst, 3% hydrogen peroxide may facilitate the healing of an open pilonidal cyst wound after it has been drained (15).

Illustration: Pilonidal Cyst Home Treatments

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Dr. Vindhya L VeerulaMD, FAAD

   

Dr. Veerula (Dr. V) is a diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology, a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and American Society of Dermatologic Surgeons. She is an energetic, proactive, and compassionate medical practitioner with 5 years of experience and a thorough understanding of overall mind-body-spiritual wellness.

Read full bio of Dr. Vindhya L Veerula

Shaheen NaserHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Shaheen holds a postgraduate degree in Human Genetics and Molecular Biology from Bharathiar University. She is a Geneticist with proficiency in Biotechnology, Immunology, Medical Genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Genetic Counseling.

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Ravi Teja TadimallaCo-Editor-in-Chief

Ravi Teja Tadimalla is a Co-Editor-in-Chief and a published author. He has been in the digital media field for over a decade. He graduated from SRM University, Chennai, and has a Professional Certificate in Food, Nutrition & Research from Wageningen University.

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Dipti SharmaBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Dipti is a health and wellness writer specializing in holistic health practices. She graduated from Maharishi Dayanand University, Haryana, and has worked closely with Ayurvedic doctors, which has given her a deep understanding of traditional remedies and their applications.

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