Steven Doerr, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Doerr received his undergraduate degree in Spanish from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He graduated with his Medical Degree from the University Of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, Colorado in 1998 and completed his residency training in Emergency Medicine from Denver Health Medical Center in Denver, Colorado in 2002, where he also served as Chief Resident.
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
The complications of a pilonidal cyst may include the following:
Abscess formation
Recurrence of the pilonidal cyst
Systemic infection (infection that spreads throughout the body)
Rarely, squamous cell carcinoma (the development of a form of skin cancer
within the cyst)
How are pilonidal cysts prevented?
Good hygiene of the sacrococcygeal area is important to help prevent the development of pilonidal disease and its recurrence if it does develop. Keep the area clean and dry, and either shave or use depilatory creams to keep the area free of hair. Also, try to avoid prolonged sitting or excessive repetitive pressure to the area of the coccyx (tailbone). Weight loss in obese individuals may also help decrease the development and recurrence of pilonidal disease.
What is the prognosis for pilonidal cysts?
Generally speaking, the prognosis for individuals with pilonidal disease is excellent. Recurrence of pilonidal disease, however, is common and is generally estimated to occur in between 40%-50% of individuals.
REFERENCES:
de Caestecker, James. "Pilonidal Disease." Medscape.com. Aug. 24, 2009. <http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/192668-overview>.
Lanigan, Michael D. "Pilonidal Cyst and Sinus." Medscape.com. Aug. 6, 2009. <http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/788127-overview>.
A boil is a skin abscess, a collection of
pus localized deep in the skin. There are several different types of boils. Among them are the following: furuncle or
carbuncle, Cystic acne, Hidradenitis suppurativa, and Pilonidal cyst.
Cellulitis is an acute spreading bacterial infection below the surface of the skin characterized by redness, warmth, inflammation, and pain. The most common cause of cellulitis is the bacteria Staph (Staphylococcus aureus).
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer
in humans. There are three main types of skin cancer; basal cell carcinoma and
squamous cell carcinoma (the nonmelanoma skin cancers), and melanoma.
Cysts are saclike structures that can occur throughout the body and usually contain a semisolid, liquid, or gaseous substance. Infections, tumors, genetic conditions, chronic inflammatory conditions, and wear and tear can cause cysts. Though some cysts may be palpable, others may not produce any symptoms. Treatment depends upon the location and cause of the cyst.
Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degrees F. (37 degrees C.), in practice a person is usually not considered to have a significant fever until the temperature is above 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C.). Fever is part of the body's own disease-fighting arsenal: rising body temperatures apparently are capable of killing off many disease- producing organisms.
Obesity is the state of being well above one's normal weight. A person has traditionally been
considered to be obese if they are more than 20 percent over their ideal weight.
That ideal weight must take into account the person's height, age, sex, and
build.
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