What is ingrown hair (Pilonidal Sinus)?
In the medical literature, hair regrowth, which is called "pilonidal sinus", is a disease that can be prevented by ensuring hygiene conditions and removing hair on the body regularly.
In the medical literature, hair regrowth, which is called "pilonidal sinus", is a disease that can be prevented by ensuring hygiene conditions and removing hair on the body regularly. However, the only thing to do after the disease occurs is to apply to clinics and hospitals and get support from a general surgeon. Because ingrown hair is not a disease that can go away on its own after a certain time.
In which parts of the body does ingrown hair (Pilonidal Sinus) occur?
The place where ingrown hairs are seen most intensely in our body is the hollow between the two hips called the intergluteal groove in the coccyx. Almost all of the cases are seen in the coccyx. Although rare, a certain part is found in the navel. Apart from these, it can also occur on the face, groin area, fingers and armpits.
What causes ingrown hair (Pilonidal Sinus)?
Experts put forward 2 different theories regarding the formation of the pilonidal sinus. The first of these is the accumulation of hair and feathers shed from the body, especially if there is sweating, under our skin through the holes and pores in the skin. It has been observed that the hairs that enter under the skin during the movement of the body can reach around 60 - 70. The area where the hairs accumulate is surrounded by a membrane, forming a cystic structure. The fluid that emerges as a reaction to the hairs causes a foul-smelling abscess that flows out of the sinus mouth. Another less accepted theory explaining ingrown hairs is that the congenital stem cells in the relevant region start to produce hair after the age of 20, as a result of the activation of hormonal effects.
What are the symptoms of ingrown hair (Pilonidal Sinus)?
Hair loss is an insidious disease; however, there are signals given to the body during the accumulation of hairs and feathers under the skin. Symptoms that do not bother the patient in the initial phase may become unbearable in the later stages. Some of the symptoms observed in almost all of the patients who apply to the health institution due to ingrown hair are listed below;
• At the initial stage of ingrown hair, the problem of discharge arises. Patients who meet this humidity in their underwear as normal are generally unaware of the case at this stage.
• When this discharge is combined with microbes, it turns into inflammation and turns green.
• A bad odor discharge.
• Sometimes bloody discharge can also be seen.
• Other symptoms seen in ingrown hair are itching, redness, swelling and pain in the anus.
• Over time, the pain becomes so severe that the patient can no longer perform his daily activities.
The reason for the bad smell seen in ingrown hair is the inflammation and abscess of the related area. The discharges coming out of the sinus mouth combine with microbes and pave the way for the formation of a foul-smelling and inflamed abscess. The size of the swelling occurring in the pilonidal sinus area varies according to the density of the hairs accumulated in the area. The pain that occurs when the cyst becomes an abscess by stretching can be unbearable. The person may become unable to sit and walk because of this pain. The presence of pain in which even daily activities cannot be performed is a sign of being in the last stage of the disease.
When one or more of these symptoms are encountered, you should stay away from time-consuming methods such as herbal formulas and leave the job to the experts.
What are the risk factors for ingrown hair (Pilonidal Sinus)?
It is known by everyone that a sedentary life invites many diseases. One of the health problems faced by people working in desk jobs is ingrown hairs. Studies have shown that sitting upright reduces the frequency of ingrown hairs. For this reason, it is useful to prefer to sit in an upright position while working at a desk or in daily life.
As we mentioned above, there is an increase in the frequency of ingrown hairs in jobs performed by sitting constantly, such as riding. During the 2nd World War, the majority of the soldiers who had to use jeeps constantly had ingrown hairs. After a certain time, these cases were called “jeep disease”. Other risk factors for pilonidal sinus formation include;
•Obesity
• Inadequate personal hygiene
• Excessive sweating
• Excessively hairy body
• Hair cleaning with a razor
• Predisposition to hair follicle inflammation can be considered.
At this point, the question of what is good for ingrown hairs can be briefly answered by an active lifestyle, sitting in an upright position and cleaning the hairs on the body at regular intervals.
Hair growth (Pilonidal Sinus) surgery
Hair regrowth surgery is performed in a sterile environment. The most effective treatment option for hair regrowth is surgery. The probability of recurrence of the disease is lower compared to the non-surgical method. The operation is performed by opening a small incision in the problem area that will not leave a trace. After the operation, the incision area is cleaned well and then sutured and closed.
The micro-sinusectomy method, which is performed with local anesthesia and does not require narcosis and hospitalization, has become increasingly preferred, since it is the operation with the least risk. It is preferred by patients and doctors because there are no scars on the patient's body after the operation, he returns to his daily life without lying in the hospital, and it is a short-term procedure such as 20-30 minutes and gives the same result as the classical surgical procedure.