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A pilonidal sinus is a small tunnel or channel that can develop in the skin at the top of the buttocks crease, often containing hair and debris. It can become inflamed or infected, forming a painful abscess.
Evidence checked against current HSE guidance for Pilonidal sinus, covering the article's core clinical information and relevant assessment, management or safety considerations.
Public health education article
Self-care advice — See your GP promptly if the area becomes painful, swollen, or starts discharging fluid, as this usually indicates infection needing treatment.
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A pilonidal sinus is a small tunnel or channel that can develop in the skin at the top of the buttocks crease, often containing hair and debris. It can become inflamed or infected, forming a painful abscess.
Topic-specific prevention and risk reduction will be added during the article-specific evidence audit.
The area becomes red, swollen, or increasingly painful
A pilonidal sinus is a small tunnel or channel that can develop in the skin at the top of the buttocks crease, often containing hair and debris. It can become inflamed or infected, forming a painful abscess.
It's thought to develop from hair working its way into the skin, and is more common in people who sit for long periods, have thick or coarse body hair, or carry excess weight around that area.
See your GP promptly if the area becomes painful, swollen, or starts discharging fluid, as this usually indicates infection needing treatment.
These measures can help ease symptoms, support recovery, and reduce the chance of things worsening — but they don't replace medical advice if symptoms are severe or persistent.
BarnMD Health Intelligence uses authoritative and clinically relevant sources appropriate to the topic. References are shown so readers can inspect the evidence directly.
BarnMD Health Library provides general health education for public health literacy. Reading this article does not establish a doctor-patient relationship and this information is not a diagnosis, prescription, or personalised treatment plan. If you have symptoms or concerns about your health, seek appropriate advice from a qualified healthcare professional. If you develop emergency warning signs, seek urgent or emergency medical attention.
A pilonidal sinus that isn't causing symptoms often doesn't need treatment, but an infected one needs prompt medical attention to drain and heal properly.
Recurrent pilonidal sinuses may eventually need surgical treatment to remove the affected tissue and reduce the chance of it coming back.