Have you ever felt a painful bump near the base of your spine that makes sitting unbearable? This is a common experience for many people with pilonidal sinuses. This condition often goes unnoticed until it becomes a significant problem.
Pilonidal sinus occurs when hair gets trapped beneath the skin, causing inflammation that can result in pain and complications if left untreated. It is most commonly developed in people who sit in an office for a long time.
Traditional treatment involves using several antibiotics and painkillers and sometimes surgery in severe cases. However, ANF Therapy®️ treats this condition without any pharmacological or surgical involvement. It is the newest treatment for pilonidal sinus, which uses frequency therapy to activate the body’s natural healing process. In this blog, we will learn the newest pilonidal sinus treatment, how you can treat pilonidal sinus without surgery, and how ANF Therapy®️ treats pilonidal sinus.
What is a pilonidal sinus?
A pilonidal sinus occurs when a small tunnel or hole forms in the skin at the base of the spine, near the tailbone coccyx. It often contains hair, dirt, and skin debris, which can cause inflammation, infection and pain.
The term “pilonidal” comes from the two Latin words pilus (hair) and nidus (nest), meaning “nest of hair.” Pilonidal sinus commonly affects people with body hair in that area. Over time, it may develop into an abscess or cyst. If left untreated, it can become severe but not life-threatening.
What is the difference between a pilonidal cyst and a pilonidal sinus?
The terms ‘pilonidal sinus’ and ‘pilonidal cyst’ are often used interchangeably but refer to slightly different aspects of the same condition.
A pilonidal cyst or abscess occurs when hair and debris get trapped inside your skin, usually in the cleft between your buttocks. Over time, this cyst can become infected and fill with pus, leading to pain, swelling, and sometimes discharge.
Pilonidal sinus is a chronic condition where a tunnel or tract forms beneath the skin, often resulting from recurring infections or an untreated pilonidal cyst. The sinus can connect to the skin’s surface, allowing pus or fluid to drain out. A pilonidal sinus may take longer to heal and often requires surgical intervention in severe cases.
What is the prevalence of pilonidal sinus?
Pilonidal sinus is four times more common in men than women. It’s because men tend to have more body hair. It usually affects young adults aged 15 to 35. The condition is also more common among those who sit for long periods, such as drivers or office workers. About 26 out of every 100,000 people develop this condition each year.
What are the symptoms of pilonidal sinus?
Early on, a pilonidal sinus may look like a small, painless dimple near the base of the spine. But when it becomes infected, it can develop into a painful cyst or abscess with the following signs:
- Pain while sitting or standing
- Swelling or a lump in the area
- Redness and tenderness around the bump
- Foul-smelling discharge (pus or blood) from the sinus opening
- Hair protruding from the sinus
- Multiple small holes (sinus tracts) near the cyst
- Fever, nausea, or malaise may also occur
What are the causes of pilonidal sinus?
Several factors may contribute to the formation of a pilonidal sinus. These include:
Ingrown hair
The most common cause of pilonidal sinus is ingrown hair. Loose hairs get trapped under the skin, leading to an infection that forms a sinus or cyst.
Family history
If any of your family members have had pilonidal sinus, your risk of developing it may be higher. It can be due to inherited traits, such as thicker body hair, that increase susceptibility.
Obesity
Being overweight creates pressure on the lower back and buttocks. It can result in skin folds that trap hair and debris, increasing the risk of a pilonidal sinus.
Trauma or infection
Injuries or irritation in the sacrococcygeal area (the area between the lower back and the buttocks) may also lead to a sinus. Repeated infections also increase the risk.
Sedentary lifestyle
Sitting for long periods, like in office jobs or driving, increases pressure on the tailbone and can cause hair to embed in the skin. Consequently, the chances of developing pilonidal sinus become higher.
Poor hygiene
Not cleaning the lower back and buttocks well can lead to dirt and hair buildup, raising the risk of infection.
Friction from tight clothing
Tight or poorly fitting clothes can irritate the tailbone area and push hair into the skin. It also increases the likelihood of pilonidal sinus.
Hormonal changes
Fluctuations in hormones during puberty can increase oil production and promote hair growth. As a result, the risk of pilonidal sinus may increase.
How to cure pilonidal sinus without surgery?
ANF Therapy®️ is the only option that can cure your pilonidal sinus without surgery. It uses ANF Devices applied to the affected areas of your body and helps with pain and inflammation caused by the pilonidal sinus. These devices are charged with certain frequencies to strengthen your body’s neurological frequencies in affected areas. Strengthening your neurological frequencies activates your natural immune response to heal your body from within.
Moreover, you will need to adopt preventive measures like avoiding sugar and staying hydrated to enhance your recovery process with ANF Therapy®️.
Treatment of pilonidal sinus with ANF Therapy®️:
ANF Therapy®️ is an advanced treatment option for those looking for holistic treatment. It is based on frequency modulation in your nervous system to activate the natural healing process. This therapy targets the root cause to treat the disease instead of managing its symptoms.
Treatment of pilonidal sinus with ANF Therapy®️ involves multiple steps. Your ANF Therapists will take your history, including your occupation and past surgical history, and perform your clinical examination to check the location of the pilonidal sinus and the extent of the tract.
Your ANF Therapists will also examine nearby areas, such as the groin, lower back, and stomach, to check the spread of the disease and treat it immediately.
Application of ANF Devices:
According to Dr. Mikel H-G Hoff, several ANF Devices have been used to remove this problem, including neurological frequency devices that destroy bacteria and toxins. Pain and inflammation devices (strong positive and negative) are applied around the affected area, which helps remove inflammation and reduce pain. White blood cell devices are also used to improve blood circulation and combat bacteria and toxins.
In addition to these devices, antioxidant carnosine devices are also applied, which remove free radicals from the body and improve the healing process.
Start your journey with ANF Therapy®️:
What are the complications of pilonidal sinus?
If not treated, a pilonidal sinus can lead to several complications:
- Recurrence: The sinus may return after treatment, often requiring multiple interventions.
- Wound healing problems: Slow or poor wound healing, increasing the risk of infection and discomfort.
- Osteomyelitis (Bone infection): In rare cases, the disease can spread to the spine bones.
- Malignancy: Rarely, long-term untreated sinuses can lead to squamous cell carcinoma (skin cancer).
How to prevent pilonidal sinus?
You can take steps to reduce your risk of developing pilonidal sinus. Here are some simple tips:
- Keep the area clean and dry to avoid infections.
- Remove excess hair through shaving, waxing, or laser treatment.
- Limit prolonged sitting and take breaks to stretch and move around.
- Wear loose-fitting clothing to decrease friction and irritation.
- Keep your weight healthy to reduce pressure on the tailbone.
- Use talcum powder to keep the area dry and prevent moisture buildup.
FAQs:
Is pilonidal sinus a tumour?
A pilonidal sinus is not a tumour and rarely develops into cancer. It’s a chronic infection caused by trapped hair and debris under the skin. The risk of cancer is extremely low and typically arises only after years of untreated disease.
What kind of pain is a pilonidal sinus?
A pilonidal sinus causes localised pain, typically felt as a sharp or throbbing discomfort in the cleft at the top of your buttocks. The pain may worsen with sitting, movement, or pressure on the area and is often accompanied by swelling and tenderness.
