Life-Changing Tips for Pilonidal Cyst Care

Known as "Jeep Disease" the pilonidal cyst (or Pilonidal Sinus) first gained recognition during World War 2, when soilders who spent long hours riding in Jeeps developed the telltale painful red bump on their rear ends. 

​Put simply, it's a hair follicle that went rogue. That's right. A single hair follicle is responsible for turning your whole world upside down. I know—it seriously sucks. 

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That little hair follicle grows inward, forming a clump of hair and infected tissue. Bacteria from your bum like to hitch a ride into the cyst on this ingrown hair, especially if the area is not kept clean! Then, your body forms a sac of fluid around this infected debris and clumped hair, resulting in your debilitating and life-altering condition: the pilonidal cyst. 

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But don't worry, with a little holistic care, a lot of strength and patience, and your willingness to improve not only the health of your cyst, but the health of your whole body, this condition can and will become manageable! 

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In the following section I break down the 5 hard-and-fast principles of holistic Pilonidal Sinus care. Stick to these rules and you should start seeing results within a month or two. The only caveat may be in cases of obesity or severe metabolic chaos in which a person may need more time reversing underlying causes before results can occur.

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The pilonidal cyst can certainly feel like a curse—a condition that prevents you from working, sitting comfortably in a chair (who knew what a gift that was before you lost it!), standing and walking when the cyst is at it's worst, and down right LIVING. 

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Despite all that, I invite you to open your mind to the possibility that this may be a blessing in disguise. A condition that forces you to review your health from the inside out, to take fuller care of yourself, and to learn what truly makes you healthy.

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Come with me on an adventure of healing from Pilonidal Sinus Disease.

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May the odds be ever in your favor. 🌿🙌

Rule 1: 

Always keep the area clean and dry. 

This doesn't mean you'll never be able to wear a bathing suit or swim in the ocean again. In fact, ocean water can be GREAT for the pilonidal cyst. But if your cyst is actively weeping or draining, now is not the time for swimming. Keep. It. Clean. I recommend keeping plenty of wet wipes, cotton make-up wipes, and medical gauze on hand. 

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Cysts are in the acne family. So treat it like a skin breakout. Don't let it get too oily, and keep your pores free of bacteria and dirt. An apricot scrub can help with prevention. 

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Rule 2: 
Baking soda & vinegar as soon as you feel that "uh oh" feeling.

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And I mean it. As SOON as you get that "uh oh" feeling (you know the one I'm talking about) it's time to grab the baking soda and white vinegar. Mix the two in a bowl, forming a thick paste with the consistency of wet cement. Slather that on your entire cyst area and watch your favorite Netflix show until it's good and dry. Then rinse it off, pat dry, and repeat twice per day until, hopefully, the symptoms subside. 

Rule 3: 
Castor oil & heat compress if you must draw it to the surface.

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If, and only if, your cyst has decided that against all odds it's making it's journey to the surface, it's time for castor oil & a heat compress. At this point, to expedite this excruciatingly painful process, you'll want to cancel your foreseeable plans (for the next 1-2 weeks) and alternate castor oil & heat with an icepack 10+ times per day. Really, you should do it as many times as you can, at least 15-20 minutes on and off. 

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If it's your first time, brace yourself. This is going to be possibly the worst thing you've ever experienced. I don't mean to alarm you, but I also don't want to undersell how awful this is. It's not extremely likely that the cyst will burst like a volcano. Typically, this is when your sinus forms—a tiny hole through which the infected pus will finally make its slow, dripping exit. (Keep LOTS of gauze and wipes handy for this.) 

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If this isn't your first rodeo, the sinus may open up faster and be FAR less painful. So there's a silver lining there... 

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If you're going through this... I'm so SO sorry. I have been there. And it's terrible. It's easy to panic, become frightened and hopeless, and rush to your doctor. Totally understandable. If this happens, the choice is still yours. Can you brave the natural draining, or do you want to force it with an incision at the doctor's office? My first time, I had it surgically drained. Having experienced both, I now choose to let it occur naturally. ​

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Rule 4: 

Balance your hormones. 

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As found in this Iranian study on the Pilonidal Cyst, there is a CLEAR connection between hormones and instances of disease.

This is the #1 factor that transformed my ability to manage this condition. 

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Which hormones are affecting your cyst? Androgens and estrogens. Why? Well, these are the same hormones linked to "hormonal acne", so it comes as no surprise. 

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These hormones interact with the stimulation of hair follicles and skin oils, all of which are fueling your cyst.

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As a hormone specialist, I am very passionate about this part of the process. Trust me when I say this—hormone testing will save you a TON of time and money in the long run. My Hormone Bliss BootCamp is designed for this exact purpose. 

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If a hormone program isn't in your wheelhouse right now, try this hack: 

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Grab the Pilonidal Cyst Hormone Bundle in the section below. 👇​

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Here's what it includes: 

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Raspberry leaf extract
Stinging Nettle Extract

Dong Quai Extract
Milk Thistle Extract
DIM Pro
HPA Axis Daytime Maintenance 

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Stick to these hard-and-fast rules of holistic Pilonidal Sinus care and you will be well on your way to sitting comfortably in a chair, going back to work, and LIVING your freakin' life!

With love,

Lucille, FDN-P 💚