A pilonidil cyst is a sometimes painful cyst that is almost always found at the top of the cleft of the buttocks near the tailbone. When the cyst --- typically a small depression or pocket --- becomes infected, it causes significant discomfort when you sit or place pressure on it. For those who love to cycle or who rely on a bike for transportation, a pilonidal cyst poses a significant obstacle.
Causes
Experts don't agree on the causes of pilonidal cysts, according to the Mayo Clinic. Derived from the Latin words that mean hair and nest, a pilonidal cyst always involves a hair buried under the skin that is surrounded by a cyst. It may be caused when pressure or friction causes a loose hair to penetrate and work itself down into the skin. Biking, walking, sitting for long periods of time, tight clothing or skin pressing against skin might contribute to pressuring the hair into the skin. Once the hair has penetrated beneath the surface of the skin, the body responds as if it has been invaded by a foreign object, creating a cyst around the hair.
Another possible explanation is that movement and stretching of deep layers of skin agitate, enlarge, then rupture a hair follicle, the tiny bulb-like structure from which a hair grows. Exercise such as biking or horseback riding might contribute to the development of these cysts. Rarely, children are born with an indentation or sacral dimple at the top of the buttocks which can become infected and form a pilonidal abscess, the Mayo Clinic reports. Pilonidal cysts occur more frequently in younger people.
Symptoms
Often, pilonidal cysts will essentially be symptom-free, presenting with only a small lump at the top of the cleft of the buttocks. Symptoms develop when the cyst becomes infected. Symptoms that can emerge during an infection include pain, reddening of the skin, localized swelling, drainage of pus or blood, a foul odor and a hair protruding from the cyst, the Mayo Clinic reports. Less commonly, you may develop a fever. The discomfort can disrupt routine activities such as sitting or walking.
Treatment
Uninfected pilonidal cysts don't cause aversive symptoms and are often left untreated. Infected pilonidal cysts, however, can be difficult to ignore. Initial treatment includes using antibacterial soap to keep the affected area and the crease of the buttocks clean. If you have symptoms, consult your physician, who might prescribe antibiotics to help control the infection. You can also use an alcohol swab several times a day to reduce bacteria and manage the infection. If the symptoms persist or cause too much discomfort your doctor may perform outpatient surgery to drain or remove the cyst.
Cycling
Bicycling may or may not cause additional discomfort, depending on the precise location of the cyst and how you position yourself on the seat. Most people typically sit with the bony part of the bottom on a bike, placing pressure below the area of the pilonidal cyst. If you have discomfort when riding a bike, heed the pain and avoid applying pressure to the cyst. If the cyst causes enough discomfort as to disrupt your bicycle riding, consult your doctor. You might be a good candidate for outpatient surgical treatment of the cyst.
Split Saddle Seat
If you want to avoid exacerbating symptoms of a pilonidal cyst or want to reduce the risk of developing further cysts, you may purchase a split-saddle seat for your bike that reduces pressure. These saddle seats --- such as the EasySeat Split Cheek --- have plenty of padding and a split down the middle, and can provide comfort to those who have pilonidal cysts, hemorrhoids or other conditions that make it uncomfortable to sit on a bike seat.
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