Hidradenitis suppurativa and pilonidal cyst are two skin conditions. Both these conditions can cause lumps to form beneath the skin and these lumps can develop into uncomfortable abscesses. They are often misdiagnosed and mistaken for one another. But they have unique causes and treatments.
The key difference between hidradenitis suppurativa and pilonidal cyst is that hidradenitis suppurativa affects hair follicles, causing painful recurring abscesses in sweaty areas of the body, while pilonidal cyst results in a round sac of tissue filled with fluid, hair, and skin debris and is located in the crease of the buttocks.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Hidradenitis Suppurativa
3. What is Pilonidal Cyst
4. Similarities – Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Pilonidal Cyst
5. Hidradenitis Suppurativa vs Pilonidal Cyst in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Hidradenitis Suppurativa vs Pilonidal Cyst
7. FAQ – Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Pilonidal Cyst
What is Hidradenitis Suppurativa?
Hidradenitis suppurativa is an uncomfortable, chronic autoinflammatory skin condition that causes lumps to form under the skin. These lumps can change into abscesses. The growths can develop in sweaty areas of skin friction or folds, including armpits, breast folds, inner thighs, groin, buttocks, or anus. This condition is due to the body attacking the hair follicles, resulting in abscesses, chronic inflammation, and scarring.
The signs and symptoms of hidradenitis suppurativa may include uncomfortable burning or itching in the skin before lump formation, small uncomfortable lumps, lumps that form and merge, abscesses that burst and drain, tunnels connecting the lumps, slow healing and recurrence, and scarring with black lumps that resemble blackheads.
Hidradenitis suppurativa is diagnosed through a review of health history and a physical examination. Furthermore, treatment options for hidradenitis suppurativa include applying antiperspirants, daily antiseptic wash, applying retinoids, ice packs or warm compresses, lidocaine skin cream, taking over-the-counter pain relievers, biologic therapy (adalimumab), taking antibiotics, hormone therapy (metformin and birth control pill), Botox injections, steroid injections, deroofing surgery, and laser therapy.
What is Pilonidal Cyst?
A pilonidal cyst is a fluid-filled skin sac that forms in the crease of the buttock. This condition is caused by loose hairs that puncture the skin due to friction and pressure from rubbed skin, cycling or long periods of sitting, and tight clothing,. The signs and symptoms may include a red, tender large lump in the crease of the buttock, discomfort that increases with sitting, oozing abscesses, nausea, fever, and fatigue.
Pilonidal cysts can be diagnosed through medical history, observing personal habits, physical examination, and skin biopsy. Furthermore, treatment options for pilonidal cysts include removing the cyst through surgery, leaving the wound open and packing it with dressing, or closing the wound with stitches after surgery.
Similarities Between Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Pilonidal Cyst
- Hidradenitis suppurativa and pilonidal cysts are two uncomfortable skin conditions.
- Both these skin conditions can cause lumps to form beneath the skin, and these lumps can develop into abscesses.
- Both these skin conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination.
- They can be treated by taking pain medications and performing specific surgeries.
Difference Between Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Pilonidal Cyst
Definition
- Hidradenitis suppurativa is a skin condition that results in painful, recurring boils in areas of the body with sweat glands.
- A pilonidal cyst is a skin condition that results in unusual pockets in the skin that forms in the crease of the buttock.
Causes
- Hidradenitis suppurativa is an autoimmune condition.
- Pilonidal cyst is caused by loose hairs that puncture the skin due to friction and pressure from rubbed skin, cycling or long periods of sitting, and tight clothing.
Signs and Symptoms
- The signs and symptoms of hidradenitis suppurativa include bumps in one place or in several areas at once, itchy bumps, bumps turning to pockets of pus, and small pitted areas with blackheads.
- The signs and symptoms of pilonidal cysts include a tender lump in the crease of the buttocks, pain, redness, and swelling at the bottom of the spine, pus or blood draining out of the lump, bad smell from the pus, fever, and nausea.
Diagnosis
- Hidradenitis suppurativa is diagnosed through a review of the health history and a physical examination.
- A pilonidal cyst is diagnosed through a medical history, personal habits, physical examination, and skin biopsy.
Treatment
- Hidradenitis suppurativa is treated through warm compresses, NSAIDs, corticosteroids, antibiotics, and retinoids, topical resorcinol, biologic therapy, hormone therapy, laser therapy, and surgery.
- Pilonidal cyst is treated by taking antibiotics, using laser therapy, draining, using marsupialization, and using surgery.
The following table summarizes the difference between hidradenitis suppurativa and pilonidal cyst.
Summary – Hidradenitis Suppurativa vs Pilonidal Cyst
Hidradenitis suppurativa and pilonidal cyst cause painful lumps to form on the skin that won’t go away easily. In both these conditions, the symptoms are caused by pressure and irritation. However, hidradenitis suppurativa is a skin condition that results in painful bumps under the skin in the hair roots and near sweat glands, while pilonidal cyst is a skin condition that results in a fluid-filled cyst at the bottom of the tailbone or coccyx. This is the main difference between hidradenitis suppurativa and pilonidal cyst.
FAQ: Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Pilonidal Cyst
1. What is the main cause of hidradenitis suppurativa?
- Hidradenitis suppurativa is an autoimmune condition where the body attacks the hair follicle in the skin. This can be caused by a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors.
2. What is the best treatment for hidradenitis suppurativa?
- The best treatments for hidradenitis suppurativa include applying retinoids, ice packs or warm compresses, lidocaine skin cream, taking over-the-counter pain relievers, antibiotics, biologic therapy, hormone therapy, Botox injections, steroid injections, deroofing surgery, and laser therapy.
3. What is the main cause of pilonidal cysts?
- The main cause of pilonidal cysts is loose hairs that puncture the skin due to friction and pressure from rubbed skin, tight clothing, cycling, or long periods of sitting. Most pilonidal cysts form on the tailbone or in the crease of the buttocks.
4. How does it know if a pilonidal cyst is forming?
- The signs and symptoms of the pilonidal cyst include a pit near the top of the buttocks crease, uncomfortable feeling or pain, inflamed, swollen skin, pus or blood leaking from an opening in the skin, and an odor from draining pus.
5. What is the best treatment for a pilonidal cyst?
- The best treatment options for a pilonidal cyst include antibiotics, draining, laser therapy, marsupialization, and surgery.
Reference:
1. “Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Stages, and Treatment.” WebMD.
2. “Pilonidal Cyst: Symptoms, Causes, & Treatment.” WebMD.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Lesions from hidradenitis suppurativa” By BRI72783 – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Pilonidal cyst” By GiggsHammouri – Own work (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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