The natal cleft is the cleft between the two buttocks in a human being. It is the crack that appears between the two cheeks of the buttocks beginning at the bottom of the spine and ending below the anus. A pilonidal cyst is a cyst that appears in the natal cleft in most cases. Some pilonidal cysts can occur in different parts of the body such as in the navel. A pilonidal cyst can be extremely painful.
A cyst is a sac that has formed either on the surface of the skin or on an organ inside the body. Skin surface cysts are usually filled with pus like fluid or with air and generally would be harmless. Cysts can indicate an infection and may need to be removed surgically or treated with antibiotic medication.
Pilonidal cysts have been associated with the modern lifestyle which involves a lot of sitting. There are various theories about the actual cause of such a cyst but many associate it with the continuous pressure that is applied on the area when sitting for long periods of time. It is possible that the cyst occurs in a hair follicle, initially, and then becomes larger as the area around it gets infected and becomes a part of the cyst. Another theory suggests that the very shape of a particular individual's natal cleft may be responsible for the increased susceptibility of that individual to developing a pilonidal cyst. Other arguments suggest that this type of a cyst may come and go and may exist in a large number of individuals without them noticing any symptoms. This occurs until a physical injury or sitting for too long on the area irritates the cyst and causes it to begin growing and to start showing symptoms. The symptoms are usually painful because of the pressure being exerted on all sides of the cyst. The cyst might be sore to touch.
Treating such a condition requires surgical or medical intervention. Surgical intervention can be as simple as just draining the cyst in order to reduce the symptoms before medication is applied or consumed. In severe cases, surgeries might need to be conducted in order to remove the cyst. Anti fungal and anti bacterial creams may be recommended for the area as well as thorough washing and changing of clothing, particularly underwear to a different design that would not affect the area. Healing from a surgery takes time and during this, recurrence is highly likely.
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