Successful treatment of recurrent pilonidal sinus with laser epilation.
BACKGROUND
Pilonidal disease is a chronic disease of the natal cleft. Recurrent follicular infection is the causative factor. Surgical treatment has a significant failure rate, and recurrence is common. Laser removal of hair in the natal cleft could be an alternative to surgery.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the effectiveness of laser hair removal in the natal cleft on pilonidal disease.


METHODS
Six young men with recurrent pilonidal disease were treated with laser epilation in our clinic from 2000 to 2003. Most patients had a history of one or more surgical treatments in the area, and all patients had suffered recurrent folliculitis for years. An alexandrite laser was mostly used, although, occasionally, an intense pulsed light device was used. The number of epilation treatments ranged from 3 to 11, performed at 6- to 8-week intervals.


RESULTS
All patients experienced progressive resolution of the folliculitis with the laser epilation treatments. No more surgical treatments have been needed. The treatments were simple and quick, and there were no complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Laser epilation of the natal cleft should be considered a first choice treatment for recurrent pilonidal disease. Preventive laser epilation of the natal cleft in patients with recurrent folliculitis could avoid future surgery.
Dermitek Clinic of Laser, Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain. dermitek@dermitek.com
Nerea
N
Landa
Oscar
O
Aller
Nagore
N
Landa-Gundin
Jaione
J
Torrontegui
Jose L
JL
Azpiazu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006204:Hair Removal; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D010864:Pilonidal Sinus / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012008:Recurrence