Successful Treatment of Recurrent Pilonidal Sinus with Laser Epilation

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Successful Treatment of Recurrent Pilonidal Sinus with Laser Epilation
Published Online: 21 Mar 2006
Landa Nerea, MD 1 , Aller Oscar, MD 1 , Landa-Gundin Nagore, RN 1 , Torrontegui Jaione, RN 1 , Azpiazu Jose L., MD 1
Dermatologic Surgery
Wiley InterScience

© 2008 American Society of Dermatologic Surgery

1 Dermitek Clinic of Laser, Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Nerea Landa, MD, General Concha, 12Ò1, Bilbao, Bizkaia 48008, Basque Country, Spain, or e-mail: dermitek@dermitek.com.
NEREA LANDA, MD, OSCAR ALLER, MD, NAGORE LANDA-GUNDIN, RN, JAIONE TORRONTEGUI, RN, AND JOSE L. AZPIAZU, MD, HAVE INDICATED NO SIGNIFICANT INTEREST WITH COMMERCIAL SUPPORTERS.

Copyright 2005 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc.
ABSTRACT
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.

Conclusion. 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.


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DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)
10.1111/j.1524-4725.2005.31601

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