Helix Piercing

Helix Piercing
Helix piercing is a perforation of the helix part of the ear or the cartilage.  The helix is the outer part of the ear which forms the edge of the ear.  The piercing is done to use jewelry or other decorative ear pieces for ornamentation. There is a specialized hollow gauge needle used for piercing. During the process of piercing a sterile needle is used and pushed through the helix and then kept positioned until the jewelry is added. This process can be painful; for some it can be intolerable while for others it may cause more than moderate pain. This would depend on the person’s capacity to bear pain. Bleeding and swelling if occurs should no be a matter of concern. These are common occurrence experienced in almost all cases.

Though piercing guns are considered advanced way to create puncture they are not recommended as they cause sudden shock and may take longer time to heal, approximately 6 to 8 weeks.  Cartilage or helix is furthest to the canal and can be said as the longest part of the ear. It is actually a rim to the extreme exterior of the ear. Since it is long it provides you an option to decide on which part you want the perforation to be done. You can have a puncture in the lower cartilage or also in upper cartilage; the decision is yours. Some people go for multiple piercing to make their embellishment more prominent. This has become a common practice.

Piercing the helix will allow you to add style to your persona. If the puncture is in the upper cartilage and you have sufficiently longer hair you can also hide the adornment. Nevertheless, you have the liberty to remove your ear-piece and wear it whenever you want (after around two months from piercing). This way you can also maintain professionalism and switch to create style statement within no time.  You should be careful about the placement of the perforation. This is because it should not cause obstruction or it may get snagged on hairs, combs, cloth, etc. The pain caused due to such snagging is mostly intense at least until the puncture is healed. Such entangling can cause redness and sore for the rest of day. You have to be extra careful about your ears when they are recently pierced and are still tender. If in case you get your ear entangled and pulled by mistake it may start bleeding if the puncture is fresh. In such a case you need to clean your ear using some anti bacterial soap. This would help you avoid infections. 

http://www.Symptoms-Causes-treatment.blogspot.com detect diseases at an early stage symptoms, and find out the causes and treatments best suited.

Helix Piercing Healing Time

Cartilage piercing takes long time to heal. If you are not considering appropriate aftercare then the healing may take even more time. One thing you need to know is that cartilage heals from outside in. This makes the outer layer heal first while the inner layers are still healing. This creates a misconception in people who presume that the piercing is healed and in such situation if you turn less careful then the puncture may become sore again. The piercing actually needs at least 2 to 6 months to heal. In some unfortunate cases it may also take up to 8 months. During the healing process you need to clean the perforation at least 2 times a day. 

Helix Piercing Pain

Most people wonder whether helix piercing is painful. When any part of the body is pierced it pains certainly, so obviously helix piercing is also painful. However, the intensity of the pain would differ. Everyone has different level of pain. To your information not many people find helix piercing to be excruciating but for some people it may be the worst pain of their life. Initially, the pain is a sudden pinch which may measure approximate 5 to 7 on the pain scale. After the piercing your ear may hurt for a long time after the process. The pain can be controlled using pain relieving medicines, but this could not be always used. Using a pain killer daily is not suggested. Perhaps you can adopt alternate measures to deal with the pain. Discomfort caused due to the puncture can also be handled using ice packs. You need to ensure keeping the area protected from frictions, bumps and hits. 

Helix Piercing and Infections

Getting helix pierced is not a great concern but the maintaining the piercing and its symptoms is a big deal. You should understand that the perforation is an open wound which can get affected with bacteria or other infections. You need to be careful when you touch it and essentially wash your hands before doing so. Do not allow anyone touch it as they may not only transfer the bacteria but may hurt your ear causing soreness. This is crucial because punctured cartilage is susceptible to infection. In order to ensure hygiene try cleaning your ears at least two times daily. Sometimes you may feel that the jewelry is glued through the puncture. This happens because the blood or puss (in some cases) becomes dried. Try twisting the jewelry while cleaning, but do it gently. You should also use sanitized pillows, bed sheets, etc.  Avoid changing the jewelry unless the pierced helix is healed. You may want to get a better jewelry short after getting the piercing done and you may also try to speed the process. It is suggested to allow the puncture heal conventional. Any inappropriate measure will not only hinder the process of healing but may also cause infections. Just by looking at the punctured area and tracking the progress for one two weeks will enable you to understand how fast the healing is happening. You should go according to the flow and avoid taking unsuitable measures such as using harsh chemicals, creams or changing jewelry without consulting a doctor. 

 Home remedies for helix piercing

You can adopt some effective home remedies to avoid infection and speed up healing process. Try applying warm compresses using chamomile tea bags.  You can apply hot water compresses or sea salt soaks if your punctured helix develops boils filled with puss. If any dried crust is left try removing it with cotton swab dipped in hot water. Make cotton swabs and dip it in lemon juice and apply on the pierced spot. This would help in if hypertrophic scars have developed. If possible, drain the puss out of the boil and get rid of crust if any. Tree oil can be used in case of recurrent boils and scarring; you can apply this again using cotton swab.  Certainly piercing is not an issue, but what makes it a slightly difficult is the aftercare. Some people also use warmed coconut oil which is said to be an effective remedy to treat the healing faster. Nevertheless, you can always opt for doctor’s consultation.

Helix Piercing Pictures

Morgellons Disease

Morgellons Disease
Due to political pressure from people suffering from Morgellons disease, the CDC launched a study into this disease which has baffled scientists for long. In the year 2002, a woman started a website, where she put images of her son’s skin sores that had filament-like structures coming from within. The disease is characterized by stinging, creeping and crawling sensations under the skin. Many scientists have wondered whether it is an infectious disease or a psychological condition. It was after many people bombarded her with emails telling of suffering from the same condition, that Mary Leitao decided to form the Morgellons Research Foundation (MRF). The foundation plays the role of raising awareness, and funding research into the disease. More than 14,000 families have reported that there are people in their families who have this disease.

http://www.Symptoms-Causes-treatment.blogspot.com detect diseases at an early stage symptoms, and find out the causes and treatments best suited.

What is Morgellons disease?

This is a skin condition that has not yet been ascribed a medical definition. The name was not given by a medical professional, although it was borrowed from one. Mary Leitao, after doing some research, found that a 17thcentury doctor by that name had come across a similar case therefore she gave it its name.

Symptoms of Morgellons Disease

The disease presents symptoms of having an itching or crawling sensation under the skin. In the past people used to complain that there are parasites moving under the skin. They thought that it is something which can be extracted. In the effort to pull the “parasite” they scratch the skin and this produces sores. The open sores are the ones which show the filament-like structures. Morgellons disease also presents some mental symptoms. The patient may feel that he or she has been abandoned. There is also some short-term memory loss, which can be very distressing. Patients with Morgellons disease also have a hard time processing thoughts, a condition known as “brain fog”. The patients may also exhibit bi-polar, attention deficit and obsessive-compulsive disorders.

How do the patients describe these living things they believe are beneath their skin? Most patients say that they pull out tiny worm like structures from the open sores. The filaments are very tiny and are almost microscopic. They may have a white, blue, red or black color. Some patients also find sand-like granules under the skin.

Is there any truth to these living agents? Although people have sent pictures and skin samples to researchers, there has not been evidence of life in the filaments. Most samples, even when viewed under a microscope, show skin that is normal. Some of the skin contains hair follicles. Scientists are yet to find any sign of life in any of the skin samples.

Do these patients have other signs of infectious disease?A doctor will look into the history of the patient and see if he or she suffered from skin conditions in the past. The patients suffering from Morgellons disease will have a history of sores which only occur when he or she is scratching the skin to get relief from the crawling sensation. Although there are several infectious agents that cause the skin to be affected, none of them present in the same manner as Morgellons. All the sores that the patients develop are self-inflicted and not caused by some type of skin disease. Although one can see that the patients with this disease are suffering most doctors take it to be a skin condition.

Morgellons disease treatment

Although the disease is quite alarming, and proper research needs to be undertaken, doctors have been baffled about how to treat the condition. People have tried lotions, creams and even enzymes without any success. Doctors have allowed patients to devise their own management plans, since there is no universal way of managing the disease. One plan will work for an individual and fail on another. In order to manage this disease here are some guidelines that you can follow:

• Get a compassionate doctor who will try and help you manage the symptoms whenever you suffer from the symptoms.


• You should also be patient with the doctor, since he or she may carry out various tests to rule out any other treatable disease. It is after this that he or she can diagnose you with having the disease.


• You should also keep an open mind, since the doctor may also recommend you go for psychiatric testing or treatment. This may be due to the various causes that are attributed to this disease.


• You should also get treatment for anxiety, depression, and any other condition that you think may be triggering this disease.

Morgellons disease has caused a furor in the scientific community. Some doctors think that there may be an agent responsible, and it is closely related to that which causes Lyme disease. A true cure for the disease is urgently being sought.

Morgellons Disease Pictures

How long does alcohol stay in blood, urine, breath ?

How long does alcohol stay in blood, urine, breath ?
People who want to drink at a party and then drive home have been known to ask how long it takes alcohol to be metabolized by the body. When you take alcohol above a certain amount, your body is suppressed, and you lose coordination, vision, judgment, etc. The dangers of driving while drunk is well documented, since the drowsiness it causes, makes the driver fall asleep while at the wheel. Only 10% of alcohol is lost through the breath, sweat and urine, and most of it is metabolized by the body. There are several factors that come into play, to determine how long alcohol will remain in your blood.

http://www.Symptoms-Causes-treatment.blogspot.com detect diseases at an early stage symptoms, and find out the causes and treatments best suited.

What factors affect the retention of alcohol in the blood?

The factors are:

•             Gender – In women, alcohol tends to stay longer than it does in men. Women have less water in their bodies, and more fat, and these contribute to storing more alcohol. If a man and a woman have a couple of drinks each, the man will expel more alcohol than the woman, thereby leading to a high Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)

•             Age – people in their 20’s tend to lose alcohol much faster.

•             Duration of abstinence – The longer you stay without drinking alcohol, the lower the BAC will be for the same amount of alcohol. A person who has a drink yesterday will have a higher BAC than someone who stayed away from alcohol for 3 days, even when they consume the same alcohol.

•             Weight – Alcohol is classified as a drug, and will therefore be affected by your weight. A person with a large body mass will not be as affected as someone of a smaller frame.

There are some medications that slow down the metabolism of alcohol. This is because these drugs affect the way the body detoxifies alcohol. Aspirin, paracetamol, and pyrazole, have been known to slow this down. It has also been noted that ethnicity does play a role, in the way the body gets rid of alcohol. The type and amount of alcohol that you take will also determine how long it stays in your system. Similarly, the frequency of eating, and the type of food, also come into play. Body differences also contribute to retention of alcohol.

How long does alcohol stay in the blood?

If you know your BAC, then you can calculate how long alcohol will stay in your blood. This is a measurement of the percentage concentration of alcohol in your blood. Alcohol is metabolized by the body at a rate of 0.016 BAC every hour. Regardless of your body size, this means that you will lose at least one drink, every hour after you stop drinking. BAC in the blood is determined by body size, and you will find a small woman getting to a high BAC on 2 drinks, while a man can have 5 before he reaches the same BAC level. A person with less fat will absorb more alcohol, and this person tends to get drunk much faster.

If you have a drink, and reach a BAC if 0.032, then it will take you only 2 hours to metabolize the alcohol. However, if you have a BAC of 0.24, which is very high, and people usually black out at this level, then you may be legally drunk for another 10 hours, and you will still have some alcohol in your blood the next day. An age old adage that coffee helps in getting sober has been refuted. Coffee will only increase your alertness, but it will have no effect on your BAC.

How long does alcohol stay in Urine?

When 5% of the alcohol absorbed in your stomach, reaches the kidneys, then alcohol will be traced in your urine. Body fluids are conserved by a hormone called vasopressin, which stops the kidneys from removing too much water in the body. However, alcohol suppresses this hormone, and you begin urinating within 20 minutes.

Alcohol cab still be detected in the urine for up to 48 hours after drinking. There is a test which measures ethyl glucuronide, the ETG Urine Alcohol Test, and this can tell if you had taken a drink, after 4 days, which is about 80 hours faster the liver metabolizes the alcohol.

How long does alcohol remain in breath?

This is largely dependent on how much you had to drink, and when you had that drink. Due to the rate at which alcohol is removed from the body, you can expect that you will have alcohol on your breath for as long as the alcohol is still in your blood. This is the reason why people still have a boozy breath when they wake up in the morning after a night of hard drinking.

Many people think that once the alcohol has left the stomach, that their breath will not have alcohol. This is the reason why teens will try to brush their teeth, to try and mask the smell. However, the smell emanates from the alcohol in your blood, and any measures you take will only be temporary. You cannot fool a breathalyzer by taking a few mint drops.

More information on alcohol consumption

It is advisable that you lower the amount of alcohol that you take, in order to maintain good health. You should take vodka and gin, if you want to reduce the number, and severity of your hangovers. Taking beer, will give you a hangover, most of the time. You should eat foods that have protein in order to reduce the amount of alcohol that is being absorbed in the stomach. Drinking on an empty stomach will increase the amount of alcohol absorbed. You should also drink slowly, and try to take wine which has lower alcohol content. Beer is also absorbed slower than vodka, so you should take beer if you do not want to get drunk faster. If you take juices, water, and other non-alcoholic beverages, you will slow down the rate of alcohol absorption. Being active when drinking, such as dancing, walking around, reduces the rate at which your body absorbs alcohol. 

How long does HIV live outside the body ?

How long does HIV live outside the body ?
It is important to understand how long does HIV live outside the body, as it also helps us understand why the virus does not spread from casual contact. HIV stands for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, and it is the one that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). The virus breaks down the immune system, making it susceptible to disease attacks. The defense mechanism of the body kills the bacteria and viruses that enter the body every day. However, with a suppressed immune system, the patient begins getting infections and ailments that would not have occurred normally.

http://www.Symptoms-Causes-treatment.blogspot.com detect diseases at an early stage symptoms, and find out the causes and treatments best suited.

What are the symptoms of HIV?

Usually after infection, people experience a period of slight fever, headaches, fatigue and muscular aches. There may also be a swelling of the glands under the throat, armpit or groin. There are people who may stay with the virus for more than 10 years before they start exhibiting signs of AIDS. There are some who develop the signs much earlier.

What are the symptoms of AIDS?

When the body’s immune system is compromised and certain illnesses start manifesting. These include:

• Thrush – This is the development of a white furry substance in your mouth, and is caused by yeast and can come with a sore throat.


• Recurrent or severe vaginal yeast infections and a constant inflammation of the pelvis.


• There are times when the patient will feel tired for no good reason at all. These may come with some headaches, dizziness, or lightheadedness.


• The patient will also lose a lot of weight very fast, and the body will bruise much easier then.


• The patient will diarrhea for long periods of time.


• The patient will have night sweats and a lot of fever.


• The lymph glands of the throat armpit and groin will begin to swell.


• The patient also develops a long term cough, which is very dry.


• The patient will also suffer from bleeding from growths in the skin, and from all body orifices.


• The patient will develop rashes very many times


• The patient will over time get numbness in the hands or feet, and may lose control of muscles. He may then get paralyzed. There is a decrease in the mental ability of the affected person.

How long does HIV live outside the body ?

The virus has to be embedded in a host or a live culture with a temperature of an average of 98 degree or so, to survive.  Once it is outside, the body, the HIV virus does not live long;  it dies within a couple of minutes as it does not have the temperature needed for its survival. Even little temperature differences and lack of oxygen can cause the virus to die.

Other viruses can go in a temporary state of shut-down, till another suitable host comes along but an HIV virus simply dies as soon as it is out of a host, the cell wall begins to give away.  This is the reason why it is said HIV virus cannot be spread through a kiss or a mere contact, but only through sexual contact or shared IV needles. In case shared IV needles, especially when someone is doing drugs and sharing the blood-filled needles with another person, the virus is passed simply to the other one, without dying. Scientists have found out that HIV can survive in dried blood blood, if there is sufficient amount of room temperature, for a period of 1 to 6 days.

There has not been a single case of HIV being spread through casual touch, as the HIV does not live outside the body. So, if you share a soap that has been used by an HIV infected person, there is no risk unless you have an open wound which may be a risk. Once the virus is exposed to air, it effectively dies.

How do I keep away from contracting the virus?

Most people say that you should abstain from sex with an untested partner. You should get tested before you have unprotected sex, and ideally keep that as your only partner. You should also avoid sharing of needles. Do not use the same toothbrushes, razors, etc. If you are a drug user, then you should go to a needle exchange program to get rid of this addiction.

Lipoma – Excision, Causes, Symptoms, Removal, Pictures

Lipoma – Excision, Causes, Symptoms, Removal, Pictures
http://www.Symptoms-Causes-treatment.blogspot.com detect diseases at an early stage symptoms, and find out the causes and treatments best suited.

What is lipoma ?

A lipoma is a fatty lump of tissue that grows slowly, and is found between the skin and the muscle tissue that lies underneath. The way in which you can tell the difference between a lipoma and another type of growth is that the lipoma moves very easily when pushed at with the finger. The lump also feels like dough, and is not very tender. It is possible to get multiple lipomas, and they can occur at any age, although they are prevalent during middle age. Most patients who get a lipoma are initially scared that it could be cancer, but a lipoma is not harmful, and treatment is not sought unless it unsettles the patient or becomes painful. In this case, the lipoma can be removed. Lipomas are usually small and do not grow above 5 centimeters. However, they can grow and begin affecting surrounding nerves and blood vessels and this will cause some pain. The most prevalent areas of these growths include the neck, back, shoulders, arms, abdomen and thighs. Although a lipoma is harmless, you should always let your doctor diagnose the cause of any lumps that appear on your body.

Causes of lipoma

The real reason why lipomas occur is not known, even if there is strong evidence that it could be genetic. The condition is common in family lines. There are events that can be said to increase chances of developing the conditions and these are:

• Injury – this can cause a lipoma to develop.


• Garner Syndrome – people with multiple lipomatosis will develop several lipomas in life.


• Adiposis dolorosa – could lead to multiple lipomas.


• Madelung disease – people with this disease are likely to develop lipomas.


• Cowden syndrome – another condition that leads to the growth of lipomas.

There seems to be no other known cause of lipomas.

What is the diagnosis of lipomas?

The doctor will need a detailed medical history from you. He or she will check to see if there are people in your family who have suffered from lipomas in the past. The doctor will then take parameters of the lipoma such as size density and mobility. He will then ask that you undergo the following procedures:

• A Biopsy – The doctor will take a small tissue sample of the affected area and then study it under the microscope. This will enable him to see what kind of tissue constitutes the lump. After the biopsy, the cells are examined for malignancy.


• A Computed Tomography (CT) scan – this is to record the existence of the fatty tissue.


• A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan – This will give a high definition image of the fatty lump, and is the best to use when you need proper confirmation that it is a lipoma and not a cancerous growth. If you use this method, then you may not need a biopsy.

Lipoma Treatment

Currently there are two methods that can be used to treat lipoma and these are:

Observation – Since the lipoma is not a harmful growth, most people prefer to observe them and see if they will disappear on their own. The most important thing is to keep seeing the doctor who will ensure that the lipoma does not grow any more, by checking the parameters on every visit. Even if the lump should grow, it is not a medical emergency, and the choice of removal is left to the affected patient.

Surgery – Excision, or surgery, is used to remove the lipoma. This is a simple procedure and local anesthesia is used to numb the area. The doctor will then make a small incision in the skin, through which the lipoma is removed. Where the lipoma is very large, the patient may be put under general anesthesia as opposed to local anesthesia. After the surgery, the patients are sent home, and the stitches are removed after the skin has healed. Rarely do lipomas grow back, but should they grow again, excision is the best procedure to follow. Individuals will get back to their normal lives depending on the size and location of the lipoma.

Liposuction – It is possible to remove a lipoma through liposuction. A small needle is inserte4d into the lipoma, and then suction pressure is applied to the needle. This will suck out the fatty tissue of the lipoma. However, this method may still leave dome of the fatty tissue underneath the skin.

Surgical removal of lipomas is said to be the best option but most people do not want to go through the expense of a surgery yet the growth is not harmful. However, if the lipoma develops a lot of blood vessels, or lies against a bunch of nerves, it can become very painful. In this case, the patient needs to have the lipoma removed.

There are no drugs that can change the growth of a lipoma, or stop it from growing. 

Lipoma removal cost

The cost can vary from $100 to 100o dollars depend on the complexity of the procedure and the number of lumps to be removed. Insurance does not cover the cost, if lipoma excision is for cosmetic reasons. If the reason is medical in nature, the doctor has to give this in writing to the insurance company for the claim to be processed.

Lipoma Pictures

Here are images of lipoma, including excision and surgical removal

Scarlet Fever Rash – Pictures, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Scarlet Fever Rash – Pictures, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
Scarlet fever which is also known as scarlatina is an infectious condition which makes a patient have fever, sore throat, and a rash. Group AStreptococcus infection is associated with this condition. This is the same bacteria, which is responsible in causing the strep throat condition and other skin infections like erysipelas and impetigo. The group Astreptococcus bacteria makes toxins or poisons, which cause the rash to appear on an infected child.

The rash is the most striking sign of the disease. Not all kids are sensitive to the toxin produced by the streptococci bacteria. In addition, not all streptococci bacteria produce this toxin. Scarlet fever occurs in childhood and mainly between the age of 2 and 10 years. However, it can also occur in older children and adults but on rare occasions. The condition is so contiguous meaning that it can easily be spread from one person to another.

http://www.Symptoms-Causes-treatment.blogspot.com detect diseases at an early stage symptoms, and find out the causes and treatments best suited.

Scarlet fever rash symptoms

The scarlet fever rash looks like sunburns and it feels like sandpaper. This rash begins on the face and neck and then spreads to other areas like the trunk, legs and arms. When the reddened skin is exerted with pressure, it turns pale. The skin folds on armpits, groin, knees, elbow, and neck are deeper red when compared to the surrounding skin. The face of the patient appears flushed and it has a pale ring around the mouth.

The tongue looks red and bumpy or what is known as strawberry tongue. The tongue is also covered with white coating especially during the early stages of the disease. Usually the rash on face lasts for about one week. When the red rash and red line as well as flushed face symptoms subside, the skin that is affected by the rash peels off. There are other symptoms, which are associated with scarlet fever rash, and they include fever, sore and red throat that at times form white and yellow patches. There is also a difficulty in swallowing. There is enlargement of glands in the neck or the lymph nodes. Nausea and vomiting as well as headache are other symptoms of the condition.

Causes

Scarlet fever is caused by a bacteria streptococcus pyogenes that produce exotoxins. The characteristic scarlet colored rash occurs as a result of release of particular toxins when a person is infected with the bacteria. In most of the cases, the scarlet fever is caused by pharyngeal streptococcal infection, which causes strep throat but at other rare occasions, the disease can be caused by infection by streptococcal at other sites like the skin.

This condition can occur anytime but it is more prevalent in winter and spring. The streptococcal bacterium is spread through airborne respiratory droplets from people infected with the condition. It may also be spread from individuals who carry the bacteria but they do not experience symptoms (asymptomatic carriers).

A person can also get the disease after being in contact with secretions from an infected person. In rare circumstances, it can be caused by food-borne outbreaks. The spread of the disease tends to be high in crowded environment where people infected with the condition come in close contact with uninfected persons such as in schools.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of the condition may be done by use of cotton swab that is placed at the back of the throat and tonsils. This helps detect scarlet fever associated with strep throat. A rapid antigen test or rapid strep test can produce results in a few minutes. A throat culture is more sensitive and may require a period of about 24 to 48 years to produce results. Complete blood count may be done to help determine the infection. If the streptococcal infection arises from other sites, other examinations may need to be conducted to confirm the disease.

Scarlet Fever Rash Treatment

Treatment is mainly done with use of antibiotics. These medications are curative and can prevent potential complications of the disease. They also shorten the duration in which the symptoms last by about one day. Moreover, use of antibiotics reduces the contiguousness of the disease. When people with scarlet fever take antibiotics for at least 24 hours, they are not contagious.

It is essential for patients to complete the prescribed full dozes of the antibiotics in order to prevent any complications. If an early cessation of antibiotics occurs, it can lead to insufficient treatment of the infection something that increases the risks of developing other complications like acute rheumatic fever.

Majority of the scarlet fever infections can be managed at home but when the complications are serious, further medical attention is needed. Unless there is serious complications of the disease, an individual with the condition can use over the counter medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen to reduce pain and fever. Fluid intake and adequate rest is needed to help speed up the recovery. If a patient with the condition has pharyngitis, then throat lozenges may help offer short-term relief for minor sore throat. A patient may need to gargle with use of warm salt water.

Scarlet Fever Rash Pictures

Pilonidal Abscess

Pilonidal Abscess
Pilonidal abscess is an infection, which occurs in cyst at the pilonidal part of the body. Pilonidal is an area located beneath the tailbone. This area is specifically located under the tailbone and at the top part of the cleft in buttocks. This area is covered with hair and at time because of its location, it collects debris. A pocket sometimes is formed in the skin around the pilonidal area developing into a cyst. When the cyst is infected, it can swell and build up pus.

Although pilonidal cyst is mainly harmless, and may not need treatment, if it is infected, it can cause troubles. An infected pilonidal cyst or pocket leads to a condition known as pilonidal abscess. This condition requires treatment in order to get rid of the infection. The abscess can occur at one time or it can be recurring meaning that it comes and goes. When a person has pilonidal abscess, it may go away itself or it may have to be treated and drained. Pilonidal abscesses appear like large pimple in the area at the bottom of tailbone.

Causes of pilonidal abscess

There are different aspects that may cause pilonidal abscess and one is ingrown hair. Ingrown hairs occur when hair curls around and grows back to the skin. The hair does not grow upwards as it is supposed to and instead it grows inside the skin. Another possible cause is excessive sitting, which increases pressure on coccyx area.

Although trauma or injury is not believed to cause the pilonidal cyst, such events can lead to inflammation of an already existing pilonidal cyst. Excessive sweating may lead to pilonidal abscess. When moisture fills a stretched hair follicle, it can lead to low oxygen environment that enhances growth of anaerobic bacteria. The presence of such bacteria coupled with the low oxygen may impair wound healing and increase the chances of formation of pilonidal cyst. This condition is common in young people and rarely affects people over 40 years. Men are more likely to suffer the infection than women are.

Symptoms of pilonidal abscess

A pilonidal cyst or pilonidal abscess may have symptoms like pain at the bottom of the spine. The pain is caused by swelling that occurs in the same area. The infected area becomes red and drains pus. A person may also have fever. If you have any of these symptoms, you need to consult your doctor. Some people do not show symptoms of this condition however, those who develop symptoms, they include occasional pus, which accumulates in the cyst, or pocket.

To diagnose pilonidal cyst, a doctor may gather information about your past medical history. The doctor may ask questions on symptoms you have had regarding the cyst. A physical exam is performed by the doctor to determine the tenderness, redness, and swelling of the affected area especially the region between the buttocks and cheeks above the anus. Physical examination may also check on fever and increased white blood cells through blood sample, although this is not always taken. Inflammation of the surrounding skin is also examined.

Treatment of pilonidal abscess

Patients who suffer from acute pilonidal abscess need to get treatment for the condition. A doctor may use incision procedure to remove the pus. A local anesthesia is applied to numb the affected area. An incision is performed to drain of pus that has accumulated on the pocket. Such draining of pus relieves the pressure created and decreases pain. A patient needs to ensure the area is cleansed properly in order to keep debris and hair away from the wound.

A follow up is needed to ensure the wound heals. The healing of the wound can occur within a few weeks. If the abscess continues to recur, a surgery may be required to open, clean, and stitch the cyst. Wound hygiene is very important when treating this condition to ensure that no re-infection occurs. The area has to be cleansed and dressed properly to prevent premature closure of skin or a re-infection as these problems can occur after a surgery has been done.

Marsupialization is a procedure, which involves the use of incision to drain and remove pus and debris such as hair that may be present in the cyst. The area is sewed on the edges of fibrous tract and the wound edges to create a pouch. Although antibiotics do not heal cyst, use of these antibiotics may be recommended to help treat the bacterial infection.

Hot compresses and use of depilatory creams are other ways that can be used to treat this condition. There are home remedies that may help in relieving the symptoms like redness and swelling as well as pain. Sitting on warm tub can decrease the pain and reduce the chances of the cyst developing to a level where it requires incision and drainage.