Warning of ingrown hair in children: “While there used to be 1-2 cases per month, now there are at least 2-3 cases per week”

Stating that they have recently encountered more frequent cases of ingrown hairs in children, Pediatric Surgery Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Oktav Bosnalı said, “With the increase in inactivity and obesity, patients with ingrown hairs unfortunately started to increase. While there used to be 1-2 cases per month, now at least 2-3 cases are admitted at least once a week. We also observe that this disease is increasing in the society. Let's apply to the hospital early when there is a complaint.”

Pilonidal sinus, popularly known as ingrown hair, is the growth of hairs in the coccyx area into the skin as a result of reasons such as sweating and sitting too much. Experts recently talked about the frequency of this disease in children and gave important warnings to families. Prof. Dr. Cemil Taşcıoğlu City Hospital Pediatric Surgery Department Assoc. Prof. Dr. Oktav Bosnalı said that inactivity and obesity pose a great risk in the formation of this condition, which seriously affects the quality of life in people. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bosnalı gave information about the disease and the treatment process.

“It became widespread with the increase in inactivity and obesity”

Pediatric Surgery Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Oktav Bosnalı, who stated that they are now encountering more cases of ingrown hair compared to the past, said, “On average, we have to operate 2 or 3 cases every week in our clinic. Unfortunately, patients with ingrown hairs started to increase with the increase in inactivity and obesity, especially during the corona, lockdown periods, decrease in mobility, and the widespread use of computer games, television and telephone in our young population. Ingrown hair disease is a disease characterized by the growth of the hairs in the coccyx region, not outward from the skin, but inward, and then causing an inflammation and infection in that area, causing abscesses and discharge to the outside. Although the disease is very easy to treat if caught at the very beginning, in neglected and advanced cases, a larger abscess develops inside. Therefore, it may be necessary to perform a serious surgical intervention. Patients with excessive hair in this area, overweight patients, sitting for long hours and inactivity can cause this area to become infected. Spending a lot of time in front of the television and computer, and constant inactivity are the most important reasons that increase this disease. Therefore, being active, paying attention to personal hygiene, and doing sports outdoors whenever possible are the most important factors in preventing this disease. At the point of treatment, we work as follows; first, we evaluate the patients when they come to us. Are their abscesses very serious or not? We try to understand what kind of treatment they respond to,” he said.

“We receive at least 2-3 cases a week”

Giving information about the treatment of ingrown hairs, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bosnalı said, “There are many different forms of treatment. It is possible to treat them in various ways, from closed surgery to open surgery or non-surgical phenol burning. If it is caught before it progresses, phenol treatment, but if it is very advanced, we can do it with the closed method, we can clean the inside by seeing it. If necessary, we can scrape that area completely and operate with the open method. Regular hair removal after surgery is also important to prevent recurrence of the disease. It is important to pay attention to personal hygiene, to wear airy clothes, to make sure that the area is not sweaty. Since we were established 4 years ago, we used to receive 1-2 cases a month, but now we receive at least 2-3 cases a week. We also observe that this disease is increasing in the society. The most important recommendation not only for this disease but also for all our children is to reduce the time spent in front of the computer and screen. This is important for both their sociocultural development and their physical health. Let's go to open spaces, let our children do sports. Pay attention to their hygiene, stay away from excessively tight, synthetic clothes. Whenever possible, let's apply to the hospital early when there is a complaint.”