Well, at around 15, I first noticed my "Pilonidal Sinus", which is the opening of a beneath-the-surface cyst, often filled with hair, or various blockages such as cellular debris. It has always remained - sometimes bleeding, but more often than not, just there. Never painful. However, last night, it started draining (bleeding) rather profusely after being aggravated by cleaning and drying (with a towel).
This prompted me to research the subject a bit further, and I started learning of the infection it causes, and how many can become temporarily nauscious, have head-aches, or general malaise, due to their Pilonidal Cysts.
It was then that an idea popped into my head. My acne has never been affected (even mildly) by any oral medication (Tetracycline, Erythromycine), nor was it helped by any of the topicals I tried (including Retin-A, Benzoyl Peroxide, etc). I am now 2 months into Accutane. My acne and cyst appeared at the same time, and both still remain. When I had my blood analyzed, it was found that I had an abundance of white blood cells present, indicating that my body was fighting infection. For the past 2 years, I've had continued nazal congestion. My general health is poor, despite RIGIOUROUS diet modification. I'm always tired (without an alarm, I typically sleep 12 hours before waking up even once, and I typically fight off falling asleep while on the morning and afternoon commute). I am sick on a higher occurance than I was prior to both acne and the cyst - I am now 22, and the acne is worse than it has ever been.
Is it possible that this cyst (which, by its very nature, is an infection) is leeching into my bloodstream and creating an overall septic situation in my body - where it is having to continually fight off infection?
Just thought I'd post something thats been shooting around in my brain for the past while.
Do you often have swollen or tender lymph nodes in your groin area, or somewhere near the abscess?? (I'm guessing the abscess is near your tailbone as most pilonidal abscesses are....althoough then can occur anywhere that has hair follicles). That can indicate an infection near by that the bacteria is draining into. The bacteria in the abscess may be resistant to many oral antiboitics, especially if you've been taking a few of them for acne........It's most likely a form of staph (that may be resistant). You may also run low grade fevers and your WBC is usually pretty high......indicating a chronic infection......You don't want to let this infection keep leaking into you bloodstream. One rare occasions it can become a systemic infection.....and the last thing you want is a systemic resistant staph infection........You should get it taken care of.......I doubt that you are septic now though....and I don't want to scare you......but this cyst thing is making you feel crappy.........
Surgical draniage and extraction is an option if antiboitics fail (and they usually do).......just wait until your couse of tane is finished........
I'd see an infectious disease specialist rather then a derm.......they may know more about it then a derm would.......they may be able to refer you to surgeon or doctor that can help. As it being tied to the acne......it may be or it may not be. Since the abcess is formed from a blocked hair follicle you may simply have acne for the same reson you have this abscess, and not becuase the abcsss is causing the acne. And most of these abcesses rear their ugly heads near the time you develop acne (adolecence and young adulthood)............
Well I have the same theory, just two weeks ago I had my Pilonidal abscess ( yes it was infected) of three years, removed. I had it excised and it was left as an open wound to heal as recommended by my surgeon. From this past summer to about January, my cyst was fine and wasn't a hassle at all. Around the same time I got one lower wisdom teeth extracted my Pilonidal cyst got infected, I think it was because I would slump on a plastic chair I have at home for prolong amount of time.
My skin was clear, but I started breaking out again this December not too bad. Then after my Pilonidal cyst got swollen and infected, I broke out even more under my jawline on my neck. The cyst were big and hideous, I was devastated still am. I saw this face map online which indicate each face region and why you breakout on those specific region. Mine was mainly the neck region and it states that I'm fighting an infection, infection being the Pilonidal abscess right?
So my breakout on my neck is still bad but a little better than before I would say. I'm still devasted about my breakout, my skin was finally clear and it felt amazing. Maybe in a month once my wound is healed a little more my skin will get better because my immune system won't have that abscess to keep fighting.