Who is affected by pilonidal disease?

Your risk of developing pilonidal disease increases if you are:1

  • A white male. Pilonidal cysts are 3 times more likely to develop in white men than in white women. (They are rare in blacks and Asians.2)
  • Between the ages of 15 and 40. The occurrence of pilonidal cysts peaks between 16 and 20 years of age.
  • A person with heavy growth of body hair.
  • An overweight male.

Author: Maria G. Essig, MS, ELSLast Updated: December 14, 2007
Medical Review: Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Brent Shoji, MD - General Surgery

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