Regular epilation alone is an acceptable treatment for symptom-free pilonidal patients

This prospective study demonstrates that regular hair removal (epilation) alone is as effective as combined surgical excision and epilation for asymptomatic pilonidal disease patients, with similar recurrence rates (12.6% vs 9.4%). The findings support a conservative-first approach in symptom-free adolescent patients, reserving surgery for those who develop symptoms or recurrence.