Barber’s Abscess: Pilonidal Sinus in a Female Barber’s Hand

Abstract

Barber’s abscess is an acquired occupational disease, thought to be caused by short hair clippings that enter the susceptible web space skin, usually seen in male barbers. This case report is to report a rare case of a female barber, who developed a pilonidal sinus (PS) in the interdigital web space of her non-dominant left hand, requiring excision with a flap reconstruction and also to review the relevant literature. A 46-year-old female barber underwent day case surgical excision of the PS with a Foucher flap reconstruction of her left non-dominant hand, third web space. The patient remains disease-free 3 years on. PS of the interdigital space of the hand is a rare and preventable acquired occupational disease. Personal hygiene and meticulous removal of any hair clippings from the web space could prevent the formation of the pilonidal sinus.