About sebaceous cyst

What is sebaceous cyst?

Though they're not cancerous, sebaceous cysts can be irritating.

A sebaceous cyst is a small lump or bump under the skin. This type of cyst is not cancerous.

They are most often found on the face, neck, upper back, and upper chest, but can occur on other sites of the body as well.

Usually a sebaceous cyst grows very slowly and doesn't cause pain.

However, they can become inflamed or infected, with the overlying skin becoming red, tender, and sore.

Sometimes, they occur on a site that is constantly irritated, such as a cyst on your neck that rubs against your collar.

In those cases, treatment can help reduce discomfort.

A cheesy, bad-smelling material sometimes drains from the cyst. And they can look bad cosmetically, especially if one develops on your face.

What are the symptoms for sebaceous cyst?

Redness symptom was found in the sebaceous cyst condition

Small cysts are typically not painful. Large cysts can range from uncomfortable to considerably painful. Large cysts on the face and neck may cause pressure and pain.

This type of cyst is typically filled with white flakes of keratin, which is also a key element that makes up your skin and nails. Most cysts are soft to the touch.

Areas on the body where cysts are usually found include:

  • scalp
  • face
  • neck
  • back

A sebaceous cyst is considered atypical — and possibly cancerous — if it has the following characteristics:

  • a diameter that’s larger than 5 centimeters
  • a fast rate of reoccurrence after being removed
  • signs of infection, such as redness, pain, or Pus drainage

What are the causes for sebaceous cyst?

Sebaceous cysts form out of your sebaceous gland. The sebaceous gland produces the oil (called sebum) that coats your hair and skin.

Cysts can develop if the gland or its duct (the passage from which the oil is able to leave) becomes damaged or blocked. This usually occurs due to trauma to the area.

The trauma may be a scratch, a surgical wound, or a skin condition, such as acne. Sebaceous cysts grow slowly, so the trauma may have occurred weeks or months before you notice the cyst.

Other causes of a sebaceous cyst may include:

  • misshapen or deformed ducts
  • damage to the cells during surgery
  • genetic conditions, such as Gardner’s syndrome or basal cell nevus syndrome

What are the treatments for sebaceous cyst?

Your doctor can treat a cyst by draining it or by surgically removing it. Usually, cysts are removed. This doesn’t mean they’re dangerous — it may be for cosmetic reasons.

Since most cysts aren’t harmful to your health, your doctor will allow you to choose the treatment option that works for you.

It’s important to remember that without surgical removal, your cyst will usually come back. The best treatment to ensure complete removal is surgery. However, some people may decide against surgery because it can cause scarring.

Your doctor may use one of the following methods to remove your cyst:

  • Conventional wide excision. This completely removes a cyst but can leave a long scar.
  • Minimal excision. A method that causes minimal scarring but carries a risk that the cyst will return.
  • Laser with punch biopsy excision. This uses a laser to make a small hole to drain the cyst of its contents (the outer walls of the cyst are removed about a month later).

After your cyst is removed, your doctor may give you an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection. You should use this until the healing process is complete. You may also be given a scar cream to reduce the appearance of any surgical scars.

What are the risk factors for sebaceous cyst?

Commonly found on the face, neck, upper back, and chest, sebaceous cysts are small lump or bump under the skin. If the condition starts to get worse, it is advisable to consult a doctor. Regular checkups are encouraged to keep it from spreading and causing infection.

Risk factors

A sebaceous cyst could result in the following: -

  • Unfavorable effects of treatment- There are no permanent effects of treating it. However, it could be cancerous in which case the treatment is prolonged and can lead to adverse effects.
  • Self-consciousness- An occurrence of sebaceous cyst on the face leads to embarrassment when stepping out in public.
  • Infection of the cyst- When the cyst becomes infected, it starts to spread to the surrounding area and results into a more serious condition called cellulitis.
  • Rupture of the cyst with an inflammatory reaction- If the cyst bursts suddenly, it becomes inflamed and causes discomfort.
  • Scar- Removal of the sebaceous cyst will sometimes leave you with a scar.
  • Skin abscess- Forming of puss can be very painful. The area around the cyst becomes red and swollen.


Symptoms
Lumps, may or may not be painful,Soreness,Redness,Inflammation,Swelling,Yellow or white in color,Tender to touch,Blackhead
Conditions
Genetic, gland or duct gets damaged,An injury that causes a vessel to break,A defective cell,Chronic inflammatory condition
Drugs
Cephalexin,Cloxacillin,Isotretinoin,Clotrimazole gel,Mupirocin ointment I.P.,Tretinoin gel

Is there a cure/medications for sebaceous cyst?

Sebaceous cysts are usually left untreated when the condition is not very severe. The doctors leave it up to the patient to choose the best-suited treatment option and suggest a course of action in case the condition is critical.

  • The patient can have it drained or removed if he/she feels conscious and the appearance of it becomes bothersome.
  • Surgery is a very safe procedure recommended by the doctor in case the condition is not life-threatening and the treatment is only limited to cosmetic reasons.
  • It is important to have it operated because it stops it from returning.
  • Surgery can sometimes leave a scar, and therefore, some patients decide against it.


One of the following excisions can be performed to extract the cyst: -

  • Wide excision- A wide excision is effective when it comes to completely removing the cyst. However, it leaves a big scar. It is suggested if the patient does not want the cyst to come back.
  • Narrow excision- It is not as effective as a wide excision because there is a risk that the cyst will return.
  • Laser treatment- The laser makes a small hole allowing doctors to drain the cyst. Patients are called back after a month to remove the outer layer of the cyst.
  • Punch excision- With the help of a scalpel in the shape of a cookie cutter, the cyst and a small margin of the skin around it is removed.
  • Once the cyst is removed, in the interest of preventing an infection, the doctor will prescribe medications and/or antibiotics that are to be taken until healed. A scar cream to reduce the appearance of any surgical scars may also be given by the doctor.
  • In cases where the cyst is cancerous, the condition will be different and severe, making the treatment critical and necessary.


Symptoms
Lumps, may or may not be painful,Soreness,Redness,Inflammation,Swelling,Yellow or white in color,Tender to touch,Blackhead
Conditions
Genetic, gland or duct gets damaged,An injury that causes a vessel to break,A defective cell,Chronic inflammatory condition
Drugs
Cephalexin,Cloxacillin,Isotretinoin,Clotrimazole gel,Mupirocin ointment I.P.,Tretinoin gel

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