Buildup of trapped keratin usually causes epidermoid cysts. Keratin is a protein that occurs naturally in skin cells. Cysts develop when the protein is trapped below the skin because of disruption to the skin or to a hair follicle.
Most cysts are benign (non-cancerous), but some are cancerous or precancerous and must be removed. In addition, if a cyst is filled with pus, that means it’s infected and could form an abscess, so you should see a doctor if you feel pain when you touch a cyst.
What a cyst looks like. A skin cyst is a round, dome-shaped lump. It’s yellow or white, often with a small dark plug through which you might be able to squeeze out pus. Cysts can range in size from smaller than a pea to a few centimetres across.
The majority of cysts are benign, but some can produce symptoms due to their size and/or location. The symptoms of a cyst depend on the location in the organ affected. For example, ovarian cysts, depending on the cause, can produce menstrual irregularities, pelvic pain and fullness, or painful intercourse.
The surgeon will make an incision on the skin above or near the cyst to either drain or remove it. The skin may be sutured closed and covered with steri-strips and a gauze dressing or surgical glue. If you have more than one cyst, they can often all be removed during the same visit.
Epidermoid cysts often go away without any treatment. If the cyst drains on its own, it may return. Most cysts don’t cause problems or need treatment. But if a cyst is a concern to you for any reason, see your healthcare provider.
Cysts are also sometimes caused by infections, stress, and chronic inflammation. The cause of the cyst is closely related to its type and will influence the kind of treatment needed.
Tumors and cysts aren’t the same thing
A cyst is a sac or capsule that’s filled with tissue, fluid, air, or other material. A tumor is usually a solid mass of tissue.
A cyst will not heal until it is lanced and drained or surgically excised. Without treatment, cysts will eventually rupture and partially drain. It may take months (or years) for these to progress. Once they rupture, the painful sebaceous cyst will likely return if the pocket lining is not removed entirely.
You should never try to remove or pop a cyst at home. This increases chances of infection. Popping also doesn’t guarantee a cyst will go away permanently.
A cyst is a pocket-like area, within tissue, that is not normally there. It can be filled with fluid, blood, tissue, hair, bone, a foreign body, etc. If it is filled with pus, it becomes an abscess. Cysts can occur anywhere on or in your body.
Most cysts are noncancerous, although there are some exceptions. Cysts can feel tender to the touch, and a person may be able to move one easily. Tumors can also grow almost anywhere in the body. They tend to grow quickly and are usually firm to the touch.
Cysts may be treated by primary-care doctors, including general and family medicine physicians. Surgeons may treat cysts when drainage or surgical removal is necessary. Other types of cysts may be treated by different specialists depending on the location and cause of the cyst.
If a cyst does cause symptoms, you may have pressure, bloating, swelling, or pain in the lower abdomen on the side of the cyst. This pain may be sharp or dull and may come and go. If a cyst ruptures, it can cause sudden, severe pain.
The area around the cyst may smell bad. If the cyst breaks open, the material inside it often smells bad too. The cyst is usually firm and you can usually move it slightly if you try.
Does a Cyst Removal Hurt? If you can handle the small sting of a shot, you can handle a cyst removal. The doctor first topically numbs the cyst area and then injects Lidocaine. You may feel a slight sting, but that’s the worst part.
Most cysts are fairly easy to remove, and your dermatologist can remove them in their office in around 10 minutes. The procedure starts with a little local anesthetic to number the area.
A sebaceous cyst is almost as tempting to pop as a pimple — but hold that thought before you do. Popping a sebaceous cyst at home by yourself could increase your risk for inflammation, infection, and discomfort. In short, this is a cyst your doctor is better off removing.
