Do you have a small swelling under the skin that you are concerned about? Don’t worry, it might be some kind of thing sebaceous cyst It is not a tumor in the known sense. In this article, learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatment methods of sebaceous cysts.

What are Sebaceous Cysts?

It is a type of mass that grows slowly and that can move easily under the skin. The term sebaceous cysts is applied to cysts that grow in the skin and are called epidermal cysts or cysts that grow from hair follicles.

These cysts may grow in any part of the body except the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet, and they may emit an unpleasant odor.

Symptoms of a sebaceous cyst

Featuring Sebaceous cyst shape With a closed, circular bulge and a smooth surface that appears on the skin, it is filled with flakes of a thick, white, cheese-like substance called papilloma Keratin It is the main component of skin and nails.

These cysts can appear anywhere on the body but are most common on the neck, face, scalp and back. (Also know Symptoms of a fatty cyst in the eye and its treatment)

How do I know the sebaceous cyst from the tumor?

A cyst can be cancerous if it has these characteristics:

• If it is more than 5 cm in diameter.
• If it appears quickly again and repeatedly after its removal.
• If signs of infection appear on it, such as redness, pain, and pus coming out of it.

If you notice these signs, you should go to the doctor to examine the cyst, and often he may ask to analyze a sample of it to confirm the presence of a tumor or not.

Causes of sebaceous cysts

The surface of the skin consists of a very thin layer of cells that protect the skin and which shed and renew constantly, but these cells may go deeper through the layers of the skin and multiply instead of getting rid of them due to an imbalance in the sebaceous glands that secrete oils necessary to moisturize the skin and hair, then the skin forms The wall of the cyst and keratin is secreted and collected in it, which can be drained outside the cyst.

risk factors

It is possible for fatty cysts to appear in anyone without a specific reason, but there are several factors that may increase the possibility of their appearance, such as:

• after passing puberty.
• Injury to the skin.
• Having certain genetic disorders.

Is the sebaceous cyst dangerous?

Usually, small sebaceous cysts are not considered dangerous and can heal on their own or be removed, but there are some complications that can occur, such as:

• It is possible for inflammation to occur in the cyst even without infection, in this case it may be difficult for the doctor to remove it, so he postpones removal until the inflammation is gone.
• It is very possible that the sac ruptures and leads to infection boil which require prompt treatment.
• It is possible for a cyst to develop a painful infection that leads to an abscess.
• In rare cases, the cyst may turn into a cyst skin cancer.

Sebaceous cyst treatment

Sebaceous cysts may be very annoying even if they do not cause pain, however, never try to deal with them and try to remove them by rubbing or pressing on them to get their contents out or remove them with something sharp so as not to make the matter worse because all of this can cause inflammation of the cyst and inflammation of the skin around it.

Therefore, the best way to deal with a cyst that does not cause pain and does not show symptoms of inflammation is to leave it until it goes away on its own, or if it continues for a long time or symptoms of inflammation appear, you must go to the doctor who will examine it and determine the appropriate treatment.

Treatment of inflamed sebaceous cysts

When you go to the doctor, he will examine the cyst and note signs of infection, which include redness and sometimes it has a white head due to the formation of pus, which appears with an unpleasant odor. If the doctor is sure of inflammation or infection, he will prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection first before trying to remove it.

Surgical removal of the cyst

After the infection is gone from the cyst, the doctor will then be able to deal with the cyst and remove it permanently from its roots as follows:

• First, the doctor will apply a local anesthetic to the cyst and the skin around it, then he will wipe the skin with an antiseptic to ensure that no infection occurs during emptying and removal of the cyst.
• Then, using a scalpel and other tools, he will completely empty the cyst of its contents and remove the cyst wall.
• If there is an infection under the skin due to the bursting of the cyst, the doctor may continue to drain it completely.
• After the cyst is completely removed, the doctor may prescribe some antibiotics to ensure that any possible infection is cleared.

Dealing with sebaceous cysts at home

As we mentioned above, never try to remove the cyst on your own or empty it of its contents, because by doing so, you may cause an increase in inflammation and make it worse and more painful. In the event that you feel disturbed by it and until it goes away, you can follow the following:

• Apply warm, not hot, compresses to reduce pain.
• Keep it and the area around it clean using warm water, a cotton cloth and antimicrobial soap.
• Do not place any cosmetics or skin care products on it.
• Keep the cyst and the skin around it well dry from water and perspiration, but using a clean piece of cotton cloth gently.
• There are some people who use tea tree oil, aloe vera, or apple cider vinegar to treat sebum cyst, but there is no research or studies confirming their effectiveness, so don’t try them.

Finally, after knowing the symptoms of a sebaceous cyst and its complications, you should follow the tips we mentioned so that inflammation does not occur as much as possible, and you should go to the doctor if it causes you inconvenience, and if you have any questions, you can consult one of our doctors from here.