Chronic Conditions 4 MIN READ 1265 VIEWS August 25, 2023

Sebaceous Cyst: Let’s Have a Look at Its Causes and Symptoms

Written By HealthKart
Medically Reviewed By Dr. Aarti Nehra

Have you ever noticed a small, round lump on your skin that feels soft and movable? If so, then you might have a sebaceous cyst. Notably, a sebaceous cyst is a benign growth with a whitish substance called sebum, which is produced by sebaceous glands. 

Sebaceous cysts are usually harmless and painless but they can become infected or cancerous in rare cases. In this article, we will explain the causes, symptoms and remedies for sebaceous cysts.

Causes of a Sebaceous Cyst

Sebaceous cysts form when sebaceous glands or their ducts become damaged or blocked. Sebaceous cyst causes include:

  • Trauma to the skin close to the sebaceous gland, such as a scratch, a wound, or a burn
  • Surgery on the skin or near the sebaceous glands
  • Skin conditions that affect the sebaceous glands, such as acne, rosacea, or dermatitis
  • Genetic conditions that affect the development or function of sebaceous glands, such as Gardner’s syndrome or basal cell nevus syndrome

When sebum cannot escape through the normal opening of the gland or the duct, it accumulates inside and forms a cyst. The cyst can grow slowly over time and may become noticeable.

Symptoms of a Sebaceous Cyst

A sebaceous cyst can appear anywhere on your body where there are sebaceous glands but they are more common on the face, neck, back, chest, and genitals. A sebaceous cyst typically looks like this:

  • It could be a round or oval lump with a yellow or white colour.
  • The lump can feel smooth and soft and can be shifted below the surface of the skin.
  • The lump can feature a very tiny hole on its surface, known as punctum, from where sebum leaks out.
  • A lump can be about 1 cm to 5 cm in diameter. It could be smaller or bigger, depending on where it is located and how long it has been there.

Infection or malignancy of sebaceous cysts is a rare event, but it produces symptoms like pain and itching. Some of the inflamed sebaceous cyst symptoms are:

  • A lump that is painful, enlarged, tender, warm and/or red
  • An unpleasant smell or discharge of pus from the cyst 
  • Chills, malaise or fever
  • A sudden growth of the lump after maintaining the same size for many years
  • A change in the colour, shape and texture of the cyst

Treatment of a Sebaceous Cyst

The suitable sebaceous cyst treatment approach is determined by taking the size, position, and condition of the cyst into account. Some of the options are:

  1. Draining the Cyst

A sebaceous cyst can be treated by making a small opening on its surface and draining sebum. Your doctor can perform this procedure in his/her office after administering a local anaesthetic. Draining the cyst can help relieve pain and pressure temporarily but will not remove the entire shell of the cyst. Hence, the cyst may refill again causing a reoccurrence.

  1. Surgically Removing the Cyst

This entails the removal of the whole cyst together with its wall. This can be done by your doctor either in his/her clinic or even an operating room using local or general anaesthesia. Surgical eradication of the cyst decreases the chances of reoccurrence, however, the procedure is not devoid of discomforts such as bleeding and pain.

  1. Leaving the Cyst Alone

In the case of a small, asymptomatic and cosmetically unobtrusive cyst, you can also consider leaving it alone. If you do this, then you should also always be on the lookout for any signs of infection or abnormal changes which may suggest a malignant nature.

After treatment, care of the wound must be carried out under the guidelines of your physician so that infection and complications can be prevented. Avoid using needles to drain out the fluid from a sebaceous cyst as you may cause it to burst open or introduce bacteria that can cause inflammation.

Conclusion

A sebaceous cyst is a prevalent and usually harmless lump filled with sebum, a secretion produced by sebaceous glands. It can occur anywhere in your body where there are sebaceous glands but it is more common on the face, neck, back, chest, and genitals. 

Traumatic occurrences, surgical procedures, skin abnormalities and hereditary disorders are amongst the common sebaceous cyst causes. The sebaceous cyst symptoms include a yellow or white lump that is soft and movable under the skin. The lump may have a small opening on the surface called punctum, through which some sebum may come out. 

The lump is usually painless unless it becomes infected or malignant. The sebaceous cyst treatment options include draining the cyst, surgically removing the cyst, or leaving the cyst alone. To prevent infection and complications, keep the area clean, avoid squeezing or puncturing the cyst, and see your doctor if you notice any signs of infection or malignancy.

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