A sebaceous cyst is a benign, closed, firm sac found in the skin and often forms a dome-shaped lump connected to the epidermis that can move into underlying tissues. It mostly occurs on the face, neck, shoulders or chest (areas of the body usually covered in hair). It is extremely common and can develop at any age. It is not contagious and there is no risk of it turning into a tumor (in other words, it is benign). However, it may become infected and be somewhat unsightly. To begin the healing process, read on.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Conservative Treatments
Step 1. Apply a warm compress over the cyst
You can put on a towel that has been heated to 37-40 ° C 3-4 times a day and for no more than 10-30 minutes until the cyst dries. This treatment dilates the blood vessels and improves the tissue perfusion of the area which allows the diffusion of nutrients necessary for healing. The increased blood flow also eliminates any inflammatory exudate and swelling from the area.
If they don't cause discomfort, sebaceous cysts can be ignored; for the most part they are not dangerous, but only aesthetically annoying. However, if they are infected, it is advisable to seek medical attention
Step 2. Keep the cyst clean
Make sure you wash your skin regularly and thoroughly with non-irritating antiseptic soap and running water. Dry the skin with a clean cloth or towel and cover it with sterile gauze; always keep the gauze dry.
Avoid putting cosmetics and skin care products on the cyst. You could cause further irritation and infection
Step 3. Never squeeze the cyst
This type of cyst naturally dries up; if you try to squeeze it, you run the risk of causing further infections and can create permanent scars. Resist the temptation; if it bothers you, have it removed by a doctor.
If the cyst bursts during the healing phase or accidentally, it causes a break in the skin; in this case, wash the area thoroughly with running water and non-irritating antimicrobial soap
Step 4. See a doctor if there is an obvious infection
If you notice pain, swelling, redness and a feeling of warmth, tell your doctor right away to find an appropriate treatment. It is a normal routine procedure and there is nothing to worry about; however, if neglected, the cyst can become infected and become much worse.
See your doctor even if the cyst does not appear to be infected. He can make a simple incision for you and remove it in minutes. A couple of stitches may be needed once removed
Part 2 of 4: Unverified Home Remedies
Step 1. Try tea tree oil
It is a great antibacterial and anti-inflammatory remedy, it could kill the bacteria causing the infection. However, there is little scientific evidence to support this theory and it is difficult to determine the correlation between tea tree oil and cysts.
To use this remedy, it is enough to apply a drop or two of oil to the lesion and cover it with a plaster. Put it once a day, in the morning, while at night you can leave the cyst uncovered
Step 2. Use castor oil
Contains ricin, a chemical that is very effective against bacteria. Dip a cloth in castor oil and place it on the cyst. On top of this add a warm compress and hold it for 30 minutes. The heat will help the oil spread to the skin much easier. Ricin destroys the bacteria that cause the infection.
As mentioned, the scientific evidence to support the argument is lacking. Castor oil fights bacteria, but its effectiveness on cysts is questionable. It is probably not harmful, but it may also not be effective
Step 3. Use aloe vera
Contains phenolic compounds with antibiotic properties. Apply aloe vera gel directly to the cyst and rub it gently until it penetrates the skin. Repeat the treatment every day until the infection has healed.
Aloe vera has been used for centuries. It is one of the plants with the most effective medicinal characteristics that mother nature gives us. Also in this case, there is no scientific evidence to be able to judge aloe vera as a panacea for all ills and this also applies to cysts
Step 4. Try Apple Cider Vinegar
The main compound found in apple cider vinegar is acetic acid. It has antiseptic properties that kill the bacteria responsible for the infection. This, however, is a generic product and is not specifically indicated for cysts. In other words, don't rely on this remedy alone.
- Apply vinegar to the affected area and cover it with a bandage. Remove the bandage after three to four days. You will notice that a hard layer has formed on the top of the lesion.
- When the crust peels off, pus comes out along with the bacteria. Clean the area and apply a new vinegar-free bandage. Within two to three days, the cyst should heal.
Step 5. Use the dandelion
Boil a bag of dried dandelions in a quart of water. Simmer for another 45 minutes and drink the tea three or four times a day. Continue the treatment for about a week.
This herb contains dandelion, a natural antibiotic. However, science hasn't done any further research on this. Medical treatments are much more effective at removing cysts than any herbal remedy
Part 3 of 4: Pharmacological Treatments
Step 1. Take an antibiotic
To fight the infection, your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic as soon as possible. Make sure you complete the course of medication so that the infection subsides and does not come back. In just a week the cyst will be gone.
Flucloxacillin is one of the most common antibiotics used in the case of an infected sebaceous cyst. Take one 500 mg tablet every 8 hours, for one week, to treat the infection
Step 2. Consider surgery
Surgery is a simple operation that involves the complete removal of the cyst. Don't worry, the area around the lesion is numbed with a local anesthetic. Here's what you need to know:
- Once the anesthesia is performed, the surgeon makes a curved incision on either side of the cyst or a single incision in the center. If the cyst is small, the doctor can pierce it to drain it instead of cutting it.
- The keratin surrounding the cyst is squeezed out. The edges of the incision are kept open with a retractor, while the doctor removes the cyst with forceps.
- If the cyst is whole, it is all easily removed and the operation has a 100% success rate with complete healing.
- If, on the other hand, the lesion is fragmented, a scraping will have to be done and the remaining tissues will be cauterized. Once the procedure is complete, the wound is sutured.
- If the cyst is infected, the same antibiotic treatment is prescribed for a week after surgery.
Step 3. Take care of the area after surgery
All the indications given in the first section are also valid after the operation. The most important thing is to keep the area clean and not tease it. As long as you take care of it, there will be no complications.
Check to see if any stitches have been placed on the wound. In this case, mark the date when they will need to be removed (after 1-2 weeks at the latest). Note: Some types of stitches dissolve easily on their own and do not need to be removed
Step 4. Use a herbal antiseptic to clean the cyst if you want
You can take one of the following:
- Guava leaves. Place the whole guava leaves in a clay pot filled with boiling water for 15 minutes. Let them cool until they reach a tolerable, lukewarm temperature. Use this solution to wash the wound.
- Aloe vera. After washing the area thoroughly and blotting dry, apply a generous amount of plant sap to the wound and let it dry. You can do this several times a day if you wish.
- As a precaution, you should always test a small amount of any of these home treatments to check for an allergic reaction. A good site to do this test is the inside of the forearms: the fair complexion and relatively thin skin make it easier to understand and observe if any itching and redness occurs.
Part 4 of 4: Understanding Causes and Complications
Step 1. Know that one cause of cysts is abnormal cell proliferation
The surface of the skin is made of keratin, a thin layer of cells that protects the skin. The keratin layer continually disperses and is replaced with new cells. Instead of a normal exfoliation, cells can sometimes go deeper into the skin and continue to proliferate. In this case the keratin tends to be produced towards the inside of the body, creating a cyst.
This, in itself, is not harmful or dangerous, but it is not aesthetically pleasing. Only if a tumor or infection develops does this abnormal proliferation become something to worry about
Step 2. Cyst development can be triggered by a damaged hair follicle
Sounds harmless enough, right? Instead, even just one hair follicle can create a sebaceous cyst. If you were concerned that it was some serious health problem, know that it can actually originate from a simple hair.
A hair follicle is a modified skin sac within the dermis (second layer of the skin). Each hair grows from one of these pockets. Follicles that are damaged by a constant irritant or a surgical wound suffer damage and scarring and eventually become clogged
Step 3. Be aware that an infection can turn a cyst into a serious problem
If it breaks, bacteria can contaminate it, infecting it. The cyst becomes painful and begins to resemble a pimple, oozing pus and moist deposits of keratin. The surrounding area becomes red and slightly swollen. If this occurs, you should seek medical attention.
If the infection is not treated, it gets worse and worse and can eventually affect the whole body. While the cyst itself is nothing serious, it requires medical treatment when it becomes infected
Step 4. Know that inflammation can occur quite easily
Even if the cyst is not infected, it can still become inflamed. If it is constantly exposed to an irritating factor, such as rubbing against thick fabric, it becomes inflamed.
- Fortunately, it is usually quite easy to reduce inflammation, either with NSAIDs or by eliminating the irritant factor.
- An inflamed cyst is difficult to remove because the area is vulnerable to infection. If surgery is needed, it will be postponed until the inflammation goes away.
Step 5. The cyst can also rupture
When it breaks, it triggers a reaction from the immune system if foreign material enters the skin. This causes a collection of pus called an abscess. However, this is more likely to occur for large cysts. When the cyst ruptures it should be seen by a doctor <.
A ruptured cyst must be kept clean and disinfected as much as possible. Talk to your doctor about how to take care of it and what medical treatment you should follow
Advice
- Sebaceous cysts are neither contagious nor malignant. When they are not infected, there is little to worry about.
- The prognoses for sebaceous cysts are excellent; they generally do not require any treatment and removal is usually curative.
- Their content generally has the consistency of a toothpaste and is basically moist keratin (the basic compound of hair, nails and the inner layer of the skin).
- A cyst in the genital area can cause severe discomfort when urinating or during sexual intercourse. This is because the cyst is inflamed and painful. See your doctor if you have any avoidable complications.
