Cyst
What is a Cyst?
PLEASE NOTE: Advanced Dermatology does not treat cysts at this current time. This article is for education and information purposes only.
A cyst is a pocket of tissue that contains fluid, air, or other substances. Most of the time, cysts are non-cancerous. They can grow anywhere on your body. They will feel like large peas under the skin. They develop as a result of infection, clogging of the oil glands, or around foreign bodies, such as an earring. They are usually slow growing, smooth to the touch, and painless. They may only become painful if they are ruptured or if they become infected. They may cause problems if they effect the function of an organ, or if they are growing in a sensitive area. They vary in size.
What Causes Cysts?
There are many causes of cysts. They can be caused by an inherited disease, blockages in the ducts, chronic inflammation, or infections. There are many different kinds of cysts, however the following are the most common:
- Ganglion cyst- These are benign that usually form on the wrist or hands. They have also been known to appear on the feet. They tend to form along a tendon. More woman then men are effected by this type of cyst.
- Breast cyst- When the milk ducts are blocked, a benign cyst can form. This happens very commonly in woman in their 30s and 40s. Pain or tenderness will usually take place with this type of cyst.
- Chalazia- These are benign cysts that appear on the eyelids. They are formed when oil ducts are blocked. They can cause painful swelling, tenderness, and sensitivity to light. They can also cause vision problems if they get too big.
- Ovarian Cysts- These cysts form when the follicle that releases an egg does not open. Fluid then begins to build up. They occur most often in woman between puberty and menopause.
- Sebaceous cysts- These cysts are small bumps that are filled with sebum. They form often within the hair follicles. They can also be inherited, caused by Gardner’s syndrome.
- Pilonidal Cysts- These cysts form at the top of the buttocks. They happen more in men than woman, and are formed when loose hairs are embedded in the skin. They are filled with skin debris, hair and other matter. One should use caution if they have this type of cyst as they could increase the risk of getting squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer.
Cyst Treatment
In many cases, cysts will go away on their own. One should never squeeze a cyst. Warm compresses over the cyst can help to speed up the healing process. However some medical care may be needed. Anti-inflammatory medication may be needed. Cortisone injections can be used for this. A doctor may drain the cyst using a needle, but is usually reserved only if a cyst becomes infected or ruptures. This will allow all fluid in the cyst to be removed. Surgery can also be used to remove the cyst. This is used when draining of the cyst does not work. Internal cysts could need surgery to be removed since they are not able to be drained. Cysts that reappear may need to have surgery to remove them as it is common to have a cyst return after going away.
How Can I Prevent Cysts?
There is no way to really prevent cysts from appearing on the body. Although one can keep the eyelids clean to prevent oil ducts from blocking to prevent Chalazia. Hormonal contraceptives may be prescribed to woman that are prone to developing ovarian cysts. Pilonidal can be prevented by keeping the skin in that area clean. Sitting for extended periods of time can cause Pilonidal cysts, so make sure to take frequent breaks from sitting if you sit for extended periods of time. Keeping a powder on this area will also keep it dry, which can help prevent the cyst from forming.
Reference Sources:
2. Healthline
Very nice article here on cysts. I have never had a cyst but I know many that have had either breast or ovarian cysts, or some that have had them on their skin. I know that they can be a painful thing to have on the skin. Would you say that it would be in the best interest of someone to get to their dermatologist right away if they feel they have one? I am not sure how fast they grow, but surely a smaller one would be easier to drain or deal with then a larger one.
Do cysts have pus in them? It states that they can have other materials in them, would pus be considered to be one of these materials? How can I know if I have a cyst or if it is an abscess?
I have had an acne cyst before. It was on my back. The doctor prescribed antibiotics for me. I also started putting benzoyl peroxide on it. Over time the cyst went away. I was 18 when I had the cyst. I am now 23 and have not had an episode with it since I was treated for it. Treatment took a while to overcome the cyst, but I no longer have it. I just have an ugly scar there to remind me that this cyst was once a part of me.
I have had a cyst before. It was not painful but did not look the nicest. I just let it be and eventually it did go away. It was killing me not to lance it myself but one, I did not want to go through that pain and two, I knew that if it got infected, I would be in a world of hurt. Thankfully that cyst did not return. If it ever does, I will go to my dermatogist and get it taken care of.
I have had an ovarian cyst before. It was found during my annual exam with a pelvic exam. I had an ultrasound done, and had the cyst removed with surgery. I am now on birth control pills to help so I do not get another one. I have had a friend that had a hysterectomy because she had an ovarian cyst. I was not ready to do that since I may still want more children.
A pilonidal cyst is what I had. Very painful I might add. I would not wish for anyone to have one of these. I have an office job, so I am sure that is part of the reason that I was so lucky to obtain one. Hot compresses to my skin really did wonders. I was also given antibiotics. I was relieved when I did not have to have surgery on it. I was scared that the doctor might want to have me have surgery. Lucky for me, it subsided on its own. Thank goodness. I was unlucky enough to get one but lucky enough to have it go away before surgery was needed!
I would think that Chalazia cysts would be rather painful. After I read that, I got up and washed off my eyelid area. I find that my eyelids are rather oily and I would hate to mess with my eyes. I believe that I will start making this a daily process for me. I would rather spend 2 minutes a day preventing them then to go through the pain of having one and have it mess with my vision, which I value very, very much.