Sebaceous cyst what kind of doctor

Occasionally, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in skin disorders dermatologist. Below are some basic questions to ask your doctor about epidermoid cysts. If any additional questions occur to you during your visit, don't hesitate to ask. Resist the urge to try to squeeze or "pop" your cyst. Your doctor will be able to take care of the cyst with the least risk of scarring and infection.

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Diagnosis Doctors can usually make a diagnosis by looking at the cyst. But sebaceous cysts — slow-growing bumps under the skin that can appear on the ears, scalp, face, torso, back, or groin area — are typically harmless. And while they can be irritating or unsightly , they are not cancerous. These dome-shaped cysts can be pea-sized, or grow to a few inches or larger.

If you touch them, you should be able to move them around. They often have a central small black dot, or punctum, through which sebum accumulates. Sometimes, however, they can become inflamed, infected, or suddenly rupture, which can increase the risk of infection more on that later.

Occasionally, they occur on a site that is constantly irritated, such as a cyst on your neck that rubs against your collar, or one on your back under a bra strap. The surface of your skin, known as the epidermis, consists of thin layers of cells that are constantly shedding. Sometimes, though, when the cells move deeper into the skin, instead of shedding, they can multiply, leading to cyst formation. Your general practitioner will usually be the one to examine you, and then after that you may be referred to a dermatologist.

Most sebaceous cysts can be ignored, since they are not dangerous. If a cyst becomes inflamed, a doctor can inject it with a steroid to reduce swelling. Cysts that become infected, on the other hand, may need to be surgically removed. Dermatologists and plastic surgeons can perform this procedure. To do this, your doctor will make a small puncture and remove the contents.

But cysts frequently return after removal and will ultimately need to be surgically removed again. If a cyst becomes swollen or infected, antibiotics may be called for before surgery. Larger cysts may also need to be removed if they cause hair loss on the scalp , interfere with clothing for instance, if a piece of clothing routinely rubs the cyst, causes irritation , or if the cyst is in an obvious place, like the face.

If a sebaceous cyst becomes swollen or tender, home treatments may also help. One easy thing to try: applying a warm moist compress, which can help the cyst drain. What not to do: Resist the urge to pop or squeeze the cyst, like a pimple. Epidermoid cysts can become infected, as already noted.

However, if a cyst has already ruptured, this procedure allows us to remove most of the contents. If the lining of the cyst wall is not removed, the cyst will eventually reform. When a cyst is intact, an excision is typically the best removal procedure. We make an elliptical incision around the cyst to take out the entire cyst wall and contents. We stitch it up on the inside and outside and let it heal. Todd Plott, does in the video below. If you leave the sac in the skin, the cyst will likely come back.

At-home cyst removals do not work. There are plenty of YouTube videos showing home remedies for treating cysts. Do NOT try them. When people mash and lance their cysts, trying to squeeze out the inside, the cysts will just come back.

Remember, a cyst is a pocket in your skin lined with cells. The skin will continue to produce cells and refill the pocket as long as the pocket is there. The pocket has to be removed. If you try these DIY cyst-removal strategies, you can make the problem worse. By popping the cyst, you open the sac and make it more susceptible to infection. The best way to treat a cyst at home is to keep it clean.

If you want it removed, visit the dermatologist to have it removed professionally. During a cyst removal, the doctor will mark and numb the area around the bump.

The dermatologist will then remove the pocket of skin cells, and put stitches on the inside and outside of the skin that will last for about two months. The skin will heal from the inside out. They are sometimes called epidermal inclusion cysts. Sometimes they happen for no clear reason. The cysts usually contain keratin, lipid, and other skin particles. Cysts can remain stable or they may steadily grow. Sometimes they will become inflamed or suddenly break open rupture.