Sebaceous cysts are common, noncancerous cysts of the skin. Cysts are atypical growths in your body that may contain liquid or semiliquid material.
Sebaceous cysts are mostly found on your face, neck, or torso. They grow slowly and aren’t life threatening, but they may become uncomfortable if they go unchecked.
Causes of a sebaceous cyst
Sebaceous cysts form out of your sebaceous gland. The sebaceous gland produces the oil (called sebum) that coats your hair and skin.
Cysts can develop if the gland or its duct (the passage from which the oil is able to leave) becomes damaged or blocked. This usually occurs due to trauma to the area.
The trauma may be a scratch, a surgical wound, or a skin condition, such as acne. Sebaceous cysts grow slowly, so the trauma may have occurred weeks or months before you notice the cyst.
In some cases, a cyst will be examined more thoroughly for signs of cancer.
Symptoms of a sebaceous cyst
Small cysts are typically not painful. Large cysts can range from uncomfortable to considerably painful. Large cysts on the face and neck may cause pressure and pain.
This type of cyst is typically filled with white flakes of keratin, which is also a key element that makes up your skin and nails. Most cysts are soft to the touch.
Areas on the body where cysts are usually found include:
- scalp
- face
- neck
- back
Treatment of a sebaceous cyst
Your doctor can treat a cyst by draining it or by surgically removing it. Usually, cysts are removed. This doesn’t mean they’re dangerous — it may be for cosmetic reasons.
Your doctor may use one of the following methods to remove your cyst:
- Conventional wide excision. This completely removes a cyst but can leave a long scar.
- Minimal excision. A method that causes minimal scarring but carries a risk that the cyst will return.
- Laser with punch biopsy excision. This uses a laser to make a small hole to drain the cyst of its contents (the outer walls of the cyst are removed about a month later).
