Sebaceous cyst

The sebaceous gland is located at the level of the skin and is responsible for the oily secretion often present on the skin.

The sebaceous cyst appears as a result of a blockage of the excretion channel of the gland, causing the accumulation of a squamous, odorous secretion. Mild trauma to the skin can also cause sebaceous cysts. The presence of sebaceous cysts can also be a hereditary. The most common areas are the head, back or chest.

Symptoms

Secretions accumulate in a sac under the skin that can be small for many years, or can grow rapidly

Initially it can be painless, later on it becomes painful

The skin around it can be red and warm

It can fistulize, with the discharge of a grayish-white, dense and odorous content

Treatment

Most sebaceous cysts disappear by themselves, but when we have an inflamed sebaceous cyst, the treatment is only drug-based (anti-inflammatory, antibiotic), until symptoms regress.

In a more advanced phase, when the cyst is filled with secretion, we need to excise it through a simple incision made at the peak of its growth.

In the case of people with acne, the cyst can be prevented by treating the cause (of acne).

A detailed discussion regarding your health problems is needed in order to be able to establish a correct diagnosis and to make a differential diagnosis with other pathologies (abscessed melanoma, odontogenic cutaneous sinus, epidermoid cyst, pillar cyst, skin abscess, infected lipoma, skin carcinoma etc.)

What should I expect in case of surgery?

The intervention is performed under local anesthesia and consists of cyst excision (surrounding content and sac). An abundant cleanse with antiseptic solutions is required, followed by suture closure of the incision. The type of suture will be established based on the degree of inflammation, the appearance of the cyst content and its size. If there is a macroscopic aspect of the extracted cyst which contradicts initial symptoms, it will be sent for anatomical-pathological examination to get a better diagnosis.

Post-operatively you will be prescribed anti-inflammatory and antibiotic medication (depending on existing symptoms).

The recovery is immediate and adapts to the area from which the sebaceous cyst was excised (face / back / anterior chest, etc.).

After the incision heals, you should use healing creams for modeling the scar and sun protection creams to prevent hyperpigmentation of the scar.