About

PLEASE DIAGNOSE **YOUR** CYST **TYPE** PRIOR **TO** BOOKING

Commonly called a “sebaceous cyst” (a misnomer), an epidermoid/epidermal inclusion cyst and a pilar (trichilemmal) cyst are benign skin cysts filled with keratin, not sebum, and they do not arise from sebaceous glands.

How **they** form

Epidermoid/epidermal inclusion cysts develop from the upper part of a hair follicle; they can also form when surface skin cells are implanted deeper in the skin after minor injury.

Pilar cysts arise from the outer hair root sheath and most often occur on the scalp.

Typicalfeatures

Round, dome-shaped, movable lump with a small central punctum

Size commonly a few millimeters to several centimeters

Skin may look pink–red and can be tender

Often found on the face, neck, back/trunk, scalp, arms/legs, or genital area

Possiblecomplications

Inflammation and infection (pain, swelling, warmth, discoloration)

Rupture, releasing thick yellow, often malodorous material

Very rarely, association with skin cancer

Removal (when needed)

Performed under local anesthesia through a small incision (scalpel or punch). The cyst is drained and the entire sac (wall) is removed to reduce recurrence; electrocautery may be used for hemostasis.

Possible **side** effects

Infection, bleeding, pain, and scarring — as with most minor skin surgeries.