Sebaceous Cysts
Sebaceous cysts, sometimes called keratin cyst, epidermal cyst or epidermoid cyst, is described as a closed sac filled with oily material and cheesy substances that develop under the skin. The cheese-like, oily substance that fills the sac is due to hair follicles that were damaged and swell up or skin trauma such as an injury.
The sebaceous cysts are usually small bumps that oftentimes affect one’s neck, face, genital area and trunk. These are slow – growing, painless and movable lumps beneath one’s skin that become tender and inflamed but more often neither need treatment nor cause problems.
Sebaceous cysts are resulting from glands that emit oily substance that greases the sebaceous glands and thus cause the cyst-like sac under one’s skin that are non cancerous. The cysts are not generally delicate but may also rupture, become reddish and drain with yellowish substance with foul odor or became swollen and infected overtime that they should be treated and/or removed that a professional doctor or dermatologist’s assistance may be sought.
How sebaceous cysts are treated
Sebaceous cysts are rounded small bumps or cysts that are often yellowish or whitish depending on the skin type of the person. Sizes range from ¼ of an inch to almost 2 inches in diameter that are usually found on the neck, face, upper back, trunk and genitals of a person. The residue of a hair follicle may become the central opening of a sebaceous cyst that will eventually be filled with thick, yellow, cheesy substance that maybe squeezed out. Swelling, redness and tenderness around the area may be signs that there is infection and the cyst may be opened or removed by a physician or a dermatologist through minor surgery.
Although these cysts are not usually harmful, it is better to see a doctor to thoroughly evaluate and remove, if necessary, a cyst that either grows rapidly, ruptures, becomes painful or occurs in a constantly irritated part of the body.
Factors causing sebaceous cysts
The skin surface or epidermis which is composed of extremely thin layer of cells form sebaceous cysts when the cell do not exfoliate normally, move deeper and multiply. The cysts occur more often in areas where there are smaller hair follicles but larger oil or sebaceous glands. The cyst is caused when the hair follicles are damaged by abrasions, surgery or other injuries; when the sebaceous gland ruptures through inflamed skin conditions such as acne; by heredity especially those with genetic disorder such as Gardner’s syndrome.
The cysts mostly affects more men that women and usually occur after the age of puberty. Basically, anybody can as many as possible without limit especially if he has an acne history, regularly exposed to the sun, have had traumatic skin injury are the common risk factors attributed to having the sebaceous cysts.
If in case cysts become solid, infected, immobile there may possibly more complications such as cancer or some complications such as Inflammation it became tender, swollen, although they are not infected; rupture that depicts abscess wherein immediate treatment is needed; infection after it rupture; genital discomfort.
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