Sebaceous cyst

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Hair follicle anatomy

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Sebaceous cyst

Alternative Names:

Epidermal cyst; Keratin cyst; Epidermoid cyst

Treatment:

Sebaceous cysts are not dangerous and can usually be ignored. At times, they may become inflamed and tender. Others may grow large and interfere with day-to-day life. In these cases, you can have them surgically removed in a physician's office. Alternatively, small inflamed cysts can be treated by injection of steroid medications.

Expectations (prognosis):

Most cysts may be ignored or treated with simple surgery.

Complications:

These cysts may occasionally become infected and form into painful abscesses. Recurrence after excision is also not unusual.

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you notice any new growths on your body. Though cysts are not dangerous, your doctor should examine you to ensure that skin cancer is not present.

Review Date: 4/30/2005
Reviewed By: Jonathan Kantor, M.D., Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.