Sebaceous Cysts - Removal Treatment For Infected Sebaceous Cyst

Definition

A sebaceous cyst is also called as keratin cyst or wen or more correctly epidermal cyst or epidermoid cyst. It is a closed sac occurring just under the skin which contains a "pasty" or "cheesy" looking substance. A foul odor is also often present in the substance called keratin which fills sebaceous cysts. Keratin is a protein that creates the sac of cells called sebaceous cysts. The bumps or lumps you can feel under your skin are actually the sac of cells. The skin has tiny glands under the surface which makes sebum. This is the 'oil' that makes the skin smooth. If a gland's duct (channel) becomes blocked the sebum is still made. This then fills up the blocked pore to form a cyst. The matter inside the cyst has the appearance of toothpaste. Sebaceous cysts tend to develop in teenagers because of an interaction among hormones, sebum, and bacteria.

Causes

1. You're more likely to develop sebaceous cyst if you have a parent, sibling or child with the disease. If many family members have sebaceous cyst, your risk is even greater.
2. Sebaceous cysts most often arise from swollen hair follicles. Skin trauma can also induce a cyst to form. A sac of cells is created into which a protein called keratin is secreted.
3. Excessive testosterone production may also be a cause of sebaceous cyst.
4. Long duration of severe tension headache will cause sebaceous cysts.

Symptoms

1. Small lumps or bumps that occur just under the skin of the vagina, genitalia, breast, abdomen, face, neck, or elsewhere on the body are the most common symptom of sebaceous cysts.
2. Occasionally infections may occur. Symptoms that may indicate infection of sebaceous cysts are increased temperature of the skin over the bumps or lumps or foul smelling material draining from the bump or lump etc.
3. A cyst is a movable, dome-shaped, smooth-surfaced mass that varies in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters (from less than a quarter of an inch to more than 2 inches.
4. Defects in developing organs in the embryo.
5. Wear and tear or simple obstructions to the flow of fluid.

Treatment

1. Sebaceous cysts are not dangerous and can usually be ignored. No special training is needed in usual cases.
2. Sometimes the fluid contained within a cyst can be drained, or aspirated, by inserting a needle or catheter into the cyst cavity, resulting in removal of the cyst.
3. Another common and effective method of treatment involves placement of a heat-pad directly on the cyst for about fifteen minutes per day, twice daily, for about 10 days or depending on size and location of the cyst.
4. If there is any suspicion that a cyst is cancerous, the cyst is generally removed by surgery. Surgical excision of a sebaceous cyst is a simple procedure to completely remove the sac and its contents.
5. Uninfected, inflamed cysts may respond to an intralesional injection of triamcinolone.