Cysts vs. Skin Bumps: Your Essential Guide to Recognizing What’s Under Your Skin

Did you wake up this morning and see a small, round lump under your skin or have you been seeing this small, folded skin popping here and there? 

Don’t panic. It’s completely normal to feel a bit anxious when you face unfamiliar skin changes. You might even wonder if it’s a cyst or skin bump. Or, if it’s harmless or might cause trouble in the future. 

Skin bumps and cysts are quite common occurrences on your skin.

Though it’s a good idea to get it checked if you are unaware of what’s popped up suddenly, you must also understand the difference between cysts and other types of skin bumps. Read this guide that has comprehensively explained both cysts and skin bumps.

What are cysts?

A cyst is a fluid- or pus-filled small pocket that mainly occurs due to an injury, infection or other issues. In most cases, they appear benign (non-cancerous) but if they show signs of trouble, it’s best to get them treated. Yet, untreated benign cysts can cause serious complications, including blood poisoning. The cysts tend to pop up anywhere in your body or at least under your skin. 

Different types of cysts:

Acne cysts

Also called nodulocystic acne, this type is seen as a severe type where the skin’s pores become blocked and result in developing infection and inflammation.

Arachnoid cysts

This type develops between the arachnoid membrane and the brain or spinal cord, mostly affecting newborns. It contains spinal fluid and this type is called primary arachnoid cysts. Whereas secondary arachnoid cysts are the ones caused as a result of head injury, meningitis or tumors.

Baker’s cysts

Also known as popliteal cysts, these appear behind the knee and are filled with synovial fluid, which lubricates the joint. It often occurs as a result of knee injury or arthritis and can cause stiffness or pain in the area.

Bartholin’s cysts

Women are likely to get affected by this cyst type. It’s located near the vaginal opening forming when the bartholin glands (which help lubricate the vagina) become blocked. If infected, they can turn into an abscess. Your doctor may suggest surgery or prescribe antibiotics as treatment.

Breast cysts

These are fluid-filled sacs that can develop in the breast tissue and are common in women. Though they are usually benign, they can cause tenderness or discomfort and might indicate an increased risk of breast cancer.

Chalazion cysts

You can spot these cysts in the eyelid as they form here when the oil gland is blocked. Also called the meibomian gland, they look like a small bump but can cause discomfort and swelling in the eye. Doctors may prescribe antibiotics to treat them.

Epidermoid cysts

This is a common type that appears on the skin of your scalp, face, back or scrotum.

Epididymal cysts

They form in the vessels attached to the testes, containing white and cloudy fluid along with sperm. Treatment is necessary only when they cause pain or become too large.

Ganglion cysts

Found in wrists or hands, these cysts develop along with tendons or joints. They are filled with a thick sticky or jelly-like fluid that varies in size. They sometimes interfere with movement or cause discomfort.

Hydatid cysts

Some kinds of tapeworm cause hydatid cysts and form in the livers or lungs. They can be removed by surgery and medication.

Dermoid cysts

These cysts contain tissues such as hair, skin, or even teeth and tend to develop anywhere in the body but are most commonly found on the face, neck, or ovaries.

Kidney cysts

Renal or kidney cysts are harmless cysts that contain fluids, including blood in some cases. While some are present at birth, others are caused by tubal blockages. Though treatment isn’t that necessary, these can be drained or removed via surgery if they cause discomfort.

Ovarian cysts

Found in or on the ovaries, these are often related to the menstrual cycle. Most ovarian cysts are harmless and resolve on their own, but some can cause symptoms like pain or bloating.

If you find the cysts or skin bumps causing trouble, visit the best wound care clinic in Oxnard to diagnose the problem and get it treated well.

What are the symptoms of cysts?

The symptoms of skin cysts change based on the type of cyst. However, some common symptoms are:

• A lump under the skin
• Pain
• Fluid or pus in the lump
• Redness or discoloration

Mostly, skin cysts don’t cause any pain unless they rupture and become infected or inflamed. Even so, the internal cysts, in some cases, never show any signs if they form in the liver or kidneys. They are often diagnosed using an imaging scan such as an MRI, CT or ultrasound scan.

There are exceptional cases where the breast cysts can cause pain and cysts that appear in the brain cause headaches along with other symptoms.

What causes cysts?

Usually, the cysts occur on any part of the body for numerous causes, such as infections, tumors, genetic conditions, duct blockages in the body causing fluid buildup, blocked sebaceous glands, cell defects, issues with organ development in an embryo, long-term inflammatory conditions, injuries that rupture blood vessels, and parasites, among others.

What are the diagnoses of cysts?

Though cysts appear to be benign, some can be cancerous too. So, early treatment is highly important. In some cases, even non-cancerous cysts can cause serious problems if not treated in the right way.

Infection: If the cyst filled with bacteria and pus bursts inside the body, it results in blood poisoning.

Peritonitis: If a cyst inside the body bursts, it causes peritonitis, which is an inflammation of the lining around the abdomen.

How to treat cysts?

Cyst is treated depending on different factors, such as:

• The type of cyst
• The location of the cyst
• if the cyst is inflamed or infected
• The degree of discomfort 

For the most part, your doctor drains or aspirates the cyst with the help of a needle or catheter into the cavity. If the cyst is hard to reach, imaging techniques like X-rays or ultrasounds are used to guide the needle or catheter to the right spot.

After the cysts are drained, the cysts wound require careful attention to ensure they heal properly and prevent infection.

What are skin bumps?

Skin bumps are abnormally raised areas that include lumps and swelling and often their causes lead to different symptoms and treatments. Almost everyone gets skin bumps at some point. 

They come in all shapes and sizes and most of the time, they are harmless. Most skin bumps are benign, temporary and will go away on their own, while others are permanent but again harmless.

Only on rare occasions do these skin bumps appear to any underlying health condition, such as skin cancer or infection. Especially if the skin bumps start changing size, color or shape, it’s crucial to get it checked.

What are the causes of skin bumps?

• Acne appears when your pores get clogged with oil and dead skin; it causes pimples, blackheads or whiteheads. This is super common among people.
• Warts are small, hard lumps that appear on your hands and feet. It’s caused by human papillomavirus (HPV).
• Lipomas are benign fatty tumors that develop just under the skin and are soft and movable.
• Calluses or corns pop up on your feet and toes. They look like thickened skin and mainly occur due to irritation and pressure on these areas. For instance, poor-fitting shoes can cause it.
• Cysts are benign sac-shaped pockets of tissue that are full of pus, air, or fluid that appear anywhere on the body.
• Boils are tender ones that come with pus and are sometimes painful. They form under the skin when a hair follicle or oil gland gets infected by bacteria.
• Moles look flat or slightly raised and can appear anywhere on the body. They appear red, brown, tan or the same color as your skin.
• Skin tags, also called acrochordons, are small, soft, flesh-colored growths that hang off the skin. They are found in areas where your skin folds or rubs together, such as the neck, armpits or under the breasts.
• Hives are small raised skin bumps that occur due to an allergic reaction and become extremely itchy.

How are skin bumps diagnosed?

Most skin bumps can be known by just looking at them. Other skin bump types, such as rashes and infections, should be first examined by the doctor. So, the doctor is likely to start with a physical examination and may be referred to a dermatologist for further testing and treatment.

Treatment for skin bumps

Removal of skin bumps

Since most skin bumps are harmless, they don’t need to be treated in the first place. But if they are disturbing you, it’s best to get them removed for cosmetic reasons. 

Your dermatologist removes skin tags or warts by freezing them off. Cysts and lipomas can be removed with surgical intervention.

Acne should be treated based on its severity, such as mild, moderate and severe. Topical medication or laser therapy can treat mild acne. Moderate ones may require antibiotics or antiandrogens. 

If these skin bumps are cancerous or indicate precancerous, they will be removed completely. 

Medication

If the skin bumps require additional medical treatment, a doctor will prescribe medications. For bacterial infections like MRSA, antibiotics are often required. For viral infections like chickenpox, doctors may recommend over-the-counter medications and home care. While some viral infections, like herpes, medications can help manage and relieve symptoms.

For example, your dermatologist might prescribe medication or treatments like chemical peels or any intense treatment option to treat the severe acne.

Rashes or hives can be treated with over-the-counter antihistamines that can handle bundle bumps caused by an allergic reaction.

Cysts vs. Skin Bumps

Cysts, the sac-like structures, are found under the skin and filled with fluid, air or other substances. On the other hand, skin bumps are a broad term for any raised spot on the skin that includes pimples, warts, moles or allergic reactions.

Cysts appear smooth and round and they grow over time. They don’t hurt or cause any discomfort unless they are inflamed or infected. If you are removing the cysts, then it’s essential to follow cyst removal post care instructions, such as keeping the area clean and dry to get it healed quickly.

 

Meanwhile, skin bumps vary in size, shape and texture and can either be soft, hard, painful or painless.

In conclusion, we can say that cysts are seen to have a deeper, more defined internal structure, while skin bumps can be anything that causes a raised area on the skin.

Visit the Center for Advanced Wound Care clinic that specializes in advanced wound care techniques and helps you manage cysts and complex injuries and get your wounds healed quickly.