Sebaceous Cysts and Other Skin Bumps: A Guide to Identifying and Understanding the Differences

Are you suddenly getting bumps on your skin and have you started panicking? There are different types of cysts and bumps that pop up on your skin. For the most part, they are benign and don’t pose any harm. 

 

Usually, a bump or a cyst is nothing but a small pocket of skin that’s filled with air, fluid or any other substance. But whether a cyst requires treatment or not depends on the type of cyst or cyst wound, its location, and whether it’s causing any discomfort or appearing inflamed.

 

Sebaceous cysts are one of the common types of cysts that affect at least 20% of adults. Many people often get confused about sebaceous cysts. So this article will guide you to identify and understand the differences between sebaceous cysts and other skin bumps.

Why is it important to differentiate between different types of skin bumps?

Skin bumps are pretty common and most of us will deal with them at some point. But it’s really important to know what kind of bump you are dealing with. Not all skin bumps are the same. So you must know what you are dealing with.

Though they are harmless for the most part, treating them is crucial if you feel some discomfort.

Also, misidentifying a bump can sometimes lead to complications. For instance, a simple mole that appears harmless could be something that needs urgent medical attention.

Did we mention the peace of mind you have when you don’t have to worry about any bumps that pop up in your body? Now let’s get into what sebaceous cysts are.

What are sebaceous cysts?

 

Sebaceous cysts appear due to the sebaceous gland that normally develops either on or near your hair follicles in the second layer of your skin. This gland is responsible for producing oil that helps coat your skin and hair.

 

These sebaceous glands form cysts if they get damaged or blocked, wherever they are present.

 

These cysts are quite common among adults and are usually found on your face, neck or torso. Though they are harmful and grow slowly, after a certain period, they can become uncomfortable.

 

Only in some cases, the sebaceous cysts will be examined and diagnosed properly for cancer signs.

 

What are the main causes of a sebaceous cyst?

Sebaceous cysts appear due to multiple reasons, such as:

 

• Injury to the area
• A damage to the follicle linked to acne
• Surgical wound
• Skin condition
• A sebaceous duct that doesn’t grow correctly

 

However, they simply pop up without any of the above-given reasons. As normal cysts, they also contain keratin, lipids, pus and other skin particles.

 

As long as these sebaceous cysts don’t break, they remain untouched. But when it does, they get wounded and prone to infection.

What are the symptoms of a sebaceous cyst?

 

Sebaceous cysts are not painful when they are small in size. But it causes discomfort when they grow to a large size. Since they are filled with white flakes of keratin, they are soft to the touch.

 

You can find this type of cyst in the scalp, face, neck and back.

 

Can a sebaceous cyst show signs of cancer?

 

Though these cysts are considered atypical, they are a risk for cancer. Check to see if your sebaceous cysts have the following characteristics:

 

• It has grown larger than 5 centimeters.
• Show signs of infection, including pain, redness or pus drainage.
• It reoccurs quickly after removal.

 

A biopsy is done and a sample of the tissue is taken and sent for examination to confirm the diagnosis of cancer.

How to treat sebaceous cysts?

 

For the most part, sebaceous cysts get resolved on their own. But the problem is that they pop up again. Since they are benign, most cysts don’t cause any problems or need treatment.

 

But if it has grown large in size and creates discomfort, it is treated or removed.

 

So, visit a wound treatment center and your doctor will analyze and suggest different treatment methods to remove it.

 

There are both surgical and non-surgical ways to remove a sebacous cyst. But with non-surgical methods, the recurrence of sebaceous cysts is higher. Only surgery can ensure a complete removal. Yet again, some people don’t prefer this method because of the scarring issue.

Some surgical methods to remove your sebaceous cysts are

Laser with a punch biopsy excision

Using a laser, a small hole is made in the cyst to drain its contents. Later, the cyst’s outer walls are removed after a month.

Minimal excision

In this method, the cyst is drained and shows only minimal scarring. But there are chances of a cyst appearing again.

Lancing

In this method, a sharp knife is used to create a hole in the cyst and the internal contents are squeezed and drained out. But the cyst wall isn’t removed during this procedure so this creates an opportunity for recurrence.

Punch excision

This method is done using a scalpel that looks like a cookie cutter. This tool removes the cyst along with the skin around it. 

Conventional wide excision

This is a surgical method that completely removes a cyst but can leave a long scar. 

To remove the sebaceous cyst, a local anesthetic is given to numb that area.

After the removal of this cyst, an antibiotic ointment is applied to prevent infection. It’s recommended to use this ointment until the healing process is complete.

In some cases, a cyst is injected with steroids to reduce the inflammation but it doesn’t drain the cyst.

If you want proper healing, sebaceous cyst wound care is essential, including keeping the area clean, applying prescribed ointments and watching for signs of infection.

What are the other skin bumps?

• Epidermoid cyst

These are small bumps that are usually filled with keratin, a protein that helps form your skin, nails and hair.

The epidermoid cyst appears only when something blocks hair follicles and skin cells build up below the blockage. Like sebaceous cysts, they also appear across your body.

• Lipoma

This is a round or oval-shaped lump that consists of tissue that grows just beneath the skin. This lump made of fat doesn’t really cause any pain and moves when you touch it. They grow slowly but they aren’t cancerous. 

Generally, lipomas can appear anywhere on the body in adults aged between 40 and 60. However, you can spot them on the arms, shoulders, neck, trunk and back. Though they don’t cause any harm, if you think it is a cosmetic concern or bothering you, consult a doctor and remove it.

• Papules and pustules

Papules are a new growth on the skin measuring less than 1 centimeter. Some common papules that appear in our body are small pimples, moles, warts, eczema and angioma.

Pustules are another type of skin bump that contains pus or fluid inside a discolored or inflamed skin area around it. In some cases, papules develop into pustules, such as acne.

Other examples and causes of pustules are rosacea, chickenpox, folliculitis and pustular psoriasis.

• Skin tags

Skin tags are made of a core of fibers, nerve cells, fat cells, and ducts and are covered by the epidermis. They are benign and non-cancerous tumors of your skin appearing on body parts such as the eyelids, armpits, upper chest, neck, under the breasts, etc.

These tags don’t appear so obvious unless they are in a more visible area of your body. For the most part, skin tags aren’t even noticed by people but you can still remove them for cosmetic reasons.

• Cherry angiomas and cherry hemangiomas 

Angiomas, or cherry angiomas, are small, red-colored pinhead-like lesions on your skin, appearing mostly on your arms, torso and legs.

Cherry angiomas and cherry hemangiomas look similar but are made of different cells. Cherry angiomas either consist of lymphatic or blood vessels. Whereas cherry hemangiomas consist only of blood vessels and are common and benign.

Cherry angiomas are common in adults; they appear in 50% of adults after 30 years and in 75% of elderly people, while cherry hemangiomas are found only in early infancy.

• Dermoid cyst

This is another non-cancerous sac that appears when you are born. It doesn’t grow into a bump until you grow up and age. It’s painless and often appears on your face near your eyebrows, chest, collarbone or scalp.

This cyst comes with fluid, pus or any other material. Since this type of skin bump never vanishes on its own, you must opt for surgery to remove the cyst.

When should I seek medical attention?

Whether you notice sudden skin bumps or have gotten used to them already, you must examine your skin at home every month. This helps you notice any changing skin symptoms. Because in some cases, your doctor may carry out some tests to diagnose any severe conditions, such as skin cancer.

Final Words

So, remember that skin bumps are pretty common, and most of us will deal with them at some point in our lives. They can appear for all sorts of reasons. Some are totally harmless, like a small pimple or a skin tag, while others might need a bit more attention, like a cyst or a suspicious mole. They occur in different parts of the body. 

If you have skin bumps, you must know what kind and keep track of them. Some might grow slowly and cause harm or discomfort. We hope you know about sebaceous cysts and other common skin bumps in your body.

Visit the center for advanced wound care for the diagnosis and treatment of cysts and get advanced wound care. Contact us for more details.