Sebaceous cyst

Skin | Dermatology | Sebaceous cyst (Disease)


Description

Cysts that form the epidermal tissue (skin layer) are called sebaceous cysts. This type of cyst is common, noncancerous and not a serious condition of the body. Scalp, ears, back, face and upper arms are the most common places where sebaceous cysts occur, although they can occur in any area, except palms of hands and soles of the feet. In men sebaceous cysts form with predilection in the chest and scrotum, in both sexes is more common in areas with hair, than in those without hair.

Cysts are smooth to the touch, vary in size and usually have a round shape. The development of a sebaceous cyst symptoms include round formations, painless embossed skin. Sebaceous cysts are usually pale, being mobile under the skin. These cysts develop over a variable period of time, they are increasing in volume during this time. Observation of such formations, any person should report to a doctor to remove it.

Causes and Risk factors

Sebaceous cysts form when keratin, a protein produced by the epidermis, blocks a sebaceous gland. This creates a bag that is filled with a whitish substance secreted by the sebaceous glands oily consistency, called sebum. Sebaceous cysts can be caused by skin trauma, inflammation of hair follicles, high levels of testosterone and some hereditary syndromes such as Gardner syndrome and the basal cell nevi syndrome.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis of a sebaceous cyst is usually made after appearance. However, a biopsy can be performed for proper check for other diseases such as infections or skin cancer. It is possible that the recognition and diagnosis of a sebaceous cyst to be delayed because symptoms are mild and not cause disease most often no discomfort, resembling the symptoms of other diseases.

Treatment involves applying heat using a hot pad directly on the cyst for about 15 minutes, twice daily for a period of 10 days. This technique has been shown to present some drawbacks, there are cysts that were infected under these buffers, whether they have been overheated or were sterile. ...