Sebaceous Cysts

These cysts usually grow slowly over many months, and most don’t bring symptoms. 

However, they can lead to cosmetic problems, such as getting caught and causing pain when you comb your hair or put on clothes.

If they become infected or damaged, the cysts can be:

• red

• inflamed

• painful

• leaky, with cheese-like discharge 

Sebaceous cysts are overgrowths of keratin (a protein that helps to form your skin) held together in a little capsule, or sac.

An epidermoid cyst is when the sac forms from cells that normally occur on the epidermis (the top layer of your skin).

A pilar cyst is when the sac forms from cells similar to those that are in the bottom of your hair follicles (the pores where your hairs grow from).

Cysts usually occur after you experience trauma to the area. The trauma may be a scratch, a surgical wound, or a skin condition, such as acne. Pilar cysts on the scalp can be hereditary and run in families, although this is rare.

Your consultant will see you for an initial consultation where they’ll ask you to share your medical history, describe any symptoms you have, and perform a physical examination.

They’ll usually be able to make a diagnosis during this appointment.

It’s not possible to prevent sebaceous cysts as they tend to form at random. 

However, you may be able to reduce your chances of developing them by taking care of your skin. You can do this by: 

• avoiding injuries such as scratches and cuts

• treating skin conditions such as acne 

Sebaceous cysts rarely come with serious complications, as they’re noncancerous and usually only cause cosmetic problems, such as getting caught on your clothes.

However, if a cyst is infected, it can become painful and swollen. It’s best to treat infected cysts to ease any pain.

Sebaceous cysts aren’t cancerous and don’t require treatment unless they’re bothering you. 

Your consultant may give you antibiotics if your cyst becomes infected.

These kinds of cysts are easy to remove under a local anaesthetic, although occasionally a general anaesthetic is needed. Reasons for this would include:

• if you’re concerned about the appearance of the cyst

• if it interferes with your everyday life, for example, by catching on your hairbrush

• if the cyst becomes infected

At Welbeck, our dermatologists and allergists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

Get in touch today to book an appointment.