A cyst is a sac containing liquid or semisolid material. Dr. Craig Singer routinely removes sebaceous and pilar cysts through surgical excision under local anesthesia.
Cyst removal is part of the surgical dermatology care Dr. Craig Singer provides at his Bingham Farms practice.
Treats
What it is
Curative when the full sac is removed
A cyst is a closed sac that forms under the skin and fills with liquid or semisolid material. Most are benign and painless, though some can grow, feel tender, or become inflamed. Depending on the type and where it forms, some cysts clear up on their own, while others are best removed in a simple in-office procedure.
Epidermal inclusion cysts, also called “sebaceous cysts,” are the most common type of skin cyst and are typically located on the face and trunk. They are felt to develop as a result of injury, in which the opening of the hair follicle tucks inwards, trapping skin cells inside. Cystic acne may predispose patients to the development of epidermal inclusion cysts. The cyst forms as a painless swelling in the upper layer of the skin, often with a dilated opening (see photos). Non-inflamed cysts are painless, but with pressure, cyst contents can be pushed out through the opening, often with a foul odor. Squeezing a cyst can sometimes cause rupture of the wall producing an intensely painful red swelling necessitating drainage by a physician. Often a ruptured cyst looks infected (much like a boil), though most of the time this represents a foreign body reaction. It is virtually impossible to remove the sac when the cyst is inflamed. Most cysts do not require removal unless desired by the patient. Treatment involves surgical excision, which is curative as long as the entire sac (cyst wall) is removed. Dr. Craig Singer routinely excises epidermal inclusion cysts through the use of local anesthesia.
Pilar cysts are commonly seen on the scalp. These are benign cysts derived from the root sheath of the hair follicle, and may be solitary or multiple. Pilar cysts are painless swellings and have no dilated opening. The cause for these cysts is unclear, however many people have a family history of pilar cysts. Treatment involves surgical excision and removal of the sac, which is typically easier than with epidermal inclusion cysts. Dr. Craig Singer routinely excises pilar cysts through the use of local anesthesia.
Types of cysts, why they form on the shoulder and back, infected and ruptured cysts, and how they are removed.
The two most common are epidermal inclusion (sebaceous) cysts and pilar cysts. Epidermal inclusion cysts can appear almost anywhere on the body, commonly on the face, neck, back, and shoulders, while pilar cysts are usually found on the scalp. Both are benign, slow-growing pockets of keratin under the skin.
The shoulders, upper back, neck, and face are among the most common places for epidermal inclusion cysts. They form when surface skin cells move deeper into the skin and keep multiplying instead of shedding, creating a sac filled with keratin. They are benign and not contagious.
A cyst can become red, swollen, tender, and warm if it ruptures under the skin or becomes infected, and it may drain a thick material with a foul odor. An inflamed or infected cyst should be evaluated rather than squeezed. Dr. Singer can settle the inflammation and, once it calms down, remove the sac so the cyst does not return.
Most cysts are painless swellings, and an epidermal inclusion or pilar cyst usually causes no discomfort on its own. A cyst can become painful if it ruptures, becomes inflamed, or gets infected, which is a common reason people decide to have one removed.
No. Squeezing or popping a cyst can push its contents deeper, trigger inflammation or infection, and almost always leaves the sac behind, so the cyst returns. The reliable way to clear a cyst for good is surgical removal of the entire sac.
Dr. Craig Singer removes cysts by surgical excision under local anesthesia, taking out the whole sac so the cyst will not grow back. Pilar cysts on the scalp are typically easier to remove than epidermal inclusion cysts, and most removals are quick in-office procedures.
See a dermatologist if a cyst is growing, painful, red or draining, keeps coming back, or sits in a spot that bothers you. Dr. Singer can confirm the lump is a benign cyst rather than something else and remove it cleanly with minimal scarring.
Bolognia, Jorizzo and Rapini. Dermatology. Second edition, chapter 110: Cysts
Dermnet NZ, www.Dermnetnz.com
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Recognized dermatologist
Located in Bingham Farms, Craig Singer MD Dermatology was founded in 2017 by Dr. Craig Singer, a board-certified dermatologist.
We specialize in medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology, treating patients of all ages, newborn through elderly. We have expertise in a wide variety of skin conditions including eczema, acne, and warts as well as complicated dermatological issues that include hair loss and autoimmune disease. In addition, we are highly skilled in the evaluation of moles and skin cancer.
For more than 20 years, Dr. Craig Singer has helped thousands of patients look and feel their best.
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