It’s natural to want healthy skin. Good skin is a sign of beauty, but it’s also better for your general health. Skin conditions can be uncomfortable, painful, and they can lower your confidence, especially if they’re highly visible or on your face. Some skin conditions can even be a sign of a more serious condition.
If you’ve noticed a change in your skin, it’s a good idea to see a doctor. One common skin condition is sebeceous cysts. If you’ve noticed cysts under your skin, you might be concerned about what they mean and what you can do about them. This post should clear a few things up.
What Are Sebeceous Cysts?
Cysts can form throughout your body, but sebeceous cysts can be seen and felt on your skin. They can form anywhere on your body, and there are two main types of sebeceous cysts. These are true sebeceous cysts, which contain sebum (skin oil) and epidermal inclusion cysts, which are far more common and contain keratin and cell debris.
Sebeceous cysts look like lumps or bumps under the skin, and can be as small as a few millimeters wide to several centimeters across. Sometimes they have a small spot in the middle, and you might be able to move the cyst around under your skin. They aren’t contagious, but they can get infected and feel painful.
Are Cysts a Sign of Cancer?
Most cysts are benign, meaning they aren’t cancerous. In fact, you can often leave the cyst alone and it’ll be perfectly safe, especially if it doesn’t bother you. Your doctor can identify the cyst and give you advice along these lines.
However, while it’s extremely unlikely that your cyst is cancerous, you still need to get it seen to by a medical professional if it gets infected, grows very quickly, or gets larger than 5cm in diameter. You should also talk to a doctor if it changes drastically.
Will My Skincare Routine Help?
Cysts can be caused by a number of different things, which means that changing your skincare routine might not necessarily get rid of them. As a general rule, a simple skincare routine that calms your skin will be the best option for overall healthy skin.
If you have severe acne, this could be the cause of your sebeceous cysts. In this case, finding medications that control your acne will prevent these cysts from occuring.
How to Remove Cysts
Small cysts that aren’t painful or don’t bother you don’t actually need to be removed. They’re benign and might stick around for a while or might go away on their own. If you’re worried about them, speak to a doctor.
However, if the cyst is large and uncomfortable, you might want treatment. You should never try to drain or remove a cyst yourself, as it could get infected or come back. Instead, go to a professional for sebeceous cyst removal for the safest and most effective option.
