What is the main cause of a sebaceous cyst? How do you stop a sebaceous cyst from forming? Are epidermal cysts the same as sebaceous cysts? What is the difference between sebaceous cyst, epidermoid cyst and lipoma? What is inside a sebaceous cyst? Do sebaceous cysts smell?
Sebaceous cyst are formed due to blockage of the sebaceous gland (the oil producing gland of the skin). The gland continues to produce the oil (or sebum), which is unable to escape due to blockage. Over time the sebum continues to accumulate forming the sebaceous cyst. Due to the sebum content, a sebaceous cyst can smell when it is opened for surgical drainage. The smell can be worse if the cyst is infected.
On the other hand epidermal cyst is formed due to trapping of the epidermal cells in skin layers. The epidermal cells continue to multiply and grow and form an epidermal cyst.
Therefore the cause and origin of sebaceous and epidermal cysts are different.
Both sebaceous and epidermal cyst can appear similar to lipoma, which is a tumor caused due to collection of fat cells.
A doctor can differentiate these conditions by careful examination and then decide his removal surgery.
Table of difference between sebaceous cyst, epidermoid cyst & lipoma
HTML Table Generator
| Feature |
Sebaceous cyst |
Epidermal Cyst |
Lipoma |
| Origin |
Blocked sebaceous gland |
Trapped epidermal cells |
Adipose (fat) tissue |
| Content |
Sebum (oily substance) |
Keratin (protein material) |
Fat cells |
| Appearance |
Smooth, round, skin-colored or yellowish nodule |
Smooth, round, skin-colored or yellowish nodule |
Soft, rubbery, and movable mass under the skin |
| Common locations |
Scalp, face, neck, back |
Face, neck, trunk, genital area |
Neck, shoulders, back, arms, thighs |
Punctum
(visible opening or pore on the surface) |
Often seen |
May or may not be present |
Absent |
| Risk of infection |
Higher |
Moderate |
Very low |
| Treatment |
Drainage, surgical excision |
Drainage, surgical excision |
Excision |
| Recurrence |
Possible if not properly removed |
Possible if not properly removed |
Rare |
How long do sebaceous cysts last? How fast do sebaceous cysts grow? Do sebaceous cysts get bigger? How long do sebaceous cysts last? Is it worth removing sebaceous cyst? Is it OK to leave a sebaceous cyst?
Both the cysts can last for many years if not treated. They can also have episodes of infections, where they can get red and inflamed.
Sebaceous cysts and epidermoid cyst grow slowly and can grow over months.
At Smart Surgeons we have seen that most people want to remove their cysts due to cosmetic concerns. But there are other reasons like recurrent risk of infection or large cyst hampering day to day life, due to which people want to remove these cysts.
Is it OK to leave a sebaceous cyst? Can I ignore a sebaceous cyst? Is it OK to ignore a cyst? At what size should a cyst be removed? Is it OK not to remove cyst? What happens if sebaceous cyst is left untreated?
It is preferable to remove a sebaceous cyst to reduce risk of infection. If you leave the cyst untreated, apart from cosmetic concerns, there may not be any other symptoms. These cysts tend to grow over time and removing a larger cyst increases risk of longer incision and therefore longer scars.
Eventually you will decide to remove the cyst as it keeps growing, then preferably remove it early on so that the surgeon has a better chance to remove the cyst completely with a relatively smaller incision.
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