Cysts

A skin cyst is a round, dome-shaped lump that sits just under the skin. They can range in size from a small pea sized mass to several centimetres in diameter. They tend to be slow growing.

Anyone can develop a skin cyst and they are relatively common. They are usually found on the face, neck, chest, shoulders and back.

Cysts are benign, non-cancerous lesions. They aren’t usually painful but can become tender, sore and red if they become infected.

A cyst often has a “punctum” in the middle which can sometimes discharge a white / yellow cheesy like substance which is usually odorous.

Cysts that form around hair follicles are known as pilar cysts and are most commonly found on the scalp.

Once a cyst has developed, it will not go away on its own. This is because a cyst contains a sac that needs to be physically removed.

Although some GP surgeries have minor surgery facilities, most do not remove cysts.

Cysts are excised under local anaesthetic. An incision is made over the cyst before the skin is peeled back to expose the sac. The entire sac then needs to be removed. All the walls of the sac need to be removed in order to prevent the cyst from reforming and re-accumulating. The skin is then brought back together with some stitches. These stitches may be absorbable or they may need to be removed several days after the procedure.

Call us on 01918181003 for your free initial consultation.