How to Treat Sebaceous Cyst Infections

A sebaceous cyst is a hard, tight, and benign sac that lies under the skin and usually forms a rounded lump attached to the epidermis that can migrate over the underlying tissues. Sebaceous cysts mostly appear on the face, neck, shoulders, or chest (hairy part of the body). This disease is very common in the general population and can occur at any age. Sebaceous cysts are not contagious and have no risk of developing into cancer (in other words, they are benign). However, sebaceous cysts can become infected and unsightly. To start your treatment, start with step 1.

Table of Contents

Use conservative treatment

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Apply warm compresses to the tumor. Use warm towel 37-40 °C apply 3-4 times per day, each time for no more than 10-30 minutes until the tumor is dry. The warm compress will dilate the blood vessels that circulate to the tissues, improving the delivery of nutrients needed for damage repair. The increased blood circulation also helps to wash away the inflamed fluid and debris from the swelling.

Sebaceous cysts may not require treatment if they are not painful for the patient; Most sebaceous cysts are not dangerous but only cosmetically annoying. However, when these tumors become inflamed, it is wise to seek treatment.

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Keep the cyst clean. Regularly wash the area thoroughly with a non-irritating antibacterial soap under running water. Pat the skin dry with a clean cloth or towel, then cover with sterile gauze – keeping the gauze dry.

Avoid using cosmetics and skin care products on the sebaceous cyst area. This can cause irritation and infection.

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Never break a tumor yourself. This type of cyst will dry out naturally; rupturing the tumor increases the risk of infection and can cause permanent scarring. Try to resist this – if it bothers you, see your doctor to have it removed.

If the tumor accidentally ruptures and causes a tear in the skin, you need to wash the skin thoroughly with a non-irritating antibacterial soap.

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Seek medical intervention if there are obvious signs of infection. If signs of an infection appear – pain, swelling, redness, and warmth – you need to let your doctor know right away for proper intervention. This is a normal procedure and you don’t have to worry; however if left untreated, you will get an infection, a very, very serious condition. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Even if the lump doesn’t show signs of infection, you may still want to see your doctor. A very simple incision can make a tumor disappear in just a minute. You will wonder why you have to wait so long!

Use unproven home remedies

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Try tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is an excellent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory remedy. It can kill bacteria that cause infections. However, you need to know that there is very little scientific evidence linking tea tree oil and sebaceous cysts.

To apply this remedy, simply place a drop or two of tea tree oil on the affected area and cover it with a bandage. Do it once a day in the morning and remove the bandage at night.

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Use castor oil. Castor oil contains ricin, a very powerful anti-bacterial chemical. Dip the cloth in castor oil and apply it to the tumor. Place hot compress on top and hold for 30 minutes. The heat will help the oil penetrate the skin more easily. The ricin will kill the bacteria that cause the infection.

This therapy also lacks scientific evidence. Castor oil may fight bacteria, but the effect on cysts is ambiguous. This therapy may not be harmful, but it may also be ineffective.

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Use aloe. Aloe vera contains phenpic compounds, which have antibiotic properties. Apply aloe vera directly to the affected area and massage gently until absorbed into the skin. Repeat this process every day until the infection clears up.

Aloe vera is a therapy that has been used for centuries. It is one of nature’s most amazing remedies. However, as above, there is no evidence that it is the most complete therapy in the treatment of sebaceous cysts.

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Experiment with apple cider vinegar. The main compound found in apple cider vinegar is acetic acid. This substance has antiseptic properties, helping to treat bacterial infections. However, this property is very general and does not specifically apply to sebaceous cysts. In other words, don’t rely on this therapy alone.

Apply vinegar to the affected area and cover it. Remove the bandage after 3 or 4 days. You will notice a hard scab forming on top of the lesion.
When the scab is removed, pus will come out along with the bacteria. Clean the wound and cover with a fresh bandage, do not apply vinegar. After 2 or 3 days, the cyst will heal.

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Use dandelion. Boil a bag of dried dandelion herbs with 1 quart of water. Continue to simmer for 45 minutes and drink the tea 3-4 times per day. Continue this therapy for about 1 week.

Dandelion is a herb that contains taraxacin, a natural antibiotic. However, the science doesn’t stop there. Medical therapy will be much more effective than herbal therapy in getting rid of sebaceous cysts.

Using medical therapy

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Use antibiotics. An effective antibiotic against infection will be prescribed by a doctor as soon as possible. Make sure to take the correct course of treatment so that the infection does not return. Your sebaceous cyst should go away in about a week.

Flucloxacillin is one of the most commonly used antibiotics to treat sebaceous cyst infections. Take 1 500 mg tablet every 8 hours for 1 week to cure the infection.

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Surgery. Surgical intervention is a simple procedure in which the sebaceous cyst is completely removed. Don’t worry – the skin around the lesion is numbed with a local anesthetic. Here’s what you need to know:

After anesthesia, the surgeon will make an oval incision on either side of the lesion, or a central incision in the center of the lesion. If the cyst is small, the doctor will extract it instead of cutting it.
The keratin layer around the cyst will be extruded. The doctor will use an opener to hold the edges of the incision open and use forceps to remove the sebaceous cyst.
If the tumor is still intact when removed, it means the surgery was successful and the cure rate will be 100%.
However, if the tumor ruptures, the doctor will have to perform a curettage, and the remaining tissue will be burned. The wound will be sutured after the procedure is complete. ^{[2] X Research Source}
In the case of an infected cyst, the doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotic treatment for 1 week after the surgical intervention.

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Post-operative wound care. The tips in the first section are also relevant for post-operative care. The most important thing is to keep the incision clean and not touch too much. There will be no complications if you take proper care.

Determine if the wound is sutured. If so, it is important to keep in mind when to remove the thread (at most 1-2 weeks). Note: some sutures will dissolve on their own and do not require removal.

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Use an herbal antiseptic for wound care if you like. You can use either of the following:

Guava leaves. Put the whole guava leaves in an earthen pot filled with boiling water for about 15 minutes. Let cool to a comfortable temperature – warm is best. Use this solution to clean the wound.
Aloe. After thoroughly washing and drying the wound, apply a lot of the gel in the aloe leaf to the wound and let it dry. You can do it as many times a day as you like.
As a precaution, you should always try small amounts of homemade remedies to avoid an allergic reaction. A good place to try is the forearm when the hand is raised – this area of skin is smooth and relatively thin, so it is easy to feel when itching or redness occurs.

Understanding the causes and complications

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Know that abnormal cell proliferation is one cause of sebaceous cysts. The surface of the skin is made up of keratin, a thin layer of cells that protects the skin. The keratin layer is constantly shedding and being replaced by a new batch of cells. However, instead of shedding the skin as usual, the cells can move deeper into the skin and continue to proliferate. Keratin will continue to be secreted into the body and create sebaceous cysts.

Sebaceous cysts themselves are not harmful and dangerous – this is just a cosmetic issue. It is only when they develop into a tumor or become infected that this abnormal proliferation is cause for concern.

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Note that this condition can be provoked by a damaged hair follicle. Sounds harmless, right? But even just one hair follicle can cause a sebaceous cyst. If you are worried you have a serious health problem, you need to know that the disease can be caused by just one hair.

In the dermis – the second layer of skin – there are small sacs called hair follicles. Each hair grows from one of these sacs. The hair follicle is damaged by constant irritation or the surgical wound is damaged and scarred, leading to a blockage.

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Know that an infection will make a sebaceous cyst worse. If the tumor ruptures, bacteria can get in and cause an infection. The lump will be painful and look like a pimple. The wound will ooze pus and have a wet keratin deposit. The surrounding skin will be red and slightly swollen. In this case, you need to seek medical treatment.

If left untreated, the infection will get worse and affect the whole body. While a sebaceous cyst itself is not a cause for concern, you need to take action when it becomes infected. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Advice

Sebaceous cysts on the genitals can be very uncomfortable when going to the bathroom or having sex. This condition is caused by the tumor becoming inflamed and painful. See your doctor if you have any undesirable side effects.
Sebaceous cysts are neither contagious nor malignant. If they are not infected, they are nothing to worry about.
The prognosis for the treatment of sebaceous cysts is very good; Most cases do not require treatment, and tumors are often successfully treated with excision.
The substance found in sebaceous cysts has a consistency like toothpaste and is based on keratin (the compound that makes up hair, nails, and the outermost layer of skin).

Steps

Use conservative treatment

Use unproven home remedies

Using medical therapy

Understanding the causes and complications

Advice

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