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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffCysts that don't cause cosmetic or functional problems are usually left alone. When a cyst is inflamed, ruptured or infected, these treatment options exist:
- Corticosteroid injections. Your doctor may inject an inflamed, but uninfected, epidermoid cyst with a corticosteroid to help reduce the inflammation.
- Incision and drainage. In this procedure, your doctor makes a small cut in the cyst and expresses the contents. Although incision and drainage is relatively quick and easy, cysts often recur after this treatment.
- Total excision. This surgical technique removes the entire cyst and so prevents recurrence. Excision is most effective when the cyst isn't inflamed. Your doctor may recommend first treating the inflammation with antibiotics, steroids, or incision and drainage and then waiting to perform excision for four to six weeks after inflammation resolves. Total excision requires sutures. Your doctor will remove sutures in your face within a week or so of total cyst excision, and will remove sutures elsewhere in your body within one to two weeks.
- Minimal excision. Some doctors prefer this technique because it removes the whole cyst wall but causes minimal if any scarring. During the procedure, your doctor makes a tiny incision in the cyst, expresses the contents, and then removes the cyst wall through the incision. The small wound is usually left to heal naturally.
- Lasers. To minimize scarring, your doctor may use a carbon dioxide laser to vaporize an epidermoid cyst on your face or other sensitive area.
References
- Lynch PJ. Vulvar neoplasms and cysts. In: Black M, et al. Obstetric and Gynecologic Dermatology. 3rd ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3445-0..10023-2--s0020&uniq=130671532&isbn=978-0-7234-3445-0&sid=827482137#lpState=open&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3445-0..10023-2%3Bfrom%3Dtoc%3Btype%3DbookPage%3Bisbn%3D978-0-7234-3445-0. Accessed April 9, 2009.
- Goldstein BG, et al. Benign neoplasms of the skin. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 9, 2009.
- Epidermal cysts. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec10/ch127/ch127c.html. Accessed April 9, 2009.
- Benign skin tumors. In: Habif TP. Habif: Clinical Dermatology. 4th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/130671532-17/0/1195/141.html?tocnode=51442353&fromURL=141.html. Accessed April 9, 2009.
- Epithelial cysts and sinuses. In: James WD, et al. Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology. 10th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7216-2921-6..50033-0--cesec136&displayedEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7216-2921-6..50033-0--cesec137&uniq=130671532&isbn=978-0-7216-2921-6&sid=827486768#lpState=open&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-0-7216-2921-6..50033-0--cesec136%3Bfrom%3Dtoc%3Btype%3DbookPage%3Bisbn%3D978-0-7216-2921-6. Accessed April 9, 2009.
- Pisharodi L, et al. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy. In: Gnepp DR. A Diagnostic Surgical Pathology of the Head and Neck. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2589-4..00015-2--s0360&uniq=130671532&isbn=978-1-4160-2589-4&sid=827488065#lpState=open&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2589-4..00015-2%3Bfrom%3Dtoc%3Btype%3DbookPage%3Bisbn%3D978-1-4160-2589-4. Accessed April 9, 2009.
- Goldstein BG, et al. Dermatologic procedures. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 9, 2009.
- Penneys NS, et al. Common benign cutaneous growths: Seborrheic keratoses, cherry hemangiomas, and epidermoid cysts. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/education/students/benign_cutan_growths.htm. Accessed April 9, 2009.
- Gibson LE (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 16, 2009.
