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Cysts

Cysts

Skin cysts, most commonly epidermoid cysts (sometimes called sebaceous cysts), are round, dome-shaped lumps that form just beneath the skin’s surface. They’re usually painless and slow-growing, but they can become inflamed, infected, or uncomfortable, and once a cyst forms, it typically doesn’t go away without treatment. At Genesis Dermatology in Jupiter, FL, board-certified dermatologists diagnose and treat cysts, from a simple watch-and-wait approach to complete surgical removal.
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What Is a Cyst?

An epidermoid cyst forms when skin cells that normally shed from the surface instead become trapped beneath the skin, forming a sac that fills with keratin, a protein naturally found in skin. Despite the common name “sebaceous cyst,” most of these growths don’t actually originate from the oil (sebaceous) glands, they’re a distinct, and far more common, type of cyst.

Cysts can appear anywhere on the body but are most common on the face, neck, chest, and back. They typically grow slowly and can persist for years without causing any symptoms, until they don’t.

How to Detect a Cyst

Signs of a skin cyst include:
  • A round, dome-shaped, skin-colored bump that moves slightly when pressed
  • Usually painless when uninflamed
  • A small central pore or dark dot sometimes visible on the surface
  • Growth that becomes red, swollen, tender, or warm, a sign of inflammation or infection
  • Yellow, thick, often foul-smelling drainage if the cyst ruptures

When Should You See a Doctor?

Get evaluated if:
  • A cyst becomes painful, red, swollen, or warm to the touch
  • A cyst has ruptured or is draining fluid
  • You're developing multiple cysts, especially if they run in your family
  • A cyst is growing steadily or is in a location where you'd like it removed
  • You're not sure whether a lump is a cyst or something else that needs a different kind of evaluation

What Happens If a Cyst Is Left Untreated?

Small, asymptomatic cysts can sometimes be left alone indefinitely without causing problems, and some even resolve on their own. But once a cyst becomes inflamed or infected, waiting rarely makes things better. An infected cyst can grow larger, become increasingly painful, and eventually rupture on its own, causing swelling, drainage, and a higher risk of the infection spreading to surrounding tissue.

Cysts that are drained without removing the surrounding cyst wall also tend to come back, sometimes repeatedly, since the sac that produces the buildup is still intact. Repeated infection and drainage of the same cyst over time can also lead to more noticeable scarring than if it had been properly removed early on.

The Genesis Dermatology Process

Treatment depends entirely on whether a cyst is calm or actively inflamed:
  • An exam to confirm the diagnosis and assess whether the cyst is inflamed, infected, or stable
  • For an inflamed but not infected cyst, a steroid injection to calm inflammation, sometimes without the need for drainage
  • For an infected cyst, drainage and, when needed, a short course of antibiotics to resolve the infection first
  • Complete surgical excision, removing both the cyst and its wall, for a lasting solution once any acute inflammation or infection has resolved
  • A straightforward in-office procedure under local numbing for elective removal of a stable cyst

Ready to Take the Next Step?

A cyst that’s growing, uncomfortable, or keeps coming back is worth addressing properly rather than repeatedly. Schedule a consultation with the board-certified dermatologists at Genesis Dermatology in Jupiter, FL, for a lasting solution.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is a cyst the same as a pimple?
No, cysts form deeper under the skin and involve a distinct sac structure, while pimples are related to clogged pores and acne. Cysts also tend to persist far longer than a typical pimple without treatment.
This isn’t recommended. Squeezing a cyst can push its contents deeper into the surrounding tissue, increase the risk of infection, and won’t remove the underlying cyst wall, meaning it’s very likely to come back.
Some small cysts can remain stable or occasionally resolve on their own, but many persist indefinitely or eventually become inflamed. Complete removal is the only way to reliably prevent recurrence.
Draining a cyst relieves the fluid buildup but leaves the cyst wall in place, which continues to produce the material that fills the cyst. Only surgical excision, removing the full sac, reliably prevents it from returning.
No, most cyst removals are quick, in-office procedures performed under local numbing, with recovery generally limited to normal wound care over the following week or two.
When a cyst is inflamed, infected, or causing symptoms, treatment is typically covered by insurance as a medical necessity. Purely elective removal of an asymptomatic cyst may not be, and our team can clarify coverage at your visit.