Whether a cyst needs treatment depends on a number of factors, including:\n\n

the type of cyst\n
the location of the cyst\n
whether the cyst is causing pain or discomfort\n
whether the cyst is inflamed or infected\n\n\n
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If you\u2019re not sure if you have a skin condition, you can take a picture and\u00a0send it to an online dermatologist.\n\n\n
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Cysts can vary in appearance depending on their type and location. Here are 11 types of cysts.\n\n
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Epidermoid cyst\n\n
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Epidermoid cysts are small, benign bumps filled with keratin. Kertain is a protein that\u2019s essential in forming your skin, hair, and nails. Epidermoid cysts occur when something blocks hair follicles, and skin cells build up beneath this blockage.\n\n
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These cysts can look like a skin-colored, tan, or yellowish bump filled with thick material. They\u00a0typically occurTrusted Source\u00a0on your face, neck, or torso, but can occur across your body.\n\n
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In rare cases, epidermoid cysts can be caused by an inherited condition called\u00a0Gardner syndrome.\n\n
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Sebaceous cyst\n\n
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Sebaceous cysts are filled with\u00a0sebum\u00a0and are less common than epidermoid cysts. They often form within sebaceous glands, which are part of your skin and hair follicles. Sebaceous glands make oil for your skin and hair.\n\n
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These cysts most commonly occur on your face, neck, or torso, and are often the result of damage to sebaceous glands.\n\n
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Breast cyst\n\n
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Benign cysts\u00a0can develop\u00a0when fluid collects near your breast glands. They can cause pain or tenderness in the affected area.\n\n
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While breast cysts are noncancerous, there are many possible other more serious causes for a lump in your breast. It\u2019s important to be familiar with how your breasts typically feel so you\u2019re aware of changes. This way, you\u2019re more likely to notice changes right away.\n\n
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You should try to make an appointment to see a healthcare professional if:\n\n
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you discover a new lump\n
an area of your breast is noticeably different than the rest\n
a lump changes or grows larger\n
you notice unexpected discharge from the nipple\n
you have an inverted nipple, and it wasn\u2019t always inverted\n\n\n
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Ganglion cyst\n\n
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A ganglion cyst is a round, gel-filled lump of tissue that usually appears along tendons or joints, especially in the hands, wrists, ankles, and feet. Fluid accumulation can occur due to injury, trauma, or overuse, but\u00a0often the cause is unknownTrusted Source.\n\n
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A ganglion cyst is common, harmless, and doesn\u2019t cause pain or difficulties unless it grows and puts pressure on other structures.\n\n
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Pilonidal cyst\n\n
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A pilonidal cyst is a\u00a0common\u00a0skin condition that forms in the cleft at the top of your buttocks. It consists of a small hole or tunnel in the skin that may become infected and fill with fluid or pus and it\u00a0typically occursTrusted Source\u00a0after\u00a0puberty.\n\n
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Changing hormones, hair growth, and friction from clothes or from spending a long time sitting may all cause a pilonidal cyst.\n\n
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Symptoms of an infection include:\n\n
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pain when sitting or standing\n
discolored or sore skin around the area\n
pus or blood draining from the abscess, causing a foul odor\n
swelling of the cyst\n
hair protruding from the lesion\n\n\n
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Ovarian cyst\n\n
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Ovarian cysts\u00a0often form when the follicle that normally releases an egg doesn\u2019t open. This causes fluid to build up and form a cyst.\n\n
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Another common type of ovarian cyst occurs after the follicle releases the egg and improperly recloses and collects fluid.\n\n
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Ovarian cysts\u00a0occur most oftenTrusted Source\u00a0in those of menstrual age and are typically first found during\u00a0pelvic exams.\n\n
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Ovarian cysts are associated with an increased risk of cancer when they occur after\u00a0menopause.\n\n
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Baker (popliteal) cyst\n\n
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A Baker cyst is a swollen, fluid-filled sac at the back of your knee.\n\n
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Causes of Baker cysts\u00a0include conditions\u00a0or occurrences that affect the joints such as\u00a0arthritis, inflammation from repetitive stress, or a cartilage injury. Baker cysts can cause inflammation and pain and lower range of motion in your knee.\n\n
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Physical therapy, fluid draining, and medication can all be used to help treat a Baker cyst.\n\n
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Pilar cyst\n\n
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A pilar cyst is a noncancerous, skin-colored, round bump that develops under the surface of your skin. They\u00a0usually affectTrusted Source\u00a0the skin on the scalp and results from protein buildup in a hair follicle.\n\n
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They\u2019re not cancerous, but they can grow to a size that can be uncomfortable.\n\n
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Mucous cyst\n\n
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A\u00a0mucous cyst\u00a0is a fluid-filled lump that forms on your lip or around your mouth when the salivary glands become plugged with mucus. The most common causes of mucous cysts include:\n\n
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lip or cheek biting\n
lip piercings\n
rupture of the salivary gland\n
improper dental hygiene\n\n\n
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Mucous cysts will often go away on their own. But if you have recurring or frequent mucous cysts, you may need medical treatment.\n\n
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Branchial cleft cyst\n\n
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A branchial cleft cyst is a type of developmental irregularity in which a lump develops on one or both sides of your neck or below your collarbone. It\u00a0occurs during embryonic developmentTrusted Source\u00a0when tissues in your neck and collarbone, or branchial cleft, develop differently.\n\n
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In most cases, a branchial cleft cyst isn\u2019t dangerous. But it may cause skin irritation, skin infection, or \u2014 in very rare adult cases \u2014 cancer.\n\n
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Perineural (Tarlov) cyst\n\n
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A perineural cyst is a fluid-filled sac that forms on the spine.\n\n
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Causes are unknown, but it\u00a0may resultTrusted Source\u00a0from back trauma, including falls, injuries, and heavy exertion.\n\n
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A perineural cyst can cause pain in your lower back, buttocks, or legs, but this is rare. If you do have symptoms, draining the fluid can help to relieve them.\n\n
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A pseudocyst shares some of the characteristics of a cyst, but the bump doesn\u2019t have its own lining. Here are three types of pseudocysts.\n\n
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Folliculitis (ingrown hair cyst)\n\n
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Folliculitis\u00a0is an infection of hair follicles. It\u2019s often the result of a fungal or bacterial infection and can\u00a0often resemble\u00a0acne.\n\n
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These pseudocysts are often seen in people who use hair removal methods like shaving or waxing.\u00a0Ingrown hair cysts\u00a0are an example of folliculitis. While ingrown hair cysts are possible, if you have bumps that appear near ingrown hairs, there\u2019s a good chance that they\u2019re actually\u00a0razor bumps\u00a0instead.\n\n
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Razor bumps are also known as pseudofolliculitis barbae, which is a type of pseudofolliculitis. Unlike folliculitis, pseudofolliculitis isn\u2019t usually infectious.\n\n
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Chalazion\n\n
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A chalazion is a small, usually painless lump on your eyelids\u00a0that occurs\u00a0when the duct of the meibomian gland, an oil gland, is blocked.\n\n
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These pseudocysts can cause tenderness, blurred vision, and painful swelling. If they get too big, they can cause vision difficulties.\n\n
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Read more about chalazia.\n\n
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Cystic acne\n\n
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Cystic acne\u00a0results from a combination of bacteria, oil, and dead skin clogging the pores. It\u2019s the most severe type of acne, but it usually improves with age.\n\n
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Cystic acne can look like large, pus-filled boils on the skin. It can also be painful to the touch. If these boils rupture, they can cause scarring.\n\n
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Cystic acne most commonly occurs on your face, chest, neck, back, and arms.\n\n
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If you believe you may have cystic acne, a dermatologist can prescribe medications to help treat it.\n\n\n
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How can you recognize a cyst?\n\n
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A cyst can appear as a bump on your skin. These can vary in size from small, pimple-sized lumps to much larger, more obvious growths.\n\n
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Some cysts grow deep inside your body where you can\u2019t feel them. But they may cause or be related to other symptoms.\n\n
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For example,\u00a0ovarian cysts, such as those that result from\u00a0polycystic ovary syndrome, may cause difficulties with ovarian and reproductive function.\u00a0Polycystic kidney disease, which causes cysts to form in the kidney, can adversely affect kidney function.\n\n
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Most cysts aren\u2019t painful. They usually don\u2019t cause difficulties unless they\u2019re:\n\n
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infected\n
very large\n
impinging on a nerve or blood vessel\n
growing in a sensitive area\n
affecting the function of an organ\n\n\n
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Why do cysts and pseudocysts form?\n\n
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Cysts and pseudocysts form for different reasons. They can be caused by:\n\n
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infections\n
inherited diseases\n
genetics\n
chronic inflammation\n
blockages in ducts\n\n\n
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The exact cause depends on the type of cyst or pseudocyst.\n\n\n
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When should you seek help for a cyst?\n\n
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You should try to schedule an appointment with a healthcare professional if your cyst becomes painful, or increasingly inflamed. This could be a symptom of a rupture or an infection.\n\n
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They should check your cyst even if it isn\u2019t causing any pain or other difficulties. Differences in these growths can be a\u00a0symptom of cancer. A healthcare professional may want to remove a tissue sample for testing.\n\n
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How are cysts treated?\n\n
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You should never try to squeeze or pop a cyst or pseudocyst yourself, as this can lead to infection.\n\n
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In some cases, they improve on their own. Putting a warm compress on a cyst can speed up the healing process by helping it drain.\n\n
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In other cases, medical care is required.\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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