What’s Causing Your Cysts?

Most cysts aren’t cancerous, and they don’t usually cause other health problems. Even so, that doesn’t mean cysts are fun. These nodules, which can develop in the skin or inside the body, contain a liquid, semisolid, or gaseous material. When it comes to the skin, these growths are especially common on the face, neck, back, and chest.

At the practice of Ali Hendi, MD, in Chevy Chase, Maryland, Dr. Hendi and his team provide cyst removal services that minimize scarring. In this blog, Dr. Hendi explains why many cysts form in the first place and how they can be treated.

Common cyst causes

One of the most common reasons cysts form on the skin is due to clogged sebaceous glands. These glands lubricate your skin, and if they get blocked, this can cause fluid to pool in one area. Other reasons cysts can form include the following:

• Injury or irritation to a hair follicle
• A clogged duct inside a hair follicle
• Infections

Cysts can vary in size from microscopic to very large, and they’re also mostly benign. You should also know that cysts aren’t tumors. While cysts are filled with liquid, semisolid, or gaseous material, tumors are abnormal masses of tissue. 

What to do about a cyst

For cysts that reside on the skin, they usually grow slowly without causing pain. That said, you can experience pain and other irksome symptoms if a cyst ruptures or becomes infected or inflamed. And some people can feel self-conscious about the appearance of a cyst, especially if it forms on a highly visible part of the body or grows fairly large. In any of these cases, cyst removal can help.

Once Dr. Hendi confirms that you have a cyst, you’ll generally have two options. You can either have the cyst punctured and drained or have it removed completely through a minimally invasive procedure that will require a small incision and, possibly, stitches.

While draining the cyst is the more conservative and gentler choice, you run the risk of the cyst returning. If you’re concerned about that, Dr. Hendi may recommend cyst removal, which is more permanent.

If you want your cyst inspected or removed, book an appointment online or over the phone with Ali Hendi, MD, today. Dr. Hendi can give your cyst a thorough evaluation and discuss your treatment options.