Cysts are one of the most common benign skin growths. A cyst consists of a sac or enclosed capsule filled with fluid or semisolid material. Typically, they are round or dome shaped, nodules or lumps on or underneath the skin. The overlying skin can be unchanged or have a small opening or punctum. They can be found anywhere, but the scalp, neck, and back are common locations. When pressure is applied to the cyst, a malodorous, cheesy discharge can be expressed. Though cysts are benign and not harmful, the lesions can at times, become inflamed, mimicking the signs of a skin infection. The affected area can become painful and red. Treatment options for an inflamed cyst include warm compresses, oral antibiotics, intralesional steroid injections, and/or incision and drainage. Definitive cyst treatment involves surgical excision, including removal of the entire sac or capsule to prevent a recurrence.
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