Sebaceous cysts: causes and what you can do at home
What people commonly call a “sebaceous cyst” is often actually an epidermoid cyst—a benign, slow-growing lump under the skin containing keratin. True sebaceous cysts are less common.
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Mayo Clinic
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What causes them?
They can develop when skin cells that normally shed from the surface become trapped deeper in the skin. They can also follow skin irritation, injury, or damage to a hair follicle. Some people are simply more prone to developing them.
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Mayo Clinic
They often appear as a round, movable lump, sometimes with a small dark opening in the center. They can occur on the face, neck, trunk, scalp, and other areas.
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Mayo Clinic
Can you treat one at home?
If the cyst is small, painless, and not changing, leaving it alone is often the best approach.
A reasonable home measure is:
Apply a warm, moist cloth to the area for a short period. This may encourage natural drainage and relieve discomfort.
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Mayo Clinic
Keep the area clean.
Do not squeeze, puncture, or try to cut it open. This can cause infection, inflammation, scarring, and recurrence.
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Mayo Clinic
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There isn’t good evidence that ingredients such as apple-cider vinegar, tea tree oil, baking soda, garlic, or essential oils can safely dissolve an epidermoid cyst. Some can irritate or burn the skin.
When professional treatment is needed
See a healthcare professional if the lump is rapidly growing, painful, red, warm, draining, repeatedly returning, or otherwise unexplained. A clinician should also examine a new lump when you’re not sure it’s actually a cyst.
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Mayo Clinic
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If removal is necessary, a clinician can drain it or, more definitively, remove the entire cyst and its capsule. Simply draining it can allow it to come back.
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Mayo Clinic
Bottom line: Don’t try to “pop” a sebaceous/epidermoid cyst. A warm compress is the main reasonable home measure, but persistent or inflamed cysts are better assessed by a healthcare professional.
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