What are skin cysts?
Cysts are non-cancerous closed pockets of tissue that can be filled with fluid, pus, or other material.
Cysts are common on the skin and can appear anywhere. They feel like small peas under the surface of the skin. Cysts can develop as a result of infection, clogging of sebaceous glands, or around foreign bodies.
What are the symptoms of skin cysts?
Skin cysts usually are:
- Slow-growing
- Painless
- Small in size
- Smooth to the touch when they are rolled under the skin
How are skin cysts treated?
Cysts usually do not cause pain unless they rupture, or become infected or inflamed. Some cysts disappear on their own and do not require treatment. Other cysts should be drained, which involves lancing (piercing with a sharp object) the cyst and draining it.
Some cysts can be treated with an injection of cortisone medicine to cause it to shrink. Cysts that do not respond to other treatments or reoccur can be removed surgically.
What is a cherry angioma?
A cherry angioma is a smooth, cherry-red bump on the skin. Although cherry angiomas usually appear on the trunk, they can occur nearly anywhere on the body. The cause of cherry angiomas is not known, but the growths usually appear on people over the age of 40.
What are the symptoms of a cherry angioma?
Cherry angiomas are small, bright red growths that are smooth. The size of the growths can vary from the size of a pinhead to about a quarter inch in diameter.
How is a cherry angioma treated?
In most cases, cherry angiomas do not require treatment. If they are cosmetically unappealing or are subject to bleeding, angiomas might be removed by lasers or electrocautery. Removal usually does not cause scarring.
What are dermatofibromas?
Dermatofibromas are round, red-brownish to purplish skin growths that are most commonly found on the arms and legs. Dermatofibromas contains scar tissue and feel like hard lumps in the skin. The cause of dermatofibromas is not known. However, the growths are harmless.
What are the symptoms of dermatofibromas?
The symptoms of dermatofibromas include:
- A red, brown or purple growth that can change colors over time
- A growth that is as small as a BB pellet
- Tenderness, pain, and itching (However, the growths also can be painless.)
- A dimple that appears when the growth is pinched
How are dermatofibromas treated?
In most cases, there is no need to treat dermatofibromas. However, the growths can be removed surgically or can be flattened by being frozen with liquid nitrogen.
What are epidermoid cysts?
Epidermoid cysts are also called sebaceous cysts. These benign (non-cancerous) skin cysts form from blocked oil glands in the skin. Most commonly, epidermoid cysts are found on the genitals, trunk, and back, but can occur in other areas of the skin.
What are the symptoms of epidermoid cysts?
In general, epidermoid cysts have a round appearance. A dark portion of the cyst is visible on the skin. If the cysts become infected, they will become red and tender. When the cysts are squeezed, they can produce a stringy white discharge.
How are epidermoid cysts treated?
The effective treatment of epidermoid cysts requires that the sac of the cyst be completely removed. If the cyst is squeezed and the discharge is forced out, the cyst will reappear in the skin. Usually, a doctor will be able to remove the cyst by making only a small incision in the skin. Antibiotics might be prescribed to treat infected cysts.
What is folliculitis?
Folliculitis is an inflammation of the hair follicles. It can be caused by an infection in the hair follicles, by chemical irritation, or by physical irritation (such as shaving or friction from clothing). Typical body sites that are involved in folliculitis include the face, thighs, and scalp.
Folliculitis is more common in people who have diabetes mellitus. It also is more common in people who are obese or are whose immune systems are compromised.
What are the symptoms of folliculitis?
The main lesion in folliculitis is a papule or pustule with a central hair. The hair shaft in the middle of the lesion might not be seen.
The following are symptoms of folliculitis:
- Multiple red pimples and/or pustules on hair-bearing areas of the body
- A rash
- Itchy skin
How is folliculitis treated?
Topical antibiotics, oral antibiotics, or antifungal medicines might be used to treat infections associated with folliculitis. Treatment also involves preventing further damage to the hair follicles. Steps that can help achieve this goal include:
- Minimizing friction from clothing
- Not shaving in the affected area, if possible (If shaving is necessary, use a clean new razor blade or an electric razor each time.)
- Keeping the area clean
What is a keratoacanthoma?
A keratoacanthoma usually will appear on sun-damaged skin as a thick growth that has a central crusted plug. Keratoacanthomas appear most often in people who are over the age of 60.
A keratoancanthoma occurs when cells in a hair follicle do not grow normally. The growth apparently is triggered by a minor skin injury in an area that previously had suffered sun damage. Ultraviolet radiation from sun exposure is the biggest risk factor in keratoacanthomas.
What are the symptoms of a keratoacanthoma?
Keratoacanthomas are rapidly growing, red, dome-shaped bumps with central craters. Some keratoacanthomas can grow to extremely large sizes, sometimes 8 to 20 inches in diameter.
How are keratoacanthomas treated?
Keratoacanthomas can be removed through the following procedures:
- Cryotherapy — freezing the growth with liquid nitrogen
- Curettage — cutting out or scraping off the growth
- Cauterization — burning the tissue to destroy the growth
What is keratosis pilaris?
Keratosis pilaris (commonly called KP) appears as "chicken skin bumps" on the skin. These bumps usually appear on the upper arms and thighs. They also can appear on the cheeks, back, and buttocks. Keratosis pilaris can be unsightly but it is harmless.
What are the symptoms of keratosis pilaris?
This disorder appears as small, rough bumps that have a rough texture. The bumps are usually white or red, but do not itch or hurt. Keratosis pilaris is usually worse during the winter months or other times of low humidity when skin becomes dry. It also might worsen during pregnancy or after childbirth.
How is keratosis pilaris treated?
Although the condition might remain for years, most cases gradually disappear before age 30. Treatment of keratosis pilaris is not medically necessary, but individuals with this condition might want to seek treatment for cosmetic reasons.
The initial treatment of keratosis pilaris should be intensive moisturizing. A cream such as Acid mantle, Vaseline, or Complex 15 can be applied after bathing, then re-applied several times a day. Other treatments might include:
- Medicated creams containing urea (Curel, Carmol-20) or alpha-hydroxy acids (Aqua Glycolic, Lacticare) applied twice daily
- Efforts to unplug pores by taking long, hot soaking tub baths and then rubbing the areas with a coarse washcloth or stiff brush
- Prescription medicines including antibiotics (Erythromycin, Bactrim)
What are lipomas?
Lipomas are subcutaneous soft tissue tumors or nodules that usually are slow-growing. They have a firm, rubbery consistency. Lipomas tend to form on the trunk, shoulders, and neck, but can appear elsewhere.
What are the symptoms of lipomas?
Lipomas can appear as solitary nodules or in groups. Most lipomas are less than 5 cm in diameter. Most lipomas are asymptomatic, but they can cause pain when they compress nerves.
How are lipomas treated?
Lipomas are not removed unless there is a cosmetic concern, a compression of surrounding structures, or an uncertain diagnosis. Lipomas generally do not infiltrate into surrounding tissue so they can be removed easily during excision.
An alternative to standard excision is to manually squeeze the lipoma through a small incision. This technique is useful in areas with thin dermis, such as the face and extremities. Liposuction-assisted lipectomy also can be used to remove large lipomas with minimal scarring.
What are neurofibromas?
Neurofibromas are soft, fleshy growths that occur on or under the skin, sometimes even deep within the body. These are benign (harmless) tumors. However, they can turn malignant or cancerous in rare cases.
What are the symptoms of neurofibromas?
The symptoms of neurofibromas might vary, depending on the locations and the sizes of the tumors. Symptoms can include:
- A painless, slow-growing mass
- Occasional pain
- Electric-like "shock" when the affected area is touched
- Lack of neurological problems or loss, unless the tumor involves a major motor or sensory nerve or a nerve that is compressed between the tumor and a hard structure
How are neurofibromas treated?
If the tumor is not causing any symptoms, no treatment might be necessary. However, doctors might choose to surgically remove the neurofibroma if it is affecting a major nerve. In most cases, neurofibromas are treated successfully and do not recur.
© Copyright 1995-2009 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All rights reserved.
Can't find the health information you’re looking for?
Ask a Health Educator, Live!
Know someone who could use this information?...send them this link.
This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 3/7/2005
