Cyst

A cyst is a closed sac of tissue that can form anywhere in your body. These lumps or bumps most commonly develop in your skin, breasts, ovaries and kidneys. Cysts look like pouches or pockets. They’re usually filled with fluid, pus, air or other materials.

Cysts may look alarming, but they’re typically not serious. Your healthcare provider will let you know if you need treatment.

Can a cyst be cancerous?

Cysts are usually benign. That means they’re noncancerous. Benign cysts are mostly harmless, but they may cause pain or discomfort. Cysts may be an issue when they happen somewhere sensitive, like around nerves or your brain.

Rarely, cysts can be precancerous or cancerous (malignant). You should always tell your healthcare provider any time you notice a new lump or bump. This is especially true if it doesn’t go away after several days or doesn’t stop growing.

Types of cysts

There are many types of cysts. They can have different features depending on which area of your body they affect.

Skin cysts include:

• Baker’s cyst (popliteal cyst)
• Bartholin cyst
• Branchial cleft cyst
• Chalazion (meibomian cyst or eyelid cyst)
• Dermoid cyst
• Epidermal inclusion cyst (sebaceous cyst)
• Ganglion cyst
• Ingrown hair cyst
• Lymphangioma
• Milia
• Myxoid cyst (digital mucous cyst)
• Penis cyst
• Pilar cyst
• Pilonidal cyst

Cysts that can form inside your body include:

• Arachnoid cyst
• Breast cyst
• Jaw cyst
• Kidney cyst (renal cyst)
• Nabothian cyst
• Ovarian cyst
• Pancreatic cyst
• Pericardial cyst
• Rathke’s cleft cyst
• Skene’s gland cyst
• Tarlov cyst
• Thyroglossal duct cyst
• Vaginal cyst

Symptoms of cysts

Cyst symptoms vary widely depending on the type you have and the location of the cyst. You could develop:

• A visible lump (if the cyst is inside your skin)
• Inflammation or swelling
• Pain
• Signs of infection (fever, chills, redness or skin discoloration)

Some cysts don’t cause symptoms at all. Others are visible but painless. An infected cyst can become painful and swollen. It may drain or burst (rupture) if you don’t get treatment.

What causes cysts?

Cysts form for many different reasons. But sometimes, they appear randomly and without an obvious cause.

Some known causes of cysts include:

• Blocked ducts
• Certain parasites, like tapeworms
• Certain types of injuries (especially those that damage blood vessels)
• Chronic inflammation
• Clogged glands
• Genetic conditions
• Infections

What are the potential complications of cysts?

Left untreated, cancerous (malignant) cysts can cause cancer cells to spread beyond the lump to other parts of your body.

Noncancerous (benign) cysts can grow larger and press on surrounding structures in your body. This can lead to possible pain and other complications. Benign cysts can also get infected (become an abscess). If an abscess ruptures inside your body, you could develop a blood infection.

All cysts can lead to complications — even noncancerous ones. That’s why it’s important to tell your healthcare provider about any new lumps or bumps you notice.

How are cysts diagnosed?

A healthcare provider will start with a physical exam. If you have a visible cyst, they’ll look and gently feel around the area.

In some cases, your provider may ask to run some tests. These could include imaging tests, like X-rays, ultrasounds or CT scans. These tests can help your provider see cysts on the inside of your body.

You may also need a fine-needle aspiration (FNA). This is a type of biopsy. A provider uses a needle and syringe to pull fluid out of a cyst. Then, they send the fluid sample to a lab for testing. This can help your provider figure out the type of cyst you have and whether you need treatment.

Do cysts go away on their own?

Some cysts go away on their own without treatment. But you should still tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop a lump, even if it seems harmless. They may recommend treatment in some cases. Or they may want to observe the cyst for a few days or weeks before making any decisions.

How are cysts treated?

Healthcare providers use several treatment methods. Depending on which type you have, cyst treatments may include:

• Antibiotics: If you have an infected cyst, your provider may give you antibiotics. These can shrink the infection for a time. But they usually aren’t a permanent fix.
• Steroid injections: A provider might give you corticosteroid injections. These can reduce pain and inflammation around the cyst.
• Incision and draining: A provider makes a small hole or incision (cut) using a needle or scalpel. Then, they drain all the fluid from the cyst.
• Laser removal: A provider uses laser energy to heat up the cyst and the fluid inside it. As a result, the cyst shrinks and goes away over time.
• Surgical cyst removal: Your provider may recommend surgical removal. This can keep the cyst from getting bigger or causing complications. During this procedure, your provider drains the fluid from the cyst. Then, they remove the sac of tissue around it. This is the best way to reduce the chances of the cyst coming back.

What can I do for a cyst at home?

If you’re wondering how to get rid of a cyst, don’t try to drain it or remove it yourself. That includes poking it or using something sharp to break it open. This can lead to serious complications, like a skin infection or blood poisoning.

But there are some things you can do at home to ease your symptoms:

• Keep the skin around the cyst clean.
• Use heat packs to help thin the fluid inside the cyst. This drains the fluid into your lymphatic system faster.
• Apply ice. This can reduce pain and inflammation around the cyst.

When should I see my healthcare provider?

You should tell your healthcare provider any time you notice:

• Any new lumps under your skin
• Changes to existing lumps
• Pain, swelling, redness or skin discoloration around a cyst

What is the outlook for people with cysts?

The overall outlook is good if you have a cyst. They’re common and rarely cancerous. But even if you have a benign cyst, you might need treatment. So, it’s always best to see a healthcare provider.

Can a cyst rupture?

Yes, cysts can rupture (burst). Whether a rupture causes symptoms depends on the type and location of the cyst. A ruptured skin cyst may cause mild symptoms or none at all. But a ruptured ovarian cyst could cause more severe symptoms, like abdominal pain or bleeding.

Are pimples cysts?

Pimples differ from cysts because they don’t have a sac. But some people develop something similar called cystic acne. With this condition, cysts form deep under your skin instead of near the surface like a pimple.