Complete removal to prevent it coming back
A sebaceous cyst is a smooth lump beneath the skin, most often on the scalp, face, neck, back or shoulders. They are benign but tend to grow slowly and can become infected.
The key to treatment is removing the cyst wall completely. Simply draining the contents is why so many cysts return.
Complete surgical excision of the cyst along with its wall. Draining or squeezing a cyst empties it temporarily, but the wall remains and refills — which is why squeezed cysts almost always come back. Excision removes the entire sac through a small incision under local anaesthesia, usually as a day-care procedure. If the cyst is currently infected, the infection is settled first and the cyst removed afterwards.
Understanding the Condition
A sebaceous cyst, also called an epidermoid cyst, is a closed sac beneath the skin filled with a thick, cheese-like material. They are among the commonest skin lumps.
They form when a hair follicle or skin gland becomes blocked and the material it produces accumulates inside a sac lined with skin cells. The lump is usually smooth, round and movable, and there is often a small central pore visible.
Sebaceous cysts are benign. They matter mainly because they grow, because they can become infected and painful, and because of where they sit cosmetically.
Do not squeeze or try to drain a cyst yourself. This commonly introduces infection, causes scarring, and leaves the cyst wall behind so the lump refills.
Warning Signs
A sebaceous cyst usually shows the following features.
An infected cyst — red, hot, painful and swollen — needs prompt treatment. Infection is usually settled first, with removal of the cyst planned once the inflammation has resolved.
Causes & Risk Factors
Sebaceous cysts form when a follicle or gland becomes blocked.
Treatment
Complete excision of the cyst and its wall is the definitive treatment, performed under local anaesthesia.
Where a cyst is currently infected, the infection is treated first and excision planned once it has settled.
What to Expect
Examination of the lump to confirm the diagnosis and assess its size and position.
The incision is planned to follow natural skin lines for the best cosmetic result.
The cyst and its wall are removed through a small incision under local anaesthesia.
Wound care instructions, suture removal where needed, and review to confirm healing.
Your Surgeon
Dr. Kamalakkhannan is an experienced general, laparoscopic and laser surgeon with over 15 years of expertise across a wide range of surgical conditions.
Removing the cyst wall intact is what prevents recurrence, and incision planning determines how the scar settles.
Why Patients Choose Lapser
Extensive experience across general, laparoscopic and laser surgical procedures.
Examination and, where needed, imaging come before any talk of treatment.
Many of these conditions need monitoring rather than surgery, and you will be told so plainly.
Recommendations based on your findings, symptoms and individual circumstances.
Where an incision is needed, techniques aim for the least visible result possible.
Consultations every day, including evenings, at Sithalapakkam and Velachery.
Book a consultation if you have any of the following.
Early evaluation helps identify the most appropriate treatment and often provides reassurance.
Frequently Asked
Complete surgical excision of the cyst along with its wall. Draining alone leaves the wall behind, which is why drained cysts commonly refill.
Small cysts occasionally settle, but most persist and slowly enlarge. Definitive treatment is excision.
The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia, so the area is numb. Mild soreness afterwards is usual.
Any excision leaves a scar, but the incision is planned to be small and to follow natural skin lines.
Sebaceous cysts are benign. Where the appearance is atypical, tissue is sent for histopathology to confirm.
Infection is usually treated first. Removing an actively infected cyst makes complete excision harder and increases scarring.
If you have a lump under the skin that is growing or has come back after being drained, complete removal is the way to resolve it.
The information on this page is for general awareness and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. A lump or skin lesion can only be characterised through clinical examination and, where appropriate, histopathology. Any new, changing or enlarging lesion should be assessed by a qualified doctor. Recovery times and cosmetic outcomes vary from person to person.
