Epidermal cyst: causes and characteristic manifestations, removal methods

Why does an epidermal cyst form?

The formation appears as a result of the closure of the passage of the hair follicle with excess sebum production and horny cells.

Externally, the cyst resembles a ball up to 5 cm in diameter, is pink in color and covered with a network of small vessels. Often, her pores darken and expand.

The internal contents of the cyst resemble a yellow paste.

Getting an infection inside a cystic formation can cause inflammation, enlargement, and pain.

If the formation is localized on the head, then as it increases it can put pressure on the brain. And this, in turn, provokes blurred vision, severe headaches, and mental disorders. It is not uncommon for an epidermal cyst to provoke

Diagnostics

First, the gynecologist collects anamnesis and conducts general and gynecological examinations. Then the following studies are prescribed:

Ultrasound of the pelvic organs;
radiography, computed tomography;
pregnancy test or blood test for hCG (to exclude ectopic pregnancy);
general blood and urine tests.

Additionally you may need:

blood tests for tumor markers;
laparoscopic examination with biopsy (during which the cyst can be treated at the same time);
blood test for hormones (to identify the causes of cyst development).

If there are concomitant diseases (endocrine, inflammatory pathologies of internal organs), the help of appropriate specialists may be required: endocrinologist, gastroenterologist, urologist, therapist, etc.

Types of epidermal cysts

Doctors distinguish several types of formations. Classification is carried out according to structure, symptoms and the presence of complications.

The most common diagnosis is atheroma. This formation is localized in the face, arms, neck and scrotum. A single atheroma may appear on the skin or several may appear at once.

This type of epidermal cyst, such as atheroma, has a round shape and soft contents. As a rule, this formation is yellow or red in color.

Atheroma does not bother a person; it can remain the same size or rise slightly above the skin.

When an infection occurs, the formation suppurates and leads to inflammation of neighboring tissues.

Rehabilitation

The oncology clinic of the Yusupov Hospital has all the conditions for successful rehabilitation, which lasts from 10 days to a month. All actions during this period are aimed at restoring the reproductive functions of the body, preventing relapse of the disease, as well as normalizing the psycho-emotional state of the patient.

The rehabilitation program of the Yusupov Hospital includes several stages:

Taking hormonal drugs;
Phonophoresis;
Diet correction;
Laser or magnetic laser therapy;
Physiotherapy.

During this time, it is necessary to abstain from sexual intercourse, heavy physical activity, and sports. After the end of the rehabilitation period, the woman can return to her usual lifestyle.

How is an epidermal cyst treated?

The formation must be removed through surgery. However, there are some restrictions. If it is close to parts of the brain, then complete excision is impossible. The neurosurgeon will perform only partial removal and recommends annual examinations for timely diagnosis of relapses.

When the formation is malignant, it is treated by an oncologist surgeon. Usually the tactic of simultaneous radiation and chemotherapy is chosen. If atheroma is diagnosed, the size of the tumor plays an important role. Small formations can be left without treatment, but only observed. When the tumor begins to grow, excision under local anesthesia is indicated.

The operation to excise a superficial epidermal cyst usually lasts no more than 20 minutes. The doctor makes an incision and removes the cyst along with the capsule. Then the cavity is scraped, the skin is cleaned and the wound is sutured.

If relapse occurs, repeat surgery is recommended.

Possible complications

If left untreated and the ovarian cyst continues to grow, the following complications may develop:

Hemorrhage into the cyst cavity and subsequent transformation of a functional neoplasm into a hemorrhagic one;
Torsion of the cyst pedicle . With incomplete torsion (gradual, 90-180 degrees), circulatory disturbances, loss of cyst mobility, and formation of adhesions occur. With complete (acute) torsion (360 degrees), necrosis (tissue death) may occur, leading to the development of peritonitis (inflammation of the peritoneum). This is a dangerous condition for which medical attention must be provided immediately. Complete torsion of the pedicle of the cyst manifests itself with symptoms such as decreased blood pressure and increased body temperature, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, sharp paroxysmal pain in the lower abdomen, radiating to the lower back or leg.
Rupture of the cyst wall (can lead to the development of peritonitis). The patient feels severe unilateral pain in the lower abdomen (depending on the location of the tumor). The abdominal wall is tense. Constipation may occur. Cyst rupture can occur as a result of abdominal trauma, physical activity, sexual intercourse, inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs, hormonal imbalance, or torsion of the cyst stalk.
Intra-abdominal bleeding (can be observed when a tumor ruptures).
Infertility.

Recommendations from experts

The presence of a cyst on the scalp forces a person to give up many habits. Only in this case can a positive result from treatment be achieved. That is why when fighting a benign tumor you must adhere to the following rules:

Keep the area where the atheroma is located clean.
You need to avoid foods that can irritate the gastrointestinal tract.
To wash your hair, it is better to use gentle shampoos containing extracts of medicinal herbs.
It is strictly forbidden to dye your hair, perm or use scalp masks.
In hot weather you need to wear a hat. Overheating can trigger more active growth of the wen.

Classification of skin cysts

Cysts from skin appendages	Dysontogenetic cysts	Other cysts
Epidermal, including proliferating Hair, including proliferating Pigmented follicular cyst Vellus hair cyst Steatocystoma multiple Miliary Screen hydrocystoma Apocrine cystadenoma	Bronchogenic Branchiogenic Dermoid Cystic teratoma Median neck cyst Ciliated and mucinous cysts of the vulva	Parasitic Mucous cyst of fingers Mucocele Metaplastic synovial cyst Cutaneous endometriosis Cutaneous endosalpingiosis Lymphogenic (cystic hygroma)

To view the table, move left and right. ↔

Treatment of malignant tumors

Oncology is treated with courses of chemotherapy and radiation. To eliminate such formations, you need to select complex therapy, so you should immediately consult a dermatologist-oncologist.

Description of surgery

Before the procedure, the patient is given epidural anesthesia. First, an incision is made where the fluid has accumulated. Then another tool is taken. By applying pressure and firm pressure to the surface of the skin, the contents of the tumor are extracted using clamps and gauze swabs. After the internal fluid is removed, sutures are applied.

Folk recipes

Many patients prefer alternative medicine. You can use proven folk recipes only at the initial stage of the disease. The most effective in this case are:

Aloe juice. Three times a day, apply a cotton swab to the affected area of the skin, which is pre-moistened in the juice of the plant. The duration of treatment is at least 20 days.
Films from chicken eggs. This recipe is one of the most popular, as you can find many positive reviews on the Internet. To achieve the desired result, you need to hard-boil a chicken egg, peel it and remove a thin film. It needs to be applied to the growth daily. After a few days, the atheroma will begin to resolve.
Lamb fat. This product should be used with caution, avoiding healthy areas of skin. Pre-melted lamb fat should be cooled to room temperature. The product is applied to the formation six times a day. The duration of treatment is 7-15 days.
Vegetable oil and garlic juice. For each procedure, you need to prepare a fresh mixture (a teaspoon of vegetable oil and 1-2 drops of juice).

You should always remember that in the absence of quality therapy and the use of questionable recipes, inflammation of the affected area may develop. In advanced cases, several cysts form on the skin at once. The pathology is accompanied by painful sensations and a long period of postoperative recovery.

Favorable areas of the body for the formation of disease

Hairy areas of the human body contribute to the formation of epidermal tumors. This is due to increased secretion in these areas.

Neoplasm is possible in all areas of the body where active production of substances by the sebaceous glands occurs. The armpits and the area of the shoulder blades on the back are suitable here.

Less commonly, clinical causes of the disease can be found on the chest, palms, in the genital area (in men - on the scrotum, in women - in the ovary area), on the feet, in the neck area.

Let's look at the different forms of the disease.

Etiology

The cyst begins to form as a result of blockage of the pores, which disrupts the outflow of sebaceous gland secretions. And most often they are detected in patients suffering from severe acne or oily seborrhea.

And to understand what atheroma is and why it occurs, we need to talk a little about how the sebaceous glands function. They produce a secretion that protects the skin from harmful bacteria. But when their ducts become clogged, the secretion stops coming out and begins to accumulate inside. Under its pressure, the walls of the gland gradually expand, inflammatory processes occur in them, and atheroma appears. That is why this formation is also called a follicular skin cyst.

The reasons why a plug may occur in the excretory ducts of the pores are as follows:

Neglect of personal hygiene rules.
Using cheap decorative cosmetics that clog pores.
Hormonal imbalances.
Thickening of the epidermis due to the development of other diseases.
Impaired metabolism.
Adverse environmental influences.
Acne.

It is important to note that when such formations appear, genetic and hereditary factors have no significance. The only exception is an ovarian cyst. It is also called rudimentary. The formation occurs during the period of embryonic development and does not have much physiological significance. It does not affect the process of conceiving a child in the future and bearing it, and rarely degenerates into a malignant tumor. If dermal cysts are detected on the ovaries, they are removed only with progressive growth.