Should the white paste-like substance inside a sebaceous cyst be squeezed out?

Sep 18, 2023 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Liu Qingyun

Introduction

In general, it is not recommended to squeeze out the white, paste-like substance from a sebaceous cyst on your own. This may lead to infection, damage to hair follicles, recurrence, scarring, or even sepsis. It is advisable to visit a dermatology department at a hospital for surgical removal. After surgery, patients should maintain cleanliness and hygiene of the local wound area and can use iodophor or 75% alcohol to disinfect the wound.

Generally, it is not recommended to squeeze out the white, paste-like substance from a sebaceous cyst on your own. Doing so may lead to infections, hair follicle damage, recurrence, scarring, or even sepsis. The specific reasons are as follows:

1. Risk of infection

Squeezing a sebaceous cyst with hands may irritate the subcutaneous cystic cavity, promoting its expansion into surrounding tissues. This can enlarge the cyst and potentially lead to bacterial infection, causing local redness, swelling, pain, ulceration, and erosion.

2. Hair follicle damage

Squeezing a sebaceous cyst easily damages hair follicles, and repeated squeezing can further injure the skin.

3. Recurrence

Self-squeezing often fails to completely remove all retained material within the cyst, increasing the likelihood of recurrence.

4. Scarring

Squeezing may enlarge the wound, and even after healing, it could leave a scar on the skin.

5. Sepsis risk

Self-squeezing a sebaceous cyst may result in secondary bacterial infection at the site, particularly by Staphylococcus aureus. In severe cases, this infection may progress to sepsis, posing a life-threatening risk.

To effectively remove a sebaceous cyst, it is advisable to visit a dermatology department at a hospital for surgical excision, which offers a more thorough solution. After surgery, patients should maintain cleanliness and hygiene at the wound site and use antiseptics such as iodophor or 75% alcohol for disinfection. To prevent sebaceous cysts, it's important to maintain regular sleep patterns, avoid staying up late, reduce intake of high-fat or spicy foods, and keep the skin clean regularly.

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