Every week, Edwin de Vaal ( 48), a general practitioner in Nijmegen, answers a frequently asked or conspicuous question from his practice. This week it is: I have a talgdtocyst. Should I have it removed?
What is a sebaceous gland cyst anyway?
“A sebaceous gland cyst is also called atheroom cyst. It is a subcutaneous bump, often on the head, back or neck. In the skin are thousands of glands that produce sebum. Sebum is a cream that keeps the skin supple. Sometimes such a gland is clogged. As a result, the sebum cannot be removed and a bump grows slowly.”
Can a talgdtoste cyst hurt?
“Not in principle. The cyst cannot become malignant, but it can get in the way or ignite. The bump not only grows, but also the skin around it becomes red, warm and painful. Trying to squeeze out the bump often doesn’t work and usually only makes it worse.”
“An inflamed cyst contains sebum, but also pus and can smell all of toe cheese.”
How do you know that it is an innocent atheist cyst and not a malignant tumor?
“An atheistic cyst feels like a smooth subcutaneous lump stuck in the skin. The size varies between 0.5 and 3 centimeters, but larger also occurs sometimes. Usually there is a black core in it, like a black pinhead.”
“But you don’t want to judge the difference between an atheistic cyst and a tumor. If you feel a swelling that didn’t exist before, talk to the doctor’s assistant. It can also be a lymph node or fat bump.”
When do you need to go to the doctor?
“As long as the cyst is not inflamed, you don’t need anything with it. If it is in an unpleasant place or if you suffer from it in any other way, you can have the cyst removed by the doctor. With an inflamed cyst, you really need to go to the doctor.”
“The doctor anesthetizes the area around the cyst and makes a cut in it to remove the cyst. In addition to sebum, an inflamed cyst also contains pus and can smell all of toe cheese.”
You watch movies on the Internet. Do you mean that by removing it?
“On these videos, they often only remove the sebum and leave the gland itself. But also the walls of the sebaceous gland must be removed. Otherwise, you have a new atheist cyst. The gp will try to remove the cyst in one go, including the gland.”
‘Removing it properly and completely is sometimes a difficult task, but most GPs can do it themselves. You don’t have to go to the hospital for that.”