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Original poster

Sebacceous cyst on scalp - surgical removal? or leave alone?

39 replies

peppajay · 22/09/2012 15:54

I have a subacceous cyst on my head. Had one about 17 yrs ago when I was at uni and the uni med centre nurse squeezed out the rest of the substance and then it disappeared and a few years later it started to grow back and it is now bigger than a pea but smaller than a grape, and not causing me any problems. Have been to see my GP and he said leave it alone if it is not causing problems as where it is on my scalp will involve shaving and bandaging. However have been speaking to a friend of a friend who had one and hers got infected and she had a terrible time having it removed and was really ill afterwards and her consultant said it should have been removed whilst it was causing no problems.

So really catch 22 my dr says it is not necessary to remove it and it is very unlikely to get infected.

So just wondering if there is any drs or healthcare professionals on here who can offer me some advice on the best option or someone who has had one removed and how it affected them good or bad.

Thanks very much x

OP posts:

RikersBeard · 22/09/2012 15:59

Afraid I have no advice to offer, but be aware there are some odd folk on here who will demand a , hot flannels, a needle and photographic evidence.

If it were me I think I'd leave alone if it's not bothering you

CaroleService · 22/09/2012 16:07

It will grow much bigger over time though (these run in my family) and then when it is emptied out and the sac removed you will have an odd hairless patch that remains unless they trim the excess skin.

Anyway, the NHS seems not to remove cysts nowadays, whereas it was routine when my Dad was a sufferer.

My sister had her first removed just by a GP, but by the time she got another, years later, she had to 'go private'. It cost hundreds, and would have cost much more if she'd let them put it in for analysis.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 22/09/2012 16:36

Such cysts can and do recur.

I would have it removed now (these can also be removed under local anaesthesia) even though it is currently causing you no bother. The GP syringed out the contents of the cyst when it became infected. If it becomes infected you will also need to take antibiotics.

MaryAnnSingleton · 22/09/2012 21:52

I've had several removed very easily by my GP - no shaving of hair either-very simple and much easier when they are small. I'd go for it if you can.

sleeplessinderbyshire · 22/09/2012 21:56

Most areas do not fund nhs removal of sebaceous cysts on the nhs whether that it by the gp or in hospital so likely if you want it removing you will have to pay lots for it and may be left with a scar. I would leave well alone unless it gets infected (am a doc and used to remove them if people really wanted to before the pct removed funding)

tink123 · 22/09/2012 22:16

I have one on my scalp that has been there 29 years and I am leaving well alone. It has never changed or got bigger

Matesnotdates · 22/09/2012 22:37

Me too tink. I now have about five, Biggest one is grape sized right down to raisin sized.

I think if they were dealt with and 'emptied' i would lose two pounds in weight.

I am leaving alone as I have very thick hair but if i go bald I'm in trouble...

mercibucket · 22/09/2012 22:40

Mine is now an inch by an inch and nhs will not remove it. However, I have a plan. I am going to do it myself (see youtube) and get nhs to stitch it up again, thus saving myself 500 quid. This is the future - apparently I am not the first - nhs magazine reports incidents of diy surgery such as this is on the increase. I wish I'd done it when it was small. You need to remove the sac as well. See youtube for further details.

mercibucket · 22/09/2012 22:40

VivaLeBeaver · 22/09/2012 22:45

A couple of years ago the gp said I could have my cyst removed. There was a waiting list and I got bored and convinced dh to hack it out. I got my appt through and cancelled it. Now it's grown back, pct won't fund it now, dh can't do it properly. I have a lump on my neck.

ErmahgerdPerngwens · 22/09/2012 23:00

I got rid of my own, I thought it was just a large and annoying spot which had been around too long. I squeezed it and all the gunge came out but it still felt lumpy so I carried on squeezing and was utterly horrified when this hard lumpy white thing started coming out, I thought it was some kind of weird parasite - I'd watched a tropical A&E program shortly before where someone got botfly maggots removed from their scalp, despite the lack of likelihood of it happening in this country, my first thought was maggot! When it was totally out I realised it was just some hard skin, like you'd get on a blister, and a quick google revealed it was a sebaceous cyst sac.

I probably have a scar but it's under my hair and the cyst hasn't come back. Disclaimer - this does not mean it was a wise, medically advised course of action, I have probably just been lucky.

If I'd known about the MN klaxon, I'd have videoed the whole experience!

Matesnotdates · 23/09/2012 00:08

merci - am off to you tube.

How do you start it off though? Mine's quite hard so it won't just squeeze - do you have to cut it or something?

...faints....

Ponders · 23/09/2012 00:14

I suppose it depends where it is - if it really doesn't bother you in any way then leave it

I used to have one on the crown of my head (back R) which was exactly where I used to lean my head on the car window when I was waiting to pick kids up, from wherever (which was frequent at the time), & it hurt, so my GP removed it in the Treatment Room at our HC

That meant LA, shave area of scalp, scalpel, & entire cyst removed. It didn't come back ever.

Jacksmania · 23/09/2012 00:18

I know I'm a sicko but I'm just going to mark my place now... :o

KatoPotato · 23/09/2012 00:22

Me too...

MaryAnnSingleton · 23/09/2012 09:15

you'd have to cut with scalpel and drag the thing out -there'll be lots of blood- scalps are bleedy. I am shocked that other PCTs don't offer this service.(the proper removal I mean)
My BIL has one on his face which is getting bigger- no one ever mentions it,though I wish I could say because the scarring will be worse the bigger it gets.

CrikeyOHare · 23/09/2012 11:28

I have a fairly largish one on my earlobe & I'm psyching myself up to slicing into it and squeezing it out.

Not because it's bothering me at all, but because I really enjoy squeezing anything .

VivaLeBeaver · 23/09/2012 15:29

Maryannsingleton, it's your duty to say something, pin him down and squeeze it out while filming it!

MaryAnnSingleton · 23/09/2012 16:46

eeewwww- I couldn't-am hopeless with blood and gore...

Nagoo · 23/09/2012 16:58

oooooohhhhhhhhh.

If you don't get the sac out it will be the gift that keeps on giving....

leaving it to grow on a BIL? If it were on my DH be in there will a host of weaponry as soon as it was visble to the naked eye. I love that stuff.

EyesNEars · 23/09/2012 17:15

Blackheads are my favourite squeezers! Very satisfying...especially on someone else!

KatoPotato · 23/09/2012 17:22

Oooh I love a bit of blackhead action! Found a belter on the back of DH's leg this morning... Like a wee lump of coal it was. Practically tumbled out!!

bran · 23/09/2012 17:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EyesNEars · 23/09/2012 17:38

KatoPotato Check the other leg tonight...or let me do it!

KatoPotato · 23/09/2012 17:39

I had a beaut on the base of my spine that didn't cause me any grief until I started Pilates. The instructor describing the two core muscles there as being like 'two small grapes that need squashing' didn't help much either.

It flared up last week and eventually after twenty minutes or draining (white/peachy triangular chunks) is now flat after almost 6 years!

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