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

[peppajay]

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

I never knew such a community of like minded 'sporners' existed!

I have at least 5 of 'em at the moment, no problems really (I suppose if I were planning a Sinead O'Connor-style do it might be inadviseable).

Actually, once one got infected but a short dose of ABs sorted that out. I think if you're more oily-skinned you're more prone to them.

If it bursts, you MUST sound the klaxon. Tis the law.

I would get it removed. I sometimes wonder whether some of the advice dished out by GPs is due to NHS cost cutting. eg they don't freeze warts here, DH had one that he couldn't shift for 5 yrs and he had to get it frozen privately.

Yes, it is cost cutting, I was supposed to get mine removed a few years ago on nhs but decided it wasn't worth the faff. Now it's suddenly grown like mad - yuck

You need skin numbing cream (chemists or tattoists), scalpel (few quid, internet) and antibacterial stuff. Mine is big tho so I think it will need packing while healing

Blimey. DIY surgery?

Have an inflamed one on my back. Waiting for NHS removal, but wondering if will burst first. I dont fancy asking DH to go at it with a scalpel, or deal with the cheesy-feety gunk not sue if I'm brave enough for YouTube.

I've got lignocaine, scapel and sutures at the ready but dh is squeamish.

And I can't reach it or I'd do it myself.

I'm proudly marking my place.

You lot are brave. I had one look at the stills on Youtube and was too scared to press play, much less go out an get myself a scalpel.

Himalaya it's different when it's your own brew. I don't like looking at the rancid primula other people extrude. But when it's in the family, I can't get enough

Scalpel? I can't do a bloody scalpel! Actually, just feeling the biggest one it has sprouted a twin so now I have a large grape with a sultana attached to it. I have FIVE of these buggers.

My mum had them and she called them 'wens'.

If a cyst is just squeezed but the sac is left behind, it will always come back. It will just get bigger but you could leave it for now if it's not bothering you. They need to be at least the size of a pea for surgical removal. It's a very simple procedure - an injection of local anaesthetic (this is stingy and the worst bit), one straight cut over the cyst that is then shelled, the area is irrigated and one stitch should be sufficient. Shaving and bandaging is overkill. By the very nature of the procedure, it can't be kept sterile so there is nothing wrong with the hair just being held out of the way. If the wound is oozy after the procedure, some firm pressure for ten continuous minutes (no peeking!) will stop the bleeding.

You may be advised to take some antibiotics to prevent infection of the wound. They could also use something like opsite spray as a 'bandage' with needing to shave hair and to help prevent infection.

Just be aware that not all GPs feel confident doing the minor surgery or wish to give the time over to it. Others love it. You can always tell them that the cyst hurts and catches when you brush your hair if you really want it done and need to convince them.

I might go back to the GP and tell them it hurts. I can also horrify the GP with tales of DIY attempts at removal involving potato knives and beer bottles.

Mine is quite small above the surface but its bigger than a pea below the surface. Just not sure it feels big to someone else if you see what I mean. GP will probably think its tiny.

I'm sitting in the doctors office right now. I'm here to have my sutures removed. I had cysts about the size of small golf ball. For about five years it was bother me had to remove. It's great not having it there anymore. I didn't get my head shaved. Painless