Scalp cysts

[RoeDeer86]

Hi all
I’ve got roughly 6 scalp cysts, which I’ve had for years and they’re slowly getting bigger. One in particular is right on my parting and I often catch my hair brush on it. Has anyone had any luck removing these on the NHS? The last time I saw a GP about them they said each cyst was a different type (or something to that effect), but they never mentioned removal as an option. They’re really starting to bother me. I can’t afford private treatment but they’re getting me down. Or does anyone have any tips on how I might get rid of them at home (short of chopping them out myself!)

Many thanks!

The rule in these parts is once you catch them and they get infected then they will take them out - it’s quick and easy

have you asked the GP for a referral to have them removed? It's a fairly routine thing.

I’ve not asked but my research tells me they’re likely to say I’d need to pay privately

If they are pilar cysts ( also known as sebaceous cysts) it is a quick and easy procedure. I have had several removed and was fortunate that my GP removed them in a minor surgery clinic. Speak to your GP for advice and see if you can be referred. Do not try to excise them yourself as although it's a routine procedure you need to get the whole sac out to prevent recurrence.

Many thanks @Seaoftroubles - were they readily willing to do it on the NHS for you, please? I’ve read stories that they won’t generally remove them and most people have to pay privately? I just can’t afford to go private 😔

I had a cyst in my neck which the nhs removed no issue. Mine had got infected once and swelled up so much internally it was sore when moving my head/neck. If it is causing problems (ie catching when brushing hair and hurting) rather than just been cosmetic they should hopefully do them.

Dd (early 20s) has several scalp cysts. For years the NhS wouldn’t touch them as they classed them as too small. One finally grew big enough to be referred - sadly the appointment came after she had moved away so couldn’t be done by then, this was years after first having them seen and a year after being referred.

On holiday this month one of the smaller ones ruptured itself. We are waiting to see if that nine returns.

We, as her parents, are paying privately for the bigger one to be removed next month - it is costing £400 and takes about 15 minutes. But it needs doing as it catches when she brushes her hair, etc and it quite sore at times.

OP you're really just going to have to ask your GP - they are routinely removed in the NHS by both GPs and surgeons but they do normally have to meet some criteria to be done.

My GP told me they can remove if it’s painful. He then asked if it was painful so I said yes 😊. He did it in the surgery.

Probably not the right advice 🤣 but I’ve had a few of these over the years. One on my parting got quite big so I basically popped it by pushing on it really hard over the space of an evening until it felt flat, the next day the sac naturally came to the surface and the most satisfying cottage cheese like substance came out for about an hour. It never came back or got infected.

I think you have to bang on about it really hurting and your hairbrush keeps catching on it so it’s likely to get infected. You have to make a fuss to get anything that isn’t an emergency done on the NHS IME

My husband has had several that were getting infected/ pussing down the back of his neck regularly and were painful and the NHS said it wasn’t funded so he had to pay privately at £700 a go! This was 2 years ago

I had one recently and went to the GP as I didn’t know what it was(had convinced myself it was a cancerous growth and was about to die🤣). Dr was lovely, reassured me I wasn’t going to die, it was just a cyst and if it got any bigger I could go back and get a referral to get it removed.

Go and get a referral @RoeDeer86

Try contacting the producers of the TV programmes Skin A&E or Bad Skin Clinic. You’d them removed for free and we’d have the pleasure of watching it!

I had two sebaceous cysts on my scalp , which my GP removed in his surgery about 12 years ago, when they were big enough to get caught when I was brushing my hair.

They either came back a few years later, or two more grew. My original GP had retired by then and the practice no longer did minor surgery. The new GP sent me to a local hospital to have them removed. This was about 6 years ago.

@RoeDeer86 You won't know until you speak to your GP and see if they can refer you, or they might even do the procedure on site. I was lucky to get mine done in situ and it was a very straightforward procedure each time. Good luck!

This might be area or GP dependent. I had a cyst on my elbow that my current GP could remove in their minor surgery room. My previous GP doesn’t offer that service and would have had to refer me elsewhere. You do need to ask them.

My GP removed mine for me. He loves doing stuff like that so I’ve had various lumps and bumps removed in the surgery. Just ask OP, you might have a Dr Pimple Popper wannabe at you local surgery too.