A-cyst-ance required - cyst on head.

[Mylobsterteapot]

See what I did there?! Thanks to DP and his many many cyst related puns.

I have a cyst on the back of my head. It hurts a lot, but the GP said to leave it and it will get better on its own. The problem is mainly washing and styling my hair. I have been carefully washing around the cyst, but it really hurts to brush my hair because I can’t tell exactly where it is with one hand. I don’t live with DP so can’t ask him to help.
Also hair styles. The only comfortable ones are pigtails, bunches or down. Anything in the middle of my head hurts. However, I can’t go to work with the same hairstyles as the kids I teach, and I would rather not get nits from wearing my hair down.
Please hit me with your tips for hair washing and styling around the lump on the back of my head before I go insane.

Pay for it to be removed privately

Far too much hassle to work round

Actually you could try turning up in a and e (at a quiet time) and saying it has suddenly started absolutely pulsating after one of the kids pulled your hair.. they might just drain it for you.

It is unlikely to go by itself. Sounds like a pilar cyst. You could pay for removal; they'd need to remove the contents and the sac to prevent it coming back

Maybe try a different gp and emphasise it hurts rather than just being a cosmetic issue

I doubt it will go myself - I get them and they tend to slowly grow. The NHS won’t remove then any more so best bet is probably to pay to get them removed privately. It’s about £300-400.

If you can fiddle with it and abuse it till it gets inflamed they might remove it. But I suspect that’s not the sensible path …

My GP does a skin clinic and has agreed to remove the cyst on my head. It's NHS so it can be done!

He's also removed dodgy moles for me in the past too. I think he secretly enjoys it all.

I don't expect he'll agree to film the cyst removal though. Shame!

Can you ask at your surgery which of the GPs (if any) have a specialist interest in skin conditions. One of our GPs loves all things weird skin, and she would be jumping at the chance of having a go at something like that. If your surgery also had a sporner GP then get an appt with them and hopefully they will sort it for you.

Generally cysts can be removed if they're symptomatic I.e. causing problems. I work in NHS dermatology and if you came in and explained that you couldn't brush or style your hair because of it, and it's painful, it is likely they'd remove it or refer to plastics for removal. If it's purely cosmetic, that's when they will refuse to remove.