I think I have a cyst on top of my cyst (pics)

[ouchylump]

So I’ve had a fairly standard pilar cyst slowly growing on my head for a few years now. About six months ago it got a tiny lump on top of the main cyst and a couple of days ago that smaller lump got bigger, hotter and squishy. The main cyst has stayed rock solid- the pics don’t really do that part justice as it’s the same colour as my scalp but it’s about four fingers wide.

DH has kindly agreed to have a go on the upper cyst with a sterilised needle later to relieve the pressure as it’s getting quite sore. Will update!

I love a good squeeze believe me! but I would advise not in that location! Definitely seek medical advise as it is on your scalp.

Any updates?

Dr gave me antibiotics, which just made it grow . It was very large, very red and very hot. I had a light bandage round it under my school uniform ( it was on my. Left arm)
At some point in the morning, at school, I felt this release of pressure. My left arm got a bit tingly. Friend and I went to the ladies to investigate . All this glorious multi-coloured pus had oozed out, all over my arm and my white shirt. Bandage soaked.
It was still oozing when we stripped the bandage off. I was fascinated , friend wanted to puke.
Words cannot adequately convey , and sadly , no phone cameras, nor Mumsnet in 1979, or of course, I would have shared.

Please tell your DH he's let us all down @ouchylump . I'm very disappointed. 2/10 for effort, 1/10 for ability.

You need a seasoned sporner with a crochet hook or darning needle, to really open it up and have a proper dig around!

I’d give him 6/10 effort to be fair, given that stabbing his wife in the head with a needle does go against some natural instincts. I can’t deny that the result was disappointing though!

I had a cyst near my front hairline, which developed a huge spot on top of it

Foolishly, I tried popping the spot and sent the infection down into my cyst

Two round of antibiotics later, I'm 'milking' pus out of the cyst whenever it got sore on a regular basis (about 2 to 3 times a day)

One day, I'm 'milking' the pus, when something popped out of my head that looked like a bug's face

Freaked out, I tried to get a hold of it, but it was too wet and slimy

It took a while, but I finally found a way of pressing down with one hand and catching the 'bug' with a pair of tweezers

On pulling, the pain was awful, but I pulled out what looked like a lump of gristle, quite possibly the cyst wall in a one inch ribbon, the 'bug's face' could physically fit to the other end

The scar that remains is just a white line hidden in my hair

Ooooh keep fiddling and might be ripe soon!

sigh I wish mine would come to a head. I have about 14 and dream daily of getting some numbing cream and a sterile blade…. I’ve only had 2 burst over the last 15 years, very satisfying but not a very good bursting rate!! Would be about £4k to get them all cut out so I’ll just have to live with the anxiety of having these things on my head 😭

Well, if you want something done, do it yourself.

Had a go with a needle on my own and a much more satisfying outcome. Good amount of pus (runny AND chunky) a weird piece of what looked like skin and a tiny black stone came out. Cyst still sizeable but much more comfy

This is what always happens with mine. I used to get them removed at my GP surgery but they no longer perform cyst removals and only refer to the hospital for removal on the NHS if it is infected. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it, but I now sterilise a scalpel and make a small cut, empty the cyst by squeezing out the gunk and then keep emptying as it starts to refill over the next couple of days. Eventually it stops refilling and then the empty sac seems to work its way out of my head over the next few days, and looks just like an empty sweetcorn husk. Once out, the site heals completely within an incredibly short amount of time.

As I said, I realise this probably isn’t the safest way to remove them but I’ve only needed a short course of antibiotics once, and have probably saved thousands when compared to paying to have them removed privately. It isn’t without risk, though.

Well I’ve just been given a doctors appointment on the 11th November so either it needs to get bad enough to warrant urgent care or I’m on my own til then!

Hats of to you for allowing your DH to stab you in the head!
The white lump you pulled out might be the wall of the sac which would mean it has gone
Glad you've booked an appointment though
These used to be removed by gps but aren't now.

Wow, good effort OP. No idea how you managed it yourself with it being on top of your head. I wonder what the black thing is, is it hard?

my back of the neck cyst was eventually removed a few months ago by a GP. I was sent to a different GP practice though and this one had a mini operating theatre, but it was the GP who did it.

Yeah it’s like a little stone, haven’t seen anything like it before!

That @ouchylump is impressive efforts. And you managed to photograph it too!

good sporner skills - I hope it’s more comfortable for you now.

That little bit of black grit, could legitimately be a bit of stone that's been embedded in your scalp and your body is doing a best effort in expelling it.

If you've been walking past road works or a lawn mower, small stones can easily go flying without you noticing.

You OP, are a legend! Great pics!

@Tygertiger I hope you don’t mind me asking did you go via NHS and were they infected?

That’s really weird to think about, imagine if I had a random little stone stuck in my head for 3 years 😮

Glad everyone appreciated my photography attempts, it did take some manouvering!

That was a very satifying outcome OP, thank you!!

Do you have any bactraban ointment? It is prescription only but you might have some in first aid? I always get a script for it when running low to have to hand. Maybe give it a good gentle clean with cool salted boiled water and lash on whatever savlon cream you have. Just to keep it nice and clean.

Get a glass bottle and submerge in very hot but not boiling water.

You can lance it with a sterilised needle to give it an outlet and then place the empty hot bottle over the area making sure the neck of the bottle is in contact with the scalp at all times.

As the boggle cools down it creates a vacuum inside the bottle and will draw out the stuff inside the cyst.

It may explode, trickle out or come in dogs and starts as the suction draws all the gunk out.

It's very effective.

Yes, NHS, and no, not infected. They were really big and showing through my hair so my lovely GP took pity on me and referred me and the surgeon was happy to remove them. I know I’m lucky!

omg if I have to go for a second round (which I suspect it will, it’s still pretty sizeable) I am absolutely trying this.

@Tygertiger Thank you

Beautiful pics, OP!

10/10, round of applause for that pop.