You were washing your hair and felt it: a small, smooth lump behind your ear. Or maybe it's on your back, or your cheek, and it's been sitting there for months, getting just a little bigger. It doesn't hurt much, but you can't stop wondering what it is. Most of the time, a lump like this turns out to be a cyst, and most cysts are completely harmless. Still, it's always worth knowing for sure. At Dadu Medical Centre, a skin clinic in Delhi, cyst removal starts with a proper look at the lump. Dr. Nivedita Dadu and her team confirm what it is, and if it needs to come out, they remove it neatly and completely.
A cyst is a small, closed sac that forms under the skin and slowly fills up with trapped skin cells, oil or fluid. The most common kind is often called a sebaceous cyst, though doctors may call it an epidermoid or pilar cyst depending on where it forms and what's inside.
Most cysts are painless. The trouble starts when one gets inflamed or infected, which happens more often than you'd think, especially after squeezing. Then it turns red, swollen and tender, and may leak a thick, smelly material. Cysts rarely disappear on their own. Even when one seems to shrink, it often fills up again, because the sac is still sitting under the skin.
A cyst forms when something traps skin cells or oil below the surface. The usual reasons are:
Not every cyst can be prevented, but these habits make a real difference, both in stopping new ones and in keeping existing ones from flaring up.
Don't squeeze or pop it. Pressing a cyst pushes the contents deeper and invites infection.
Never poke it with a needle or pin. Draining at home almost always ends in a bigger, sorer lump.
Keep the area clean. Wash gently, and skip harsh scrubs over the spot.
Treat acne early. Getting breakouts under control lowers the chance of deep cysts forming.
Pick lighter skin and hair products. Non-comedogenic options are kinder if you're prone to clogged pores.
Avoid friction on the spot. Tight collars, bag straps or helmet straps rubbing on a cyst can irritate it.
Watch for changes. If a lump grows quickly, turns red or starts to hurt, don't wait it out.
Get it checked. Only a proper examination can tell what the lump really is.
Book a free consultation and get that lump checked, so you know exactly what it is and what to do next.
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A lump under the skin can play on your mind, even though it's almost always nothing serious. At Dadu Medical Centre, our doctors start by examining it properly to confirm it really is a cyst, and not a lipoma or a swollen gland that needs a different plan. Dr. Nivedita Dadu and her team then choose the removal method based on where it is and how big it is, with extra care on the face and neck so the scar stays as small as possible. The aim is to take the cyst out completely, sac and all, so it doesn't keep filling up again. You'll also get clear aftercare instructions and a follow-up visit to check how it's healing.
Most aren't. They're usually harmless lumps, but anything that grows fast, feels hard or fixed, or looks unusual should be examined by a dermatologist.
Usually a blocked pore or hair follicle that traps skin cells and oil underneath. Injury, acne, hormones and family history can also play a part.
The area is numbed and the cyst is removed through a small cut, along with its sac so it doesn't refill. If it's infected, it may be drained and calmed down first.
Only the numbing injection stings for a moment. After that you should feel just some pressure, and any soreness afterwards settles in a day or two.
There will be a small mark where the cut was, but it usually fades well over a few months. Smaller cuts are used on the face and neck wherever possible.
Very little. Most people go back to work the same day or the next. If stitches are used, they usually come out in about a week.
It can if part of the sac is left behind. That's why complete removal matters, and why draining alone often isn't enough.
Please don't. Squeezing usually leaves the sac inside, can push infection deeper, and often makes the lump come back bigger.
Keep the dressing clean and dry, skip heavy workouts or swimming for a few days, and come back if you notice more redness or discharge.
Yes. The procedure is adjusted for their age, and very small cysts in children are sometimes simply watched for a while first.
Book a free consultation and get that lump checked, so you know exactly what it is and what to do next.
A-2/6, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi - 110057
+91 98109 77786 / +91 96677 21501
J-12/28, 1st Floor, Near Rajouri Garden Metro Station, New Delhi - 110027
+91 98109 77786 / +91 96677 21501
Recognised for excellence in dermatology and skin care.
Safe clinical protocols and technology-led treatment planning.
Personalised care delivered by experienced dermatology professionals.
