WHAT IS A BLOCKED SEBACCO GLAND (ATHEROMAL CYST)?
A blocked sebaceous gland is a lump somewhere on the skin that has developed because a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland have become blocked. A small sac then forms under the skin filled with debris that cannot escape. This sac (also called a cyst) gradually grows larger. These types of sebaceous cysts are very common. They are harmless, but they can grow very large and cause problems.
The medical term for such a sebaceous cyst is atheromatous cyst , or epidermal cyst or epidermoid cyst.
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| sebaceous gland (atheroma) cyst |
sebaceous gland (atheroma) cyst |
HOW DOES AN ATHEROMAL CYST (SEBACTERIAL CYST) DEVELOP?
An atheromatous cyst usually develops from a hair follicle whose duct, the point where the hair protrudes, has become blocked. This can be due to inflammation (a pimple) or skin damage, for example. A sebaceous gland also always opens onto a hair follicle. This sebaceous gland produces sebum, a type of oil that lubricates the skin. The sebum cannot escape and accumulates. The inside of the hair follicle is lined with skin cells. Skin cells divide and die over time. They then become a skin flake that falls off. But if the hair follicle's duct is blocked, these skin flakes cannot escape either. More and more skin flakes and sebum then build up inside the blocked hair follicle. The follicle grows larger and larger. It doesn't rupture easily because its wall is strong. This is how a cyst develops. Besides sebum and skin flakes, it can also contain bacteria, and pus if it becomes inflamed.
Actually, a sebaceous cyst or atheroma cyst (atheroma = sebum) isn't the correct name, because it mainly contains skin flakes and not much sebum. The official medical term is epidermoid cyst or epidermal cyst, and if the cysts are on the scalp, they are also called pilar cysts or trichilemmal cysts. However, the term blocked sebaceous gland or atheroma cyst is most commonly used. The English terms are epidermoid cyst or sebaceous cyst.
WHAT ARE THE PHENOMENA?A sebaceous cyst appears as a round swelling, part of which is under the skin. In the center, a small dot is sometimes visible, the opening of the original hair follicle. The cysts can grow very large, sometimes exceeding 5 cm. There can be one or more. They can appear anywhere on the body, anywhere with hair, even on the scrotum. However, they are most commonly found on the face, scalp, neck, or torso. The cysts typically develop around the age of 30-40 and are approximately twice as common in men as in women. Usually, the cysts do not cause any symptoms. However, if they become very large, they can cause pain or be cosmetically unsightly. A sebaceous cyst can also become inflamed due to bacterial growth. When they open, either by themselves or by making a cut, a large amount of sebum and flakes come out, a cheesy gunk, and that can smell very bad.HOW ARE ATHEROMAL CYSTS (SEBACIAL GLAND CYSTS) TREATED?Small cysts that do not cause any symptoms do not require treatment.
Very large, cosmetically unsightly, or inflamed cysts can be removed with a minor operation under local anesthesia. First, a small anesthetic (lidocaine) is injected into the skin around the blocked opening. Then, an incision is made, a round hole is made, or a small oval of skin is removed. This can result in a large amount of sebum and other debris. Large cysts are first opened and emptied; small cysts sometimes remain intact during removal and emerge as a small, round ball.
The doctor always attempts to remove the entire cyst. If a piece of the cyst wall remains under the skin, a new cyst can sometimes develop later. Removing the entire cyst wall can be difficult, especially if the cyst has been inflamed before. After the procedure, the wound can be left open or closed up slightly with a few stitches. A small scar may remain from the incision. A wound infection can also develop after the procedure.
For severely inflamed atheroma cysts, a course of antibiotics is sometimes given. If there is a lot of pus in the cyst, an incision can be made to drain the cyst. This relieves the pain. Later, when the condition has subsided, surgery can be attempted to remove the sac completely.WHAT ARE THE OUTLOOK?If the cyst is completely removed, it won't return. New cysts can, of course, develop elsewhere. |
