How to Treat Cysts

Determine if medical intervention is necessary. Facial cysts, often referred to as sebaceous cysts, can cause discomfort and aesthetic concerns but do not always require medical treatment. If the cyst is painless, it may be best to leave it untreated, as attempts to remove it could result in complications. However, a consultation with a healthcare provider is advisable if any of the following occurs:

• Facial cysts are usually small, round masses just beneath the skin. They can appear black, red, or yellow, and may occasionally emit a foul-smelling discharge. They tend to be more painful than other skin conditions, such as pimples.
• If the cyst ruptures, it can lead to infection, creating pus that needs to be removed promptly.
• If the cyst becomes painful and swollen, it may be infected, and medical attention is required to safely remove it and prescribe the right antibiotics.
• Though very rare, a cyst could develop into skin cancer. It is recommended to have cysts checked during annual health exams to rule out any risks of skin cancer.

Request an injection from the doctor. If the cyst becomes infected or painful, the doctor might administer an injection directly into the cyst. While this won't completely eliminate the cyst, it will reduce redness and swelling. After the injection, the cyst will shrink and become harder to detect.

Drain the fluid from the cyst. If the cyst grows abnormally or becomes painful, seek medical attention for treatment. The doctor will make an incision in the cyst and remove the fluid inside.

• The doctor will make a small incision in the cyst and gently extract the accumulated fluid. This procedure is generally quick and minimally painful.
• The major downside of this approach is that the cyst may recur after the procedure, even after the fluid has been drained.

Consider surgical options. Surgery is the only way to fully remove a cyst. If you wish for a permanent solution, consult your doctor about the possibility of surgery.

• Cyst removal surgery is considered a minor procedure. The surgery itself is quick, and recovery is fast, though a follow-up visit may be required to remove any stitches if necessary.
• The surgery is very safe and can almost completely prevent the cyst from reappearing. However, cysts usually do not pose significant medical risks, so your insurance may not cover the surgery costs.

Apply the R.I.C.E. method. A Baker's cyst is a fluid-filled sac that causes a bulge behind the knee joint. This cyst often results from a previous knee injury or chronic conditions like arthritis. Use the R.I.C.E. method to care for the knee.

• R.I.C.E. stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation.
• While resting, elevate your leg above the level of your body. Never apply the ice pack directly to the skin; always wrap it in a towel or cloth before applying it.
• When wrapping your leg, purchase a bandage from the pharmacy and follow the instructions on the package. If you have conditions that increase the risk of blood clots, consult your doctor before wrapping your leg.
• The R.I.C.E. method helps relieve pain beneath the knee joint, the root cause of the cyst, gradually reducing the cyst size and alleviating discomfort.
• You may take over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen, acetaminophen (Tylenol), or aspirin while resting to help manage the pain.

Request the doctor to drain fluid from the cyst. To eliminate a cyst, the doctor must first remove the fluid inside. If the cyst persists after using the R.I.C.E. method, you should consult with your doctor about using medical treatments.

• The doctor will remove the fluid from your knee using a syringe. Many people feel anxious about this procedure, even though it is not very painful. If you're afraid of the needle, consider bringing a friend or family member for reassurance.
• Once the fluid is removed, the Baker's cyst will disappear, though there is still a chance it may recur in the future. Make sure to inform your doctor about other health symptoms that could be causing the cyst.

Participate in physical therapy. After the fluid is drained from the cyst, your doctor may recommend regular physical therapy. Under the guidance of a physical therapist, you'll practice gentle movements to gradually restore knee function. This rehabilitation method also helps address any underlying issues that could have contributed to the cyst in the first place. You should ask your doctor to refer you to a physical therapy specialist to continue the treatment after the cyst fluid has been aspirated.

Observe and wait. Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that appear on the surface of the ovaries. The challenging part is that ovarian cysts are difficult to treat, so the best approach is to monitor and wait after an initial diagnosis.

• In some cases, ovarian cysts may resolve on their own. Therefore, your doctor may recommend waiting and scheduling a follow-up appointment after a few months.
• The doctor needs to regularly monitor the cyst's size to track any changes. At some point, intervention may be necessary.

Request prescription contraceptives. In the early stages, you may be prescribed birth control pills to reduce the size of the cysts. Therefore, you should consult your doctor about using hormonal contraceptive pills.

• Hormonal contraceptives reduce the size of existing cysts and prevent new ones from forming. In fact, long-term use can lower the risk of ovarian cancer.
• There are many different formulations and dosages of contraceptive pills. Some will regulate your monthly cycle, while others may increase your cycle frequency. Some pills include iron supplements, while others do not. Therefore, it’s important to discuss with your doctor to determine which type suits your lifestyle, overall health, and medical history.
• Some women may experience side effects such as breast tenderness, mood swings, or breakthrough bleeding when first using hormonal contraceptives. However, these side effects usually subside after a few months.

Consider the possibility of surgery. Ovarian cysts can cause pain and may be dangerous if they continue to grow. If the condition doesn't resolve on its own, your doctor may suggest surgery.

• If cysts keep growing after two or three menstrual cycles, there’s a chance you’ll be advised to undergo surgery if the condition progresses too rapidly. Larger cysts often cause pain and disrupt the menstrual cycle.
• In some cases, the entire ovary may need to be removed if it's infected. However, in most situations, the doctor can remove the cysts without affecting the ovary. Ovarian cysts rarely cause cancer, but in the rare event this happens, the entire ovary will be removed.

Regular pelvic exams. The best treatment for ovarian cysts is prevention. Therefore, you should have regular gynecological checkups and pay attention to any irregularities in your menstrual cycle. The earlier ovarian cysts are detected, the easier they are to treat. Even a routine pelvic exam can reveal abnormalities that may be caused by ovarian cysts.

Eliminate hair cysts causing the cystic growth. Hair cysts typically form around the buttocks or lower back. Upon palpation, they feel firm, warm, and may discharge pus or other fluids. To prevent hair cysts from growing, you need to keep the area clean and dry. The cause of hair cysts is usually hair growing under the skin, which gets trapped beneath the surface. Thus, you should remove all hair near the cyst to prevent it from growing under the skin.

Examine the cyst. Since hair cysts can lead to serious infections, you should definitely have a doctor check it out. Visit your doctor as soon as you notice a developing hair cyst.

• The doctor will perform a quick external examination and may ask if you’ve noticed any discharge or if there is pain, and how long the condition has persisted.
• The doctor may also inquire about other symptoms. If the cyst has become inflamed or caused a fever, the doctor might recommend removal. However, if it’s not causing any issues, intervention may not be necessary.

Drain the fluid from the cyst. One of the least invasive methods of removing a cyst is through aspiration, where the doctor makes a small incision on the cyst and drains out the fluid. Afterward, they will pack the area with gauze. You will also be prescribed antibiotics to prevent infection.

Recommend surgery. Occasionally, cysts may recur after fluid drainage, so doctors might recommend surgery. The procedure is relatively quick, but the recovery time can be longer, and you will need to keep the wound clean during the healing process.

• Do not attempt to drain the cyst yourself, as it may lead to scarring or infection.
• Make sure to have any newly formed cysts checked during your routine medical exams. Cysts rarely indicate serious conditions like cancer.