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<div class="HwContainer HwElement" id="HwContainer"><a class="HwMainSkipNavigation" href="#HwContentTitle"><span class="HwAccessibilityText">Skip Navigation</span></a><div class="HwBlock" id="HwMain" role="main"><div class="HwRow"><div class="HwColumn" id="HwColumnSidebar1"><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomSidebar"> </div></div><div class="HwColumn" id="HwColumnContent"><div id="HwContentTop"> </div><div class="HwTypeFocus HwContentWrapper HwElement" role="article" id="HwContentWrapper"><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomContentTop"> </div><div class="HwContentHeader"><p><a name="top" id="Hwtop"><span class="HwAccessibilityText">Top of the page</span></a> </p></div><div class="HwContentTitle"><h1 id="HwContentTitle" tabindex="-1">Skin Cyst: Home Treatment</h1></div><div class="HwContentTopNavigation"> </div><div class="HwContent"><div class="HwNavigationSection HwSectionSpecialSection" id="sec-tw6860-sec"><h2 class="HwSectionTitle" fingerprint="b4cb0a40" fingerprint-exact="e7c3d1bb">Overview</h2> <p fingerprint="72d6662b" fingerprint-exact="544cb695">An epidermal (skin) cyst is a small, round lump in the top layer of skin called the epidermis. It may be filled with a soft, yellow substance called keratin. Skin cysts most often appear on the face, ears, back, or chest. But they can appear on almost any part of the body. </p> <p fingerprint="f8d1cd46" fingerprint-exact="29045080">When you have a skin cyst, the lump or bump under the skin is:</p> <ul fingerprint="313e2a9d" fingerprint-exact="d8c94713"> <li> Small, round, and smooth.</li> <li>About the size of a pea, or a little smaller or larger.</li> <li> Yellow, white, or skin-colored. It can turn red if it becomes inflamed.</li> <li>Painless. But it can be painful if it's inflamed.</li> </ul> <p fingerprint="c19ab365" fingerprint-exact="3d47aea5"> Home treatment for a lump such as an epidermal (skin) cyst may relieve symptoms but may not make the cyst go away. </p> <p fingerprint="043f4bb5" fingerprint-exact="4fd75715">Here are some tips for treating a lump that may be caused by infection under the skin. </p> <ul fingerprint="10f88658" fingerprint-exact="964997bc"> <li>Do not squeeze, scratch, drain, open (lance), or puncture the lump. <p>Doing this can irritate or inflame the lump, push any existing infection deeper into the skin, or cause severe bleeding. </p></li> <li>Keep the area clean. <p>Wash the lump and surrounding skin well with soap. </p></li> <li>Apply warm, wet washcloths to the lump for 20 to 30 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day. <ul><li>If you prefer, you can also use a hot water bottle or heating pad over a damp towel. </li><li>Be careful not to burn your skin. Do not use water that is warmer than bath water. </li></ul></li> <li>Apply a bandage. <p>If the lump begins to drain pus, apply a bandage to keep the draining material from spreading. Change the bandage daily. If a large amount of pus drains from the lump, or the lump becomes more red or painful, you may need to see a doctor. </p></li> </ul> </div><div class="HwNavigationSection HwSectionRelatedInformation" id="sec-tw6860-RelInfo"><h2 class="HwSectionTitle" fingerprint="d5f858e0" fingerprint-exact="c0ffe04b">Related Information</h2><ul fingerprint="d178033c" fingerprint-exact="0e3fbc10"><li class="HwOptionalAny"><a data-hw-type="Symptom" data-hw-document-href="maleg" data-hw-section="aa51863" hw:document-type="Symptom" hw:document-href="maleg" data-hwid="maleg" hw:section-href="aa51863" href="?id=maleg#aa51863">Male Genital Problems and Injuries</a></li></ul></div><div class="HwNavigationSection HwCreditsSection HwCreditsWithoutNavstack HwSectionCredits" id="sec-tw6860-Credits"><h2 class="HwSectionTitle">Credits</h2><div class="HwContentInformation"><div class="HwLastUpdated"><p><span class="HwInfoLabel">Current as of: </span> December 4, 2024</p></div><div class="HwCredits"><p><span 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