Cysts, Sebaceous Hyperplasia And Milia

Cysts

Cysts are also known as sebaceous cysts or epidermoid cysts. These are smooth dome-shaped bumps that can be found on any part of the skin. A strong smelling cheesy material can sometimes be expressed. These are harmless but will not resolve without treatment. They may grow in size over time, and occasionally become inflamed or infected. It is best to remove these cysts early before symptoms occur or worsen. Sebaceous cyst removal is a practical and safe choice for anyone experiencing pain or discomfort.

Minimal excision technique - we perform this excellent technique for complete cyst removal. Instead of simply squeezing out the contents of the cyst, the entire cyst wall and cyst contents are removed, resulting in a very low rate of recurrence. Following numbing injection to the treatment area, a small cut is made on the surface of the skin to remove the much larger cyst below. The resulting scar is usually small and cosmetically pleasing.

Infected, painful and swollen cysts are usually first treated with antibiotics, steroid injections or drainage. This treats the inflamed cyst but as the cyst wall is left behind, it will usually refill over time. Once the inflammation resolves, your dermatological surgeon can carry out complete cyst removal to prevent it from becoming symptomatic again.

Sebaceous Hyperplasia

Sebaceous hyperplasia results from enlarged sebaceous glands forming on the face, resulting in small yellow bumps.

These are harmless but will not disappear without treatment.

These are traditionally difficult to treat as the glands are buried deep in the skin, with a high chance of recurrence or incomplete removal even after electrocautery of the surface.

We now use an advanced electrocautery technique where we are able to treat deep into the gland and most patients will experience effective clearing of these disfiguring lesions with minimal scarring.

If required, oral medicines can be given to prevent further appearance of new lesions.

Milia

A milia is a small cyst containing keratin. These usually present as multiple white bumps just under the surface of the skin, often appearing on the face or around the eyelids or cheeks. These are harmless but can be of cosmetic concern to some patients. Treatment is simply by extraction or electrocautery, where the contents of the cysts are removed. Topical creams can be helpful in preventing new milia from forming.

Do contact us if you have a problematic cyst, sebaceous hyperplasia or milia requiring fast and effective treatment. We are able to offer same-day removal service for most of these lesions at our on-site day surgery facility. This can remove the bumps from your skin and leave you blemish free in hours. The resulting wound is usually small and will fade over time to leave a faint mark or scar.