We naturally slough off old skin cells from our skin and pores. But, if the pores are clogged up or not being exfoliated, the skin cells become trapped inside our skin, forming a cyst or a pocket of dead skin cells. A cyst is the sac that forms in the body — it can form in bones, organs, or tissues and can be filled with skin cells, bacteria, and/or pus. They range in size and can be found anywhere on the body. If left untreated, the cyst can grow and become increasingly more painful. 

A cyst can feel like a little knot or hard nodule underneath the skin. It may begin as an ingrown hair or pore that becomes infected, creating an opportunity for the skin to get turned in on itself. The cyst may become large enough to drain the rotten skin cells which may have an unpleasant odor.

Lipomas are unsightly masses of fatty tissue that can develop in various locations on the body. Once a lipoma develops, it will not go away on its own and will often increase in size over time. Therefore, the only way to rid the body of this mass is through surgery.

As a lipoma grows in size or as multiple lipomas develop, it can begin to affect your range of motion, interfering with daily routines and preventing you from enjoying physical activities.

Although they can develop anywhere on the body, lipomas most commonly appear on the:

• Shoulders
• Chest
• Neck
• Thighs
• Underarm
• Face

It is not advised to try to remove either of these bumps at home and to always consult with a medical professional such as Dr. Steven Bengelsdorf at Franklin Skin and Laser. Cyst and lipoma removal involves more than draining the substance from inside the cyst. Cysts have an outer shell that houses the substance, and this shell needs to be fully removed to prevent the cyst from returning. The tissues around the cyst may also need some tending to if there are signs of infection or blisters.