Cyst
	Lipoma
	Mole
	Sebaceous Cyst
	Prevention
	Home treatment

A cyst can be normal, abnormal, or, in rare cases, cancerous. In some cases, a cyst may be drained either with a needle or by cutting it open, or it may be removed entirely.

What Is Lipoma?
A lipoma is a growth of fat cells that forms most often on the trunk, neck, back, upper thighs, or arms. The cause of lipomas is unknown but the tendency to develop them may be inherited. Minor injury may trigger growth. A lipoma is not caused by being overweight.

Typical symptoms of a lipoma include:

• The lump is soft, movable, and not tender.
• The size and appearance of the lipoma may remain the same over years or it may grow very slowly.

Lipomas generally do not require treatment. They can be surgically removed if their appearance is causing embarrassment or if they become large enough to interfere with muscle function.

What Is Mole?
A mole is a noncancerous skin growth made up of cells (melanocytes or nevus cells) that produce color (pigment). Moles can appear anywhere on the skin, alone or in groups. Most moles appear during the first 20 years of a person's life. Some may not appear until later in life.

• Moles are usually brown in color, but they can be blue, black, or flesh-colored.
• Size and shape may vary.
• During the teen years and pregnancy, moles tend to become darker and larger, and new ones may appear.
• Some moles may contain hairs, stay smooth, become raised or wrinkled, or fall off in old age.

Although most moles are harmless, they can become cancerous. If you have a mole that has changed in appearance or concerns you in any way, see the Check Your Symptoms section to determine if and when you need to see a health professional.

What Is A Sebaceous Cyst?
A sebaceous cyst is a sac filled with a cheeselike, greasy material (keratin) caused by plugged ducts at the site of a hair follicle. Sebaceous cysts most often appear on the scalp, ears, face, back, or scrotum. Hormone stimulation or injury may cause them to enlarge.

Signs and symptoms include a bump or lump under the skin that is:

• Firm and easily moveable.
• Yellow, white, or flesh-colored. It can turn bright red if injured or infected.
• Painless (but can be painful if injured or infected).
• 1 cm (0.39 in.) to 4 cm (1.58 in.) in diameter.

A sebaceous cyst that does not cause symptoms does not require medical treatment. A cyst can be removed if its appearance causes embarrassment or if it becomes injured or infected.

Removal usually involves making a small cut in the skin and removing the entire sac so that it does not return. Sometimes only the top of the cyst may be removed or punctured and the contents squeezed out. An infected sebaceous cyst may be treated with antibiotic therapy before it is removed.

Prevention
Most noncancerous skin bumps, spots, and growths cannot be prevented. However, there are steps you can take to help prevent some skin problems:

• Decrease your chance of developing skin cancer by using:
• Skin protection.
• Skin protection for children.
• Prevent irritation.
• Decrease the chance of skin infection.

Home Treatment
Most bumps, spots, growths, or moles do not require home treatment. However, the following measures may be helpful.

• Avoid irritation.
• Do not squeeze, scratch, or pick at the spot.
• Leave the spot exposed to the air whenever possible.
• Adjust your clothing to avoid rubbing the bump or spot, or cover it with a bandage.
• Try the following measures if a bump, spot, or growth shows minor signs of infection, such as a small amount of pus or redness around the bump:
  • Gently wash the spot with an antibacterial soap once or twice a day.
  • Leave the spot unbandaged, unless it becomes irritated or dirty.
  • If a spot may become dirty or irritated, apply an antibiotic ointment, such as bacitracin or polymyxin b sulfate, and cover it with an adhesive bandage, such as a Band-Aid. The ointment will keep the spot from sticking to the bandage and may help prevent further infection from developing.
    Note: Stop using the ointment if the skin under the bandage begins to itch or develops a rash. The ointment may be causing a skin reaction.
  • Change the bandage every day and any time it gets wet. If a dressing is stuck to a scab, soak the dressing in warm water to soften the scab and make it easier to remove the bandage.
  • Watch for signs of worsening infection, such as increasing pain, swelling, redness, heat, fever, or chills.
• If you are embarrassed by the appearance of a growth, such as a mole or birthmark, consider concealing the mark with makeup designed for this purpose. Many major department stores have clerks who are trained in helping people choose the right makeup.
• Protect your skin from sun if patches of red or brown scaly skin develop in skin that has been exposed to the sun.
• Perform a skin self-exam to help identify suspicious skin growths.

Symptoms to Watch for During Home Treatment
If one or more of the following symptoms occur during home treatment, use the Check Your Symptoms section to evaluate the symptoms:

• You develop signs of skin infection.
• Your mole or colored skin spot bleeds, turns into an ulcer, or changes in size, shape, texture, or sensation.
• Your symptoms do not improve, become more severe or frequent, or don't go away.