Dermatology
Dermatological diseases and treatments
Disorders
Epidermal cysts (benign tumours)
Epidermal cysts are very common benign tumours that originate from the hair follicle epithelium. They usually appear in middle-aged adults and affect both sexes equally. They are slow-growing lesions of variable sizes (usually between 1 and 5 cm) and are often mobile. They sometimes have a black head in the middle from which keratin may be discharged. They occasionally become inflamed and infected, requiring antibiotic treatment and drainage. The diagnosis is clinical and the preferred treatment for non-inflamed cysts is surgical removal, which must ensure the complete removal of the capsule to prevent recurrence.
