A member asked:

Do all boils or sebaceous cysts need to be cut out or drained?

4 doctors weighed in across 2 answers

Not required. : Sebaceous cysts are occluded hair follicles or pores that collect sebum. Although they will not go away on their own, as long as they are not infected, they do not need to be cut out or drained. If they continue to grow in size, or become infected, they will need surgical treatment. The term "boil" implies that the lesion is already infected. If not draining, they require surgical drainage.

Answered 4/13/2017

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Have it excised: If a sebaceous cyst, it will follow a vicious cycle of filling with sebum, becoming infected, draining, then starting over. If infected now, may require incision and drainage by doctor. Once healed, have sac removed to prevent recurrence. If simple abscess (or "boil"), should not recur once drained.

Answered 2/19/2015

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Related Questions

A member asked:

Safe to swim with a sebaceous cyst. was lanced last year drains some each day.

2 doctors weighed in across 2 answers