Definition

Noun: A sebaceous cyst is a common, non-cancerous, closed sac or lump beneath the skin. It is filled with a soft, cheese-like, fatty material called sebum, which is an oily substance normally secreted by sebaceous glands to lubricate the skin and hair. This type of cyst forms when the duct of a sebaceous gland becomes blocked.

Usage

The term is used in medical and general contexts to describe a specific type of skin growth or bump. - It is typically found on the face, neck, back, or torso. - The phrase is often used by doctors during diagnosis or when explaining a condition to a patient.

Examples

• The dermatologist confirmed the lump on his back was a harmless sebaceous cyst.
• Sebaceous cysts are usually slow-growing and painless unless they become infected.
• She had the sebaceous cyst surgically removed for cosmetic reasons.

Advanced Usage

• Clinical Description: In a medical report, one might write: "The patient presented with a firm, mobile, subcutaneous nodule, diagnosed as an inflamed sebaceous cyst."
• Differential Diagnosis: A doctor might note, "The lesion must be differentiated from other subcutaneous masses, such as lipomas or epidermal inclusion cysts, though it is consistent with a sebaceous cyst."

Variants and Related Words

• Epidermoid Cyst: A very similar type of cyst often used synonymously in general language, though technically it originates from the epidermis (skin surface) rather than the sebaceous gland.
• Pilar Cyst: A cyst that forms from a hair follicle, often found on the scalp; sometimes grouped under the general term "sebaceous cyst" in non-specialist language.
• Wen: An archaic or informal term for a sebaceous cyst.

Synonyms

• Keratin Cyst (a broader term)
• Epidermal Inclusion Cyst (a more precise technical term for the most common type)
• Follicular Cyst

Related Phrases and Collocations

• Infected sebaceous cyst: A cyst that has become red, swollen, tender, and may drain pus.
• Excise a sebaceous cyst: The medical procedure to cut out and remove the entire cyst sac.
• Ruptured sebaceous cyst: When the wall of the cyst breaks, spilling its contents into the surrounding skin tissue, which can cause inflammation.

Noun

1. a common cyst of the skin; filled with fatty matter (sebum) that is secreted by a sebaceous gland that has been blocked