Abscesses and Cysts
Abscesses and cysts are fluid-filled lumps that can form anywhere on the body.
To the untrained eye, they can be hard to tell apart. Both abscesses and cysts can be uncomfortable and may require medical treatment.
What is an abscess?
An abscess is a tender, infected area filled with pus. Abscesses can occur on your skin or inside your body. They form when your immune system fights an infection in one of your bodily tissues.
An abscess can form on its own or can occur when a cyst becomes infected.
Symptoms of an Abscess
Warm to the touch
Swelling or pain
Pink or red coloring
What is a cyst
Cysts are sacs or cavities filled with fluid or pus. They can appear on your skin or anywhere inside your body. Some common types are the baker’s cyst (behind the knee), sebaceous cyst (under the skin) and ganglion cyst (along the tendons or joints of your wrists, hands or feet).
The cells that make up a cyst’s sac are different from those around them, but they usually aren’t cancerous. Cysts grow slowly and are not typically painful. A cyst is not considered a medical problem unless it bothers you or becomes sore or infected.
Abscess and Cyst Treatment
It’s not advisable to try draining an abscess or cyst yourself. Cyst popping at home can cause infection. Instead, keep the area clean, and make an appointment with a doctor if the area is painful or starts to drain.
At-home care
One of the best things you can do to treat an abscess or cyst at home is to hold a warm, moist cloth on the area for 20 minutes at a time, a few times daily. This may soothe the area, stimulate infection-fighting antibodies and white blood cells and help the area heal.
Fine needle aspiration
In a fine needle aspiration procedure, a thin needle is inserted into the cyst, after the area has been numbed. Your medical provider will drain the cyst’s fluids through the needle. Patients typically experience no discomfort to minimal discomfort during the procedure.
Incision and drainage
A medical provider will first numb the area with a local anesthetic. They’ll make a small incision using a scalpel or needle. The pus will then be drained from the abscess, and some of the discharge may be collected for testing. Once drained, the wound will be cleaned and rinsed with a saline solution.
Follow-up care
Depending on the size and depth of the cyst or abscess, a small tube may be inserted to allow it to continue draining as it heals. Antibiotics may be given to help prevent or fight infection. You may need additional treatments to complete the abscess or cyst removal process, especially if the area is large.
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Injuries We Treat
WellNow Urgent Care can help when you or a family member is hurt. Our dedicated medical team will provide prompt, comprehensive and compassionate care to help you get better, faster.
This list contains are most frequently treated injuries. If you are experiencing pain from an injury not listed or are unsure of the source of your discomfort, visit a WellNow Urgent Care clinic near you or start a virtual care session.