March 1 – When it comes to those unsightly blemishes on the face and body, it’s important not the squeeze them.
Nikki Sommer, a nurse with Key West Surgical Group, joined Good Morning Keys on KeysTalk 96.9/102.5 FM for Medical Matters this morning.
Sommer said, “The lumps and bumps that appear that everybody wants to play with before they seek to have it removed. Don’t squeeze it yourself. Have it squeezed by a professional or cut open by a professional.”
There are different types of cysts that can form on the body.
Sommer explained, “It’s usually a clogged hair follicle and it may start out what looks like a little pimple and then it grows and grows and grows and becomes bigger. People tend to try and squeeze that one like it’s a pimple. Over time they can become quite large if you don’t remove them, but when you manipulate them and you squeeze them, you can also cause them to become infected.”
They usually won’t go away on their own. They might stay small and be a little bump under the skin.
Sommer said, “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it. If it’s something that bothers you, you have the urge to constantly squeeze it, you might want it removed.”
The importance is to watch if it changes.
The most common kinds of sebaceous cysts are found on the scalp, face, chest, back and flank region.
Sommer said, “I think what happens is they start to get bigger and sometimes they look like they have a blackhead. So that’s why people have the urge to squeeze. It looks like a pimple and then when you do that, it just gets bigger.”
You’re really not supposed to squeeze pimples, either.
Actually, when it’s done by professionals, it’s not squeezing. Surgeons cut open cysts through a specific procedure.
A lipoma is a slow-growing, fatty lump.
Sommer said, “It’s just a clump of little fat globules that form under the skin. That will definitely not go away by itself.”
Lipomas should not be squeezed, either, because they can become infected. They can move readily under slight finger pressure and are usually detected in middle age. It’s not a white lump.
Sommer said, “When it comes out it’s little balls of fat clumped together.”
Lipomas are most often found on neck, shoulders, back, abdomen, thighs and arms.
If it’s not infected, removal can be done easily – that’s why it’s so important not to squeeze them.
Sommer said, “It’s just simple. You come in, they numb the area. Once they make an incision, they will remove the cyst. If it’s not infected, it could be sewn up with sutures. Sometimes when they’re infected, we have to leave it open and pack it so it can drain and you may or may not need antibiotics.”
A skin abscess can look like a pimple – they are fluid-filled – and people really want to try to pop them. It’s usually a skin lesion that turns into an infection. Those really shouldn’t be squeezed.
Bacterial infections can cause abscesses.
Sommer said, “It’s gets red if you don’t take care of it and if you leave it, it could turn into a really large problem. If you see that happening, seek care right away.”
Cysts are quite painful once they become infected, so it’s important to get them taken care of.
For more information or help, click here: https://www.keywestsurgicalgroup.com/