Infected Epidermoid Cyst (Antibiotic Treatment)
You have an epidermoid cyst. This is a small, painless lump under your skin. An epidermoid cyst is often called an epidermal cyst, an epidermal inclusion cyst, or incorrectly, a sebaceous cyst. Epidermoid cysts are under the skin. They form slowly and can remain for years. They can be found in most parts of the body. But they are most often found in areas with more hair, such as the scalp, face, upper back, and genitals.
Here are some general facts about these cysts:
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A cyst is a sac filled with material that is often cheesy, fatty, oily, or stringy. The material inside can be thick. Or it can be a liquid.
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The area around the cyst may smell bad. If the cyst breaks open, the material inside it often smells bad as well.
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You can usually move the cyst slightly if you try.
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The cyst can be smaller than a pea or as large as a few inches.
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Epidermoid cysts are usually not painful unless they become inflamed or infected. They will then display symptoms like pain, tenderness, redness, and swelling.
Your cyst became infected, and your health care provider wants to treat it with antibiotics. You will likely take the antibiotic by mouth or apply it as a cream, or both. If the antibiotics don’t clear up the infection, the cyst will need to be drained by making a small cut (incision). Local anesthesia will be used to numb the area before the incision and drainage.
Home care
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Don't squeeze or pop the cyst, stick a needle in it, or cut it open. Doing those things often leads to the infection getting worse and scarring.
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If antibiotic pills were prescribed, take them exactly as directed. Finish the antibiotic, even though you may feel better after the first few days.
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Soak the affected area in hot water, or apply a hot pack (a thin, clean towel soaked in hot water) for 20 minutes at a time. Do this 3 or 4 times a day.
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If there is no known history of allergy to a particular antibiotic, apply antibiotic cream or ointment 2 or 3 times a day as recommended by your health care provider.
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You may use over-the-counter pain medicine to control pain, unless another medicine was given. If you have chronic liver or kidney disease or ever had a stomach ulcer or gastrointestinal bleeding, talk with your provider before using these medicines.
Prevention
After this infection has healed, reduce the risk of future infections by:
Follow-up care
Follow up with your health care provider, or as advised. If a gauze packing was put in your wound, it should be removed in a few days as advised by your provider. Check your wound every day for the signs listed below.
When to get medical advice
Contact your health care provider or get medical care right away if you have:
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Pus coming from the cyst.
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Increasing redness around the wound.
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Increasing local pain or swelling.
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A fever of 100.4°F (38ºC) or higher, or as advised by your provider.
Online Medical Reviewer:
Daphne Pierce-Smith RN MSN
Online Medical Reviewer:
Rita Sather RN
Online Medical Reviewer:
Vinita Wadhawan Researcher
Date Last Reviewed:
3/1/2025
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