Sebaceous Cyst Archives

I have had a facial sebaceous cyst for long enough!!!

Dr. Stoll, I have been a reader of your site for quite some time, and have tried many of the treatments you mention for sebaceous cysts. I have had one on my chin, a large one, for two years now. I had surgery one year ago, and for a week it was perfect, just a small scar of about 2.5 com which, although it is not delightful, is better than a cyst. However, after a week, it swelled up again and is infected again. It has been like this for a year since the surgery. I am planning to have another surgery in a month, and I have a couple of questions I hope you or other readers can help me with.
1. What is the recurrence rate? I know that it is about 50% for the first surgery, but what of the second?
2. Will the scar be larger after the second surgery? As it is on my face, it is difficult to deal with, I am tired of rude people asking "Oh my god, what happened to your face?!"
3. Is it true that lser surgery can help, or is it better to consider laser just for the lessening of the scar after surgery?
Thank you so much, I have learned so much about this condition from your site. I did not even know what a sebaceous cyst was, even after the surgery!!! Now, I am equipped with enough information to ask my surgeon the right questions!!!!

Follow Ups:

• I have had a facial sebaceous cyst for long enough!!! (Archive.) Walt Stoll 06:39:53 7/18/03 (0)
• Re: I have had a facial sebaceous cyst for long enough!!! Miss bliss 05:00:15 7/17/03 (1)
  • Re: I have had a facial sebaceous cyst for long enough!!! Gen 20:59:30 7/17/03 (0)

In Reply to: I have had a facial sebaceous cyst for long enough!!! posted by becka on July 17, 2003 at 00:19:42:

How old r u? Some people are more acne prone and have to work harder to keep their skin clear and bump free, than others. probably a genetic tendency, but there are ways and means to treating it effectively.

There are things you can do to stop your skin from breaking out. Since finding this site, my acne has been reduced by 99%. I may break out right before my period. I just finished my period and didnt break out at all thismonth, and now if I do, its minor.
I use to be on antibiotics, Accutane at one time, and done the creams,lotions, potions etc.
Now here is what worked for me:
NO sugar
treating candida overgrowth(check archives)
strictly limited grains or complex carbs

Please check out the archives. I am pressed for time right now, but there is a ton of info there, and if you really want to get rid of your skin condition, you have come to the right place, and it sounds like you are desperate enough to put in the effort and discipline thats required. Diet from Beth Loiselle's book, SR/meditation, and exercise. If youcan stick with Walt's protocol, you will find your skin will improve dramatically.

Whilst the cyst is active, try things to combat the infection. Raw garlic is amazing at taking down cysts. Iknow that when I use to suffer with cysts, if I ate raw garlic (4-6cloves mixed in my food) it would help me avoid going on antibiotics and take the inflammation down and heal.Also zinc. You MAY be able to avoid surgery if you can implement these things straight away. Raw garlic, and huge doses of zinc.

Follow Ups:

• Re: I have had a facial sebaceous cyst for long enough!!! Gen 20:59:30 7/17/03 (0)

In Reply to: Re: I have had a facial sebaceous cyst for long enough!!! posted by Miss bliss on July 17, 2003 at 05:00:15:

Try a castor oil pack. Soak cloth with castor oil, put a piece of plastic to cover cloth and use a heating pad.

In Reply to: I have had a facial sebaceous cyst for long enough!!! posted by becka on July 17, 2003 at 00:19:42:

Hi, Becka.

In order of your questions:

1. If the cyst is removed intact (as we all were taught in medical school) the recurrance rate is "0". If it is broken during the procedure the recurrance rate is about 70%.
2. Each time the surgery is done the scar will be larger since more and more normal tissue has to be removed to try to get the nests of cyst wall, that were missed with previous surgeries, removed.
3. After the first recurrance, lasers will not work as well and each subsequent failure reduces the effectiveness of the laser even further.

I guess the lesson is to choose your first surgeon very carefully. In your case the surgeon ruptured the cyst during the first procedure and each subsequent attempt becomes harder.

Hope this helps even though it is not very reassuring.

Walt