Cysts are usually benign lumps under the skin that contain various substances. There are many different types of cysts in the body, classified based on their contents. Regardless of the type, surgical removal is the most effective treatment.

In 95% of cases, cysts can be safely removed under local anesthesia in our clinic by Dr. Peter Kim. Below, we will outline some of the different types of cysts.

Epidermal/Epidermoid Cyst
An epidermal cyst consists of a cyst lining made up of epidermal cells, which produce keratin. Keratin is a white, toothpaste-like substance that some people squeeze out, often mistaking it for a pimple. It is actually a collection of dead skin cells. These cysts form when hair follicles become blocked, causing skin cells to build up underneath the skin.

This is an epidermal cyst on the neck. As you can see, the white, toothpaste-like material is the content of this cyst, known as keratin.

Pilar Cyst
A pilar cyst is a cyst that forms within the hair follicle as a result of blocked pores. The content of the cyst is keratin, which is the same substance found in epidermal cysts. Pilar cysts are most commonly found on the scalp but can also appear on other areas of the body.

Pilar cysts on the scalp.
The aim of the cyst surgery is to remove the cyst in its entirety, meaning that the keratin is contained within the cyst and not visible after the procedure./

Hemangioma 

This hemangioma was treated non surgically with our lasers.
Most hemangiomas are red in color, but some deeper hemangiomas appear as skin-colored lumps.