How to Bring a Cyst to a Head

Co-authored by Bailey Cho Medically reviewed by Janice Litza, MD

Last Updated: October 14, 2024 Fact Checked

Cysts are often found on the skin, breasts, ovaries, and kidneys.^{[1]
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Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public

Go to source} While they are usually harmless and go away on their own, they can be irritating or painful. You can try to treat cysts at home by bringing the cyst “to a head,” where the contents inside the cyst come closer to the surface. However, irritating a cyst can do more harm than good. If your cyst is swollen, tender, painful, discolored, grows rapidly, or is in an unusual spot, visit your healthcare provider for treatment.^{[2]
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Cleveland Clinic
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Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

When to See a Doctor

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Talk to your doctor if the cyst appears to be infected. If your cyst is swollen, tender, painful, or discolored, it is likely infected. You should talk to a doctor and ask them for suggestions on how to treat the cyst at home. Keep the cyst covered and clean it with a warm compress until you can show it to your doctor.^{[3]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

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- You should also contact your doctor if your cyst grows or multiplies quickly, breaks open, or is in a spot that keeps getting scratched or bumped.^{[4]
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  Mayo Clinic
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- Do not squeeze or poke at the cyst. If it bursts, it could cause an infection, and if it’s already infected, you could spread the infection.^{[5]
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  National Health Service (UK)
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Go see a doctor if the cyst is in an unusual area. Other unusual areas include the fingers, toes, mouth, and face.^{[6]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health

Go to source} Cysts in areas that are bumped or scratched easily can also get infected, so they are best treated by a doctor and not at home.^{[7]
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Mayo Clinic
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- Cyst on your eyelids could be a symptom of blepharitis, which can be treated by cleansing your eyelid with baby shampoo or a special scrub, or taking antibiotics prescribed by your doctor.^{[8]
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  Cleveland Clinic
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Let your doctor drain the cyst. Draining the cyst is a simple, quick procedure that can be done in your doctor’s office. Your doctor may first apply a local anesthetic to the area around the cyst and then make a small incision over the cyst. If the cyst becomes worse, your doctor may inject a steroid into the cyst to temporarily reduce swelling and inflammation.^{[9]
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Cleveland Clinic
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- The contents of the cyst may have a foul smell and appear yellow or cheese-like.^{[10]
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  Harvard Medical School
  Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public
  
  Go to source} Your doctor will usually drain the contents of the cyst and try to remove the cyst wall so the cyst does not return.^{[11]
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  Cedars Sinai Hospital
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- Depending on the size of the cyst, your doctor may suggest minor surgery to remove it. You may have to return to the clinic to have your stitches removed.^{[12]
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  Mayo Clinic
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Treating the Cyst at Home

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Wash the cyst with soap and warm water. It’s important to keep the cyst and surrounding skin as clean as possible. Bathe daily and gently wash the cyst with soap and warm water up to 3 times a day. Avoid scrubbing the area.^{[13]
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- If you have a cyst on your genital area, you may also soak in a sitz bath (a tub filled with a few inches of warm water) several times a day for 3 to 4 days to help it rupture and drain on its own.^{[14]
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Use a warm compress on the cyst. If the cyst swells or causes discomfort, you should warm up the cyst and encourage it to come closer to the surface.^{[15]
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Cleveland Clinic
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Go to source} You can do this by applying a warm, wet washcloth to the cyst for 20 to 30 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day. The compress should be warm but not boiling hot.^{[16]
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- You can also use a hot water bottle or heating pad over a damp towel.^{[17]
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- Be careful not to burn your skin, and do not use water that is warmer than bath water.
Put a bandage over the cyst to keep the draining contents from spreading, and change the bandage every day. If a large amount of pus drains from the cyst or the cyst becomes more red or painful, visit a doctor.^{[18]
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Warnings

Never try to pop a cyst at home. This can send bacteria and sebum below the hair follicles, which can lead to infection, scarring, and more cysts.^{[19]
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