Does skin cyst cause skin lumps?

A skin cyst is a closed sac under or within the skin that may contain keratin or fluid. It can feel smooth, round, and mobile, and some cysts have a small opening at the surface. Many are painless until they become inflamed or infected. Most people with Skin Cyst notice skin lumps, but the symptom alone cannot identify the cause; blocked follicles, lipomas, inflamed lesions, and other conditions can also produce a lump.

Do not squeeze, pierce, or repeatedly press a lump, because this can irritate it and introduce infection. Keep the area clean and arrange a clinical examination if the diagnosis is uncertain, the lump is bothersome, or it keeps returning. Treatment may involve observation, drainage for selected inflamed cysts, or removal of the cyst wall when recurrence is a concern. The choice depends on examination findings.

Seek prompt advice if the lump becomes rapidly larger, hot, very painful, red, or starts draining pus. Arrange assessment for a lump that is hard, fixed, bleeding, ulcerated, or associated with fever or feeling unwell. Urgent review is appropriate for severe pain, spreading redness, or swelling near the eye. Do not assume a new or changing lump is a cyst without examination.

Does this lump have features of a skin cyst, and could it need imaging or removal? What signs suggest inflammation or infection? How can I reduce irritation and what should I do if it returns?