Epidermoid cyst scalp removal

An epidermoid cyst is a sac under the skin filled with keratin. On the scalp, it may catch on a comb, feel uncomfortable when resting your head, or become noticeable during hair care. The clinician examines its surface, mobility, tenderness, and relationship to nearby skin.

A calm cyst and a swollen, painful cyst may require different timing. Removing only released contents may not address the sac itself, so the treatment plan should explain what is being removed and why.

Do not puncture the scalp lump or force material out. Keep hair and skin gently clean, avoid repeated rubbing, and photograph changes if the appearance is difficult to track. Options can include observation, an anti-inflammatory injection, drainage for an abscess, or surgical removal. See [Cyst Removal](/treatments/surgical-dermatology/cyst-removal/) and [Abscess Drainage](/treatments/minor-procedures/abscess-drainage/).

Seek prompt medical review when scalp swelling becomes increasingly sore, warm, red, or wet, or when the lump enlarges quickly. Fever, spreading redness, severe pain, or feeling markedly unwell warrants urgent assessment. A recurrent, bleeding, crusting, or unexplained scalp lump should also be examined.

Ask whether the diagnosis is clear, whether the cyst should be removed now or after inflammation settles, and how the incision may affect hair. Discuss washing, dressings, pain control, scar appearance, activity, and the signs of wound infection.