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Cysts (Skin, Ganglion, Ovarian & More)

A cyst is a closed sac, usually filled with fluid, that can form almost anywhere in the body. Most are harmless and many need no treatment at all — but a few warning signs need prompt care, and any new lump is worth having checked.

Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have:

  • Sudden, severe pain in your lower belly or pelvis, especially with nausea or vomiting, fever, faintness, dizziness or weakness, or fast breathing. This can mean an ovarian cyst has burst (ruptured) — large ruptured cysts can cause heavy bleeding — or that an ovary has twisted on its blood supply (torsion) (Office on Women’s Health, NHS).
  • Leg pain or swelling with shortness of breath or chest pain. This could be a blood clot that has traveled to the lungs, which can be life-threatening (NHS). Don’t drive yourself.

Get care the same day (your provider or urgent care) if you have:

See a clinician soon (don’t wait it out) for:

  • Any new breast lump or other breast change, such as dimpled skin, a nipple that newly turns inward, or bloodstained or other nipple discharge that isn’t breast milk (NHS, American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute). Most breast lumps are not cancer, but every new one should be checked.
  • A lump that grows quickly or keeps getting bigger, is hard and doesn’t move, lasts more than 2 weeks, or grows back after removal (NHS).
  • Bloating, belly or pelvic pain, feeling full quickly or losing your appetite, or needing to pee more often that happens often (roughly 12 or more times a month), or losing weight without trying — possible signs of ovarian cancer, although these symptoms are common and have many other causes (NHS).
  • Blood in your urine, fever, or new pain or tenderness if you know you have a kidney cyst (NIDDK).

Don’t wait for a massage, herbal or other complementary appointment for any of these signs.

What is a cyst?

A cyst is a fluid-filled sac, and it can form in many places in the body (Office on Women’s Health). What’s inside depends on the type: skin cysts often contain fluid or pus (NHS), a ganglion cyst holds a thick, slippery fluid like the fluid inside your joints (AAOS OrthoInfo), and a Baker’s cyst is a buildup of joint fluid behind the knee (AAOS OrthoInfo).

The good news: most cysts are harmless

“Most” is not “all,” though. A few lumps turn out to be cancers, so see a provider about any lump you can’t explain (NHS, NHS). A complex breast cyst carries a higher chance of cancer (American Cancer Society), and people past menopause who have ovarian cysts are at higher risk of ovarian cancer (Office on Women’s Health). See our cancer guide for more.

How are cysts diagnosed?

A provider can often tell what a lump is just by looking at and feeling it (NHS). For a ganglion cyst, shining a light through the lump helps, because fluid-filled cysts let light through and solid tumors don’t (AAOS OrthoInfo). An ultrasound can show whether a lump in the wrist, knee, breast or ovary is fluid-filled or solid (AAOS OrthoInfo, AAOS OrthoInfo, American Cancer Society, Office on Women’s Health), and an MRI, CT scan or biopsy is used when more information is needed (AAOS OrthoInfo, NIDDK, NHS). Lumps have many possible causes, so don’t self-diagnose — see a provider if you’re worried or a lump is still there after 2 weeks (NHS).

A quick guide to common cysts

Skin (epidermoid) cysts

Round lumps just under the skin that can form on most areas of the body, including the head, face, neck, chest and back. They sometimes have a small, dark spot in the middle, grow slowly, and range from smaller than a pea to several centimeters across (NHS). An epidermoid cyst develops in the top layer of skin; it is sometimes called a “sebaceous cyst,” a name also used for pilar cysts, which form in hair follicles, usually on the scalp (NHS). A cyst can get sore or red if it becomes infected — redness may be harder to see on black or brown skin (NHS).

Pilonidal cysts

A small hole or tunnel (pilonidal sinus) at the top of the buttock crease, which can become infected and form a pus-filled abscess. The cause isn’t clear: a skin problem, pressure or friction may push hair between the buttocks inward. They are more common in men, who tend to be hairier, and sitting for long periods raises the chance of getting one (NHS). Most people don’t notice one unless it becomes infected and painful (NHS).

Ganglion cysts (wrist and hand)

The most common lump in the hand. They often appear on the back of the wrist, can appear, disappear and change size quickly, and tend to grow with activity and shrink with rest. A large cyst pressing on a nerve can cause pain, tingling or weakness (AAOS OrthoInfo).

Baker’s (popliteal) cysts

A swelling behind the knee caused by extra joint fluid, usually from a knee problem such as arthritis or a torn meniscus (AAOS OrthoInfo, NHS). Many cause no symptoms; others cause a feeling of fullness, stiffness or tightness behind the knee, and symptoms may be worse after walking (AAOS OrthoInfo, NHS). See our arthritis guide.

Breast cysts

Round or oval fluid-filled sacs that often feel like a movable lump, sometimes tender; they are most common in women in their 30s and 40s and may grow and hurt before a period (American Cancer Society). An ultrasound tells a simple cyst (just fluid) from a complicated or complex one, which may need a follow-up exam, a needle test of the fluid or a biopsy (American Cancer Society).

Ovarian cysts

Most are functional cysts that form as part of the normal menstrual cycle; they are usually harmless and short-lived and often cause no symptoms (NHS, Office on Women’s Health). Most go away on their own within a few months (NHS, MedlinePlus). Other kinds include endometriomas (from endometriosis), dermoids and cystadenomas (Office on Women’s Health). Cancerous cysts are rare and more common after menopause (Office on Women’s Health).

PCOS, briefly: polycystic ovary syndrome is a common health problem caused by an imbalance of reproductive hormones — not the same as ordinary functional cysts (Office on Women’s Health). Common signs include irregular or missed periods, extra hair growth on the face or body, acne and many small cysts on the ovaries; it is one of the most common causes of infertility and is linked to higher risks of diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease (Office on Women’s Health).

Kidney cysts

Simple kidney cysts are fluid-filled sacs that are usually harmless and are often found by chance on a scan done for something else. They become more common with age: in one large study, nearly 1 in 5 people age 50 and older had them (NIDDK). Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is different: a genetic disorder that causes many cysts to grow and can cause high blood pressure and other problems (NIDDK, NIDDK).

Side by side

Six approaches compared

For every condition we look at the same six approaches: what each involves, what it typically costs, and what a patient can realistically expect.

ApproachWhat it involves Estimated costWhat to expect
Conventional medicine (AMA) Often watchful waiting. For skin cysts: don’t squeeze; drainage, an injection or removal by a clinician if needed. Ganglion: observation, a splint, aspiration or surgery. Baker’s: treat the knee problem. Breast: drain painful cysts. Ovarian: repeat ultrasound, birth control pills for frequent cysts, surgery for some. Kidney: imaging; treatment only if symptoms. Self-pay examples: in-office skin cyst removal about $500–$1,000 plus visit and lab fees; ganglion aspiration about $113.50–$450, excision $1,000–$1,950; pilonidal drainage about $1,072, excision about $4,872–$6,288. Other costs being researched. Many cysts go away or stay harmless without treatment. Cysts often come back after drainage, and sometimes even after surgery.
Chiropractic No role in treating cysts. Not a treatment for cysts, so no cost is listed. We found no research on chiropractic care for any kind of cyst. Don’t let it delay a check of a new lump.
Acupuncture Being researched — coming soon.
Herbal medicine No herb or supplement is shown to shrink or dissolve a cyst. Tea tree oil is sometimes tried on skin bumps but hasn’t been studied for cysts. Cost estimate being researched. No proven benefit. Tea tree oil can irritate skin and must never be swallowed. Avoid “drawing” salves and online removal products, which can scar.
Massage therapy No role in treating cysts. Don’t have an unexplained lump, or a swollen, painful calf, massaged until a clinician has checked it. Not a treatment for cysts, so no cost is listed. We found no research on massage for cysts. Calf swelling with a Baker’s cyst could be a blood clot.
MBHA Wellness Coach Skin hygiene, hands off (no picking or squeezing), a simple lump log with dates and size, breast self-awareness, PCOS-friendly activity and weight goals, and keeping follow-up appointments. Cost estimate being researched. Supports — never replaces — medical care. Good habits help you notice changes early and may lower the chance of infection.

Approach 1 of 6

Conventional medicine (AMA)

Many cysts need no treatment at all — your provider may simply watch them. When treatment is needed, it depends on the type of cyst and the problem it’s causing.

Skin (epidermoid) cysts

  • Often no treatment. Skin cysts don’t need to be treated if they’re not causing any problems (NHS).
  • Don’t squeeze. If a cyst bursts it could become infected, and squeezing an infected cyst can spread the infection (NHS). Dermatologists also warn against trying to drain a cyst or nodule at home, because the infection risk is high outside a medical office (American Academy of Dermatology, writing about acne cysts).
  • In-office treatment. For an inflamed cyst, a provider may drain it or inject it with steroid medicine (AAD Choosing Wisely). A cyst that is infected, or large and painful enough to interfere with everyday life, may be treated or removed; removal is done under local anesthetic and leaves a small scar (NHS). You may still get new skin cysts in the future (NHS).
  • Antibiotics only for real infection. Most red, swollen epidermal cysts are inflamed but not infected; the American Academy of Dermatology advises confirming infection before using antibiotics, and says drainage or a steroid injection into the cyst are appropriate treatments (AAD Choosing Wisely).

Pilonidal cysts

A pilonidal sinus with no signs of infection doesn’t need treatment — a “watch and wait” approach, keeping the area clean (NHS). A painful, swollen abscess usually needs to be opened and drained, sometimes with antibiotics; for a sinus that keeps coming back, surgery to remove it is an option (NHS). The different operations trade off recovery time against the chance of the sinus coming back, so ask your surgeon about the options (NHS).

Ganglion cysts

Baker’s cysts

Often no treatment is needed, and many go away on their own; when the cyst comes from a knee problem, treating that problem usually eases the symptoms (AAOS OrthoInfo, NHS). Other options include easing off high-impact activity, anti-inflammatory medicines, a steroid injection in the knee and draining the fluid with a needle (AAOS OrthoInfo, NHS). Surgery is rarely needed — mainly when symptoms don’t ease or the cyst keeps coming back after repeated draining (AAOS OrthoInfo), and surgery to remove the cyst itself is rare (NHS).

Breast cysts

Simple cysts generally don’t need treatment unless they cause bothersome symptoms. A painful cyst can be drained with a thin, hollow needle, which may relieve pressure and pain for a while; the fluid can come back, but cysts may also go away over time (American Cancer Society). Surgery may be an option for cysts that keep returning and causing symptoms (American Cancer Society). Most breast lumps are harmless and may go away on their own (NHS).

Ovarian cysts

Kidney cysts

If you have a simple kidney cyst, you usually don’t need more tests or treatment, though you may be asked to have regular ultrasounds to watch for changes. Cysts that cause pain or block blood or urine flow can be drained (sclerotherapy) or removed with laparoscopic surgery (NIDDK). PKD is managed differently; for example, it may require changes in what you eat to control blood pressure (NIDDK).

What it costs

These figures come from a cost guide that collects published U.S. self-pay prices; they are examples, not national averages, and your bill depends on the provider, setting and insurance.

  • Skin cyst removal: an uncomplicated in-office excision often runs about $500–$1,000 self-pay. A visit and lab (pathology) fee can add to that — one example totals $1,270. Removal for looks alone may not be covered by insurance (cost guide: The Pricer).
  • Ganglion cyst: aspiration about $113.50–$450; office or surgery-center excision about $1,000–$1,950 (cost guide: The Pricer).
  • Pilonidal cyst: drainage of an abscess averages about $1,072; simple excision about $4,872 and complicated excision about $6,288 in price-transparency data (cost guide: The Pricer).
  • Ultrasound, breast cyst drainage, ovarian and kidney procedures: MBHA cost estimate being researched.

Find a medical doctor in our directory

Approach 2 of 6

Chiropractic

Chiropractic care has no role in treating cysts. We found no research testing it for skin, ganglion, Baker’s, breast, ovarian or kidney cysts. If a lump is new, growing or painful, have it checked by a medical provider first, and don’t let any hands-on treatment put off that visit (NHS).

Find a chiropractor in our directory

Approach 4 of 6

Herbal medicine

We found no reliable evidence that any herb, supplement or home remedy shrinks or dissolves a cyst. For painful breast cysts, the American Cancer Society notes that vitamins and herbal supplements have been suggested but none has proven helpful (American Cancer Society).

Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is sometimes dabbed on skin bumps. A small amount of research suggests it might help acne and athlete’s foot, but for other conditions there isn’t enough evidence (NCCIH), and we found no studies of it for cysts. Some people get redness or skin irritation from it, and it must never be swallowed — that can cause confusion, unsteadiness and coma (NCCIH). MBHA suggests not putting it on a cyst that is red, broken or draining — that needs a provider.

Be careful with “cyst removal” products sold online

  • “Black salve” has been promoted online for various skin conditions; if it contains bloodroot, it can corrode the skin (NCCIH).
  • Bloodroot salves used on skin growths have caused disfigurement and worsening lesions, some needing hospital care, and products with bloodroot used to remove moles and skin tags have caused permanent scarring (Memorial Sloan Kettering).
  • A lump treated at home without a diagnosis could be something other than a cyst — lumps have many possible causes, a few of them cancers (NHS).

If you take supplements anyway

Tell your providers, especially before any procedure. Some herbs interact with medicines — for example, ginkgo may raise the risk of bleeding in people taking blood thinners (NCCIH).

Approach 5 of 6

Massage therapy

Massage has no role in treating cysts, and we found no research testing it for any type. Its place, if any, is ordinary relaxation or muscle relief elsewhere in the body.

  • Don’t have an unexplained lump massaged until a clinician has looked at it. Trying to burst a cyst risks infection or skin damage (NHS, NHS).
  • Baker’s cyst and the calf: pain, swelling and bruising in the calf can come from a burst Baker’s cyst or from a blood clot, and increasing calf pain and swelling need medical care right away (AAOS OrthoInfo, NHS). Get a swollen, painful calf checked before any leg massage. Serious side effects of massage are rare, but reported ones include blood clots (NCCIH).
  • Tell your massage therapist about any lumps, cysts or recent procedures so they can avoid those areas.

Find a massage therapist in our directory

Approach 6 of 6

MBHA Wellness Coach

Most cysts are harmless, but noticing changes early and avoiding infection matter. An MBHA Wellness Coach can help you build these habits, alongside, never instead of, your medical care.

Hands off, and keep skin clean

Keep a simple lump log

Write down when you first noticed a lump, where it is, roughly how big it is, and whether it changes or hurts. Providers ask questions like how long you’ve had it and whether it changes in size (AAOS OrthoInfo), and a lump that grows or lasts more than 2 weeks should be checked (NHS). Many cysts are managed by watching them, so keep any follow-up scans your provider sets, such as a repeat ovarian ultrasound (NHS) or regular ultrasounds for a kidney cyst (NIDDK). A coach can help you set reminders and bring your notes to the visit.

Breast self-awareness

Breast self-awareness means knowing how your breasts normally look and feel, so you can spot changes (American Cancer Society). Breast size and shape can change through the menstrual cycle (American Cancer Society); a new lump, dimpled skin, a nipple turning inward or other unusual changes are a reason to see your provider (NHS, American Cancer Society). For tender breast cysts, a well-fitted supportive bra or heat may ease mild discomfort (American Cancer Society).

Comfort for knee and wrist cysts

PCOS, briefly

For people with PCOS who have overweight or obesity, losing a small amount of weight and being more physically active can ease many symptoms and related health risks (NICHD); losing even about 10% of body weight can help periods become more regular (Office on Women’s Health). A coach can help you build a realistic activity and eating plan with your provider.

Still being researched: Acupuncture. We add each approach once its costs and results are sourced. Are you a practitioner with experience treating Cysts (Skin, Ganglion, Ovarian & More)? Tell us.

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This page is for education only and is not medical advice. Costs are typical U.S. ranges and estimates; yours will depend on your provider, location and insurance. Talk with your doctor before starting, stopping or combining any treatment. In an emergency, call 911. See our disclaimer.

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