Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPreventionFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
Cystsandlipomasare two types of lumps that can be found under the skin. Cysts are enclosed sacs filled with fluid, pus, air, or other substances.Cysts arebenign, meaning not cancerous.
Lipomas are growths of fatty tissue usually found between the muscle and skin.Like cysts, lipomas are also benign.
Cysts and lipomas can look and feel very similar but are very different types of growths. It can be difficult to tell them apart. This article will highlight the differences between cysts and lipomas.
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A cyst and lipoma are both lumps that can be found underneath the skin and other places in the body. They are generally small and painless. But these two types of lumps are very different.
Symptoms of a Cyst
The symptoms of a cyst will vary greatly based on its location and type. Here are the most common cyst symptoms:
Cysts can beasymptomatic(cause no symptoms). This is especially true if they are found inside the body, near organs. When cysts cause symptoms, the symptoms will be reflective of the cyst’s location. For example, a cyst found in the wrist can cause decreased grip strength.
Symptoms of a Lipoma
A lipoma, sometimes called a fatty tumor, is a collection of fat cells that form a lump under the skin. Lipoma symptoms and characteristics will vary from person to person, but the most common are:
Besides the lump, a lipoma near the skin is usually asymptomatic. However, when they grow inside the body, lipomas can cause symptoms that are specific to their location. Examples are a lipoma growing in the airway that will causedifficulty breathingor a lipoma growing in the heart that can cause anirregular heartbeat.
Cysts and lipomas have different causes.
Cyst Causes
In general, a cyst is caused when a fluid or substance is trapped in a space and creates an enclosed capsule. There are several types of cysts. Each type has its own cause. Below are some types of cysts and their causes:
Lipoma Causes
Experts are not sure what causes a lipoma. There are studies that show a genetic factor in their development. Another theory is that an injury can cause a lipoma to form.
Risk factors for developing a lipoma include:
Treatment isn’t necessary for most lipomas and cysts. They can be watched and if they start to grow, cause pain, or show signs of infection they may be removed. Here are the specific treatments for a lipoma and cyst:
Cyst Treatment
There are several kinds of cysts, and treatment will be different for each kind. If a healthcare provider determines that the cyst is not causing problems, then no treatment is necessary. But if the cyst is painful or poses a health risk, they may be treated with fluid removal or surgical removal.
Fluid removal uses a needle towithdraw fluidfrom the cyst. The problem with this treatment is that the cyst can refill and continue to cause problems.Surgical removalremoves the whole cyst, the fluid, and the outer encasing. This decreases the likelihood the cyst will grow back.
Lipoma Treatment
Most times, a lipoma does not need treatment. It tends to be more of a cosmetic concern than a health concern. However, if the patient or healthcare provider would prefer it be removed, then it usually will be surgically removed.
In this procedure, a small incision is made to allow the full removal of the fatty tumor. This is best done when the lipoma is small to prevent intruding on nerves, blood vessels, or joints.
There is no way to prevent most lipomas or cysts.Understanding the differences between the two can help people identify the lump and get a quick diagnosis and prompt treatment.
Summary
Cysts and lipomas are two common lumps that people may find on their bodies. While they may look similar at first, these lumps have many differences. A cyst is a sac filled will fluid, pus, air, or other substances. A lipoma is a lump of fatty tissue and is sometimes called a fatty tumor.
A healthcare provider can usually diagnose these lumps based on their appearance. Occasionally, additional testing is necessary. Treatment isn’t necessary unless the lump is causing other health problems.
A Word From Verywell
Finding a lump under your skin can be unnerving. Contact your healthcare provider for a diagnosis and treatment plan. Many people who have a cyst or lipoma do not need treatment. But if the lump hurts, is swollen, is getting bigger, or is just something you’d like to have gone then surgical removal is the best option to prevent it from coming back.
Frequently Asked QuestionsA cyst is a sac usually found under the skin that is filled with fluid, pus, air, or other substances. A lipoma is a collection of fat cells normally found under the skin and is considered a noncancerous tumor.
A cyst is a sac usually found under the skin that is filled with fluid, pus, air, or other substances. A lipoma is a collection of fat cells normally found under the skin and is considered a noncancerous tumor.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Cyst.Harvard Health.Cysts (overview).Kolb L, Yarrarapu SNS, Ameer MA, Rosario-Collazo JA.Lipoma. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.Charifa A, Azmat CE, Badri T.Lipoma pathology. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Cyst.Harvard Health.Cysts (overview).Kolb L, Yarrarapu SNS, Ameer MA, Rosario-Collazo JA.Lipoma. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.Charifa A, Azmat CE, Badri T.Lipoma pathology. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Cancer Institute.Cyst.Harvard Health.Cysts (overview).Kolb L, Yarrarapu SNS, Ameer MA, Rosario-Collazo JA.Lipoma. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.Charifa A, Azmat CE, Badri T.Lipoma pathology. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.
National Cancer Institute.Cyst.
Harvard Health.Cysts (overview).
Kolb L, Yarrarapu SNS, Ameer MA, Rosario-Collazo JA.Lipoma. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.
Charifa A, Azmat CE, Badri T.Lipoma pathology. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.
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