Dr. Anurag Dhawan

There are many types of dermatitis. Symptoms can vary depending on the type of dermatitis you have:

• Contact dermatitis, caused by exposure to an irritant or allergic reaction, typically shows up as a red, itchy rash that is limited to the area of skin exposed to the substance.
• Nummular dermatitis, common in people who have dry      skin or live in dry environments, shows up as red, itchy, circular patches of weeping, scaly, or crusted skin.
• Seborhic dermatitis called cradle cap in infants, causes greasy, yellowish scales on the scalp and eyebrows, behind the ears, and around the nose.
• Stasis dermatitis causes scaling and swelling of the lower legs. Sometimes ulcerated or open skin appears inside the lower legs and around the ankles.
• Atopic dermatitis(eczema) can cause extreme, persistent skin itchiness. However, many times, itchiness results simply from dry skin.

Sebaceous cysts are also called as epidermoid cysts are characterized by the formation of small bumps beneath the skin, which are, however, noncancerous and can appear anywhere on the neck or face. Usually arising from sebaceous glands, sebaceous cysts are often harmless and take a long time to grow and develop. They normally do not cause any severe problems as such, but if they tend to be bothersome and painful, then you consult a doctor for treatment and diagnosis.

Signs and symptoms of sebaceous cysts include:

1. Small, round bumps found underneath the skin.
2. Formation of a thick, yellow, pungent-smelling material that may or may not leak from the cysts.
3. Formation of small blackheads clogging the opening of the cyst.
4. When inflamed, the area turns reddish in color and may swell up.

Causes behind it
Sebaceous cysts develop when the sebaceous glands or ducts are either damaged or clogged. Sebaceous glands generally secrete keratin and sebum, oils which are responsible for coating the hair and skin. Whenever they get blocked, these fluids accumulate, resulting in the formation of cysts. Whenever they get damaged, the cysts burst open and keratin oozes out as a thick and yellow fluid. Blockage or damage can occur because of any of the following reasons:

1. Cuts, scratches and surgical wounds.
2. Skin conditions like acne.
3. Genetic problems like Garner's syndrome.
4. Cell damage because of surgery.
5. A deformed gland or duct.

A few factors which may make you more vulnerable to growing sebaceous cysts:

1. If you have a history of acne.
2. If you receive injuries to the skin.
3. If you are past the age of puberty.
4. If you have rare genetic disorders.

If the cysts trouble or bother you in any way, you should consider receiving treatment as they can cause further problems in the near future. These may include:

1. Boil-like infections.
2. Genital discomforts such as problems in urinating.
3. Even when it is not infected, a cyst can get inflamed causing a lot of pain and uneasiness.
4. Sebaceous cysts can, in extremely rare cases, lead to skin cancer.