Causes and Diagnoses

Causes and Diagnoses of Sebaceous Cysts

Sebaceous cysts occur when a hair follicle is swollen or ruptured, either due to acne, an injury to the skin or a sebaceous duct that’s malformed. Sometimes there’s no apparent cause.

Diagnosing sebaceous cysts

A diagnosis of a sebaceous cyst may require only a physical exam. If it’s infected, your physician may take a biopsy (tissue sample) or skin culture to determine the type of infection.