Types Of Cysts
What are the different types of cysts? There are various types of cysts which occur in various parts of the body such as the kidney, skin, ovary etc. A cyst is an abnormality that often presents itself as a pouch like structure, totally unlike adjacent healthy tissue. They have distinct membrane in which liquid, semi-solid materials or gases are contained. Various types of cysts have different causes although the most common causes are wear and tear; some are inherited while others may be due to infections. The treatment given to the most common types of cysts normally depends on where it’s located, the size or the degree of discomfort with which it comes with among other factors. However it’s advisable to avoid all the underlying causes of cysts.
The most common types of cysts include;
The skin cysts
It is one of the most common of all the existing types of cysts. It occurs anywhere on the skin surface. Most are caused by wear and tear of the skin surface. In most instances, it may contain colorless fluid which sometimes turn out to be pus. Under normal circumstances, they do heal naturally but may be painful if they rupture. Some of the most common skin cysts include the sebaceous and the chalazion cysts.
Sebaceous cysts are those types of cysts experienced when oil glands within the skin are blocked. The genitals are some of the areas prone to these types of cysts especially at the hair follicle regions. It should never be scratched or touched frequently so as to avoid infections and it’s also advisable to seek medical advice if the condition worsens.
The other common type of skin cysts are the chalazion cysts. These types of cysts occur around the eye. They occur as pimples around the eyelids and are caused by blocked glands which results in the swelling of the affected region. Just like any other types of cysts, they should not be touched unnecessarily to avoid infections in most circumstances; doctors may prescribe creams when the situation worsens.
Other types of cysts are the ganglion cysts which occur in areas around the tendons and joints. Most areas prone to these types of cysts include the waists, knee and the ankles. Thy differ from the skin cysts in that their contents are usually very thick as compared to those of skin cysts. They may either heal naturally or the fluid may have to be drained. These types of cysts are normally accompanied by some pain.
Since cysts can affect any part of the body, and are especially more harmfully when they occur within internal organs. One such cyst is the ovarian cyst, which affects a great majority of women. They are located on the ovary and they can cause excruciating pain. More than that, they may even affect the ability of the affected women to bear children, as the surgery that may be required to excise them may have fatal consequences with regards to child bearing ability.
Renal cysts impede the kidneys from functioning optimally and may consequently result in systemic disease conditions such as uraemia among other nasty conditions while vocal fold cysts affects the quality of one’s speech and are normally due to mucus retention.
To date, there is no proven mechanism which can prevent the occurrence of the various types of cysts. It is always advisable to avoid all the potential causes such as exposing the skin to wear and tear. While most cysts are non- cancerous and benign, a few other cysts can be cancerous and malignant. Thus a single cystic infection can result in systemic infection. Consequently, no cyst should be assumed; it is advisable to consult a physician as soon as a cyst is spotted or suspected.
