Cyst Vs. Boil: How To Identify, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Found yourself lost and confused in the cyst vs. boil debate and have difficulty distinguishing between them? Don’t worry. We are here to help. Both are soft and painful bumps that develop under the skin and have a similar appearance. However, cysts grow slowly, and boils start as a small pimple-like bump and grow quickly. Cysts and boils are different types of skin growths that have different symptoms, causes, and treatments. Boils are more painful and uncomfortable than cysts. Boils are swollen red bumps with pus caused by bacterial infections. Cysts are not caused by infections but they can be formed by injury, family history, or trauma. They may be filled with blood or semi-solid material. Scroll through this article to learn more differences between cysts and boils, their symptoms, causes, and treatment options.

What Is A Cyst?

Cysts, also known as skin cysts, are small sacs filled with air, fluid, blood, or semi-solid substances that can develop inside or on any part of a person’s body. Depending on the lining of the cyst and the location, they can be divided into the following types (1).

• Epidermoid Cysts: Also known as sebaceous cysts, these commonly develop on the neck, trunk, and face. One of the most common cysts found in middle-aged adults, especially male adults, these cysts form due to the skin follicles filling up with a protein called keratin (2)
• Pilar Cysts: Commonly known as “wens”, pilar cysts develop on the scalp when hair follicles are clogged with keratin. Non-cancerous, these cysts are commonly found in young women and are attributed to a genetic history (3).
• Milia: Another type of cyst formed due to the accumulation of keratin, milia often develops on the face. Mostly seen in infants and children, these cysts run their natural course and disappear on their own (4). Milia is characterized by small white bumps and can often be confused with whiteheads.

Trivia

Cysts are not known to hurt unless they get infected or burst open. They usually resolve on their own.

What Is A Boil?

Have you ever seen a red-colored pimple on your skin that looks angry and hurts badly? Chances are that it might be a boil. Medically known as furuncle, boils are fluid-filled bumps that develop due to bacterial infection. Usually, boils tend to go away on their own once the pus drains out from the growth (5).

Trivia

When boils form in close clusters over infected areas, they are called carbuncles. In rare severe cases, they may cause fever and chills.

From reading the above section, you can see that boils and cysts are two separate conditions that develop due to different factors. Let us look at the symptoms of each condition.

Cyst Vs. Boil Comparison Of The Symptoms

How do you differentiate between a cyst and a boil? Let us compare the symptoms and get a clear idea of the difference between boil vs. cyst.

With the symptoms of cysts and boils stated above, we can move on to the next section which talks about the common places where boils and cysts appear.

What Are The Common Places For Boils And Cysts To Appear?

Cysts and boils can develop anywhere on the body, but these are the most common places you will find a boil or a cyst.

• Boils – Boils are most commonly found in areas that cause friction to your skin. These areas are the face, neck, back, armpits, genital area, thighs, and buttocks.
• Cysts – While cysts develop inside and all over the body, you can commonly find skin cysts on the face, neck, scalp, upper back, chest, and genitals.

Both cysts and boils can develop all over the body. Knowing what they look like can be key to early diagnosis and treatment. But before we go into the treatment options, let us understand what are the factors that cause boils and cysts.

Cyst Vs. Boil – Causes

Let us look at the factors that cause you to develop a boil or a cyst.

• Cysts – While more research is required to understand the causes behind cysts, researchers have suggested a few possible factors that can contribute to the development of cysts. These factors include a family history of cysts, overexposure to the sun, injury, and trauma (2). More scientific investigations need to be done to understand the different factors that may contribute to your risk of developing cysts. Researchers have suggested that having a genetic family history and old age may increase your risk (2).
• Boils– Boils develop due to bacterial infection in your hair follicle. Found in the lining of nostrils and skin, staphylococcus aureus bacteria causes the skin around the cells to die and fill with pus. This leads to the development of boils (5). Studies have indicated that people with chronic diseases such as diabetes have been associated with a higher risk of developing boils (6). Research also suggests that being overweight and smoking are factors that lead to people repeatedly developing boils (7).

As you can see, cysts and boils develop due to different factors that allow medical professionals to easily diagnose them. But are they contagious?

Are Cysts And Boils Contagious?

Yes, they can be contagious. Cysts are formed due to blocked skin glands or hair follicles, and boils, on the other hand, are often caused by Staphylococcus bacteria (5). When infected or ruptured, both of them can lead to the spread of bacteria among individuals who come in direct contact with the infected part.

Hence, maintain good hygiene, refrain from squeezing or popping cysts or boils, and seek medical attention when necessary to prevent complications or further infection. Check the next section to understand when you must reach out for professional advice.

When To Consult A Doctor

If your boil or cyst does not seem to go away on its own and you experience symptoms such as fever and pain, then you should get it checked by a general physician. Early diagnosis and treatment can help speed up the healing and recovery process. While cysts and boils do eventually go away on their own, they can get uncomfortable, in which case medical professionals specializing in dermatology can help.

Cyst Vs. Boil – What Are The Treatment Options Available?

Once your doctor diagnoses your medical condition as a cyst or a boil, and based on the severity of the symptoms, your doctor may suggest one of the following treatments for you.

Boils

• Hot Compress – If your boil is small or growing in size, you can place a hot compress on it and allow it to burst and drain the pus out.
• Surgery – If the boil has developed into an abscess and is bigger in size, the best option is to make a small incision and drain the pus out. Once that is done, your doctor will put a sterilized gauze to soak up the remaining pus.
• Medications – If you see more than one boil clustered together, it is called a carbuncle. In this case, antibiotics are administered through a drip to contain the skin infection. After that, surgery is conducted to drain the pus from the carbuncle and the surgery site is sterilized with an antiseptic solution and allowed to heal before closing up the wound.

Cysts

• Medications – If your cyst develops due to an infection, you can take medications such as antibiotics or corticosteroids as a way to treat cysts. These medications might help reduce the infection.
• Surgical Excision – This is a surgical procedure that is conducted to remove skin growths such as moles, warts, cysts, etc. In this surgery, you are administered a local anesthetic around the cyst. Your doctor will make a cut, rupture the lining and drain the pus out.

Jeff, a blogger, tried various unconventional methods for managing cysts and shared her experience. She elaborates, “Using an antibacterial medication like Cephalexin combined with a strong but controlled dose of UV rays appears to reduce the size and irritation of the cysts by about 80% while either one alone will give you some relief (I would guesstimate a 40% reduction) and is a treatment worthy of consideration while you’re waiting for a surgeon to slice and dice you (i)”.

Depending on the location and severity of your boil or cysts, your doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment that can reduce their recurrence. Let’s read next about some simple tips that can help avoid boils or cysts.

Cyst Vs. Boil: Prevention Tips

They say prevention is better than treatment. While cysts cannot be prevented, here are a few simple tips that may help you prevent the development of boils.

• Maintaining good personal hygiene and washing regularly can go a long way in stopping the growth of boils.
• Washing your utensils and clothes with hot water and soap can help prevent the infection from spreading to people around you.

Infographic: The Differences Between Cyst And Boil

A cyst and a boil are two skin conditions caused by different factors. Knowing the difference between these two will help you determine what causes it and the kind of treatment you should opt for. Check out the infographic below to learn the basic difference between a cyst and a boil along with the different treatments suitable for each condition.

Illustration: The Bridal Box Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a cyst turn into a boil?

If the cyst bursts or becomes infected, it may become red, swollen, and tender to touch, like a boil.

Is a boil hard or soft?

The boil may feel hard at first, but it becomes soft after some time due to the collection of white blood cells at the center of the boil.

Does popping a cyst hurt?

Not only is popping a cyst painful and causes inflammation, but it can also lead to infection and scarring. This is why it is recommended not to pop a cyst on your own.

Can I stick a needle in a sebaceous cyst?

It is not recommended to pop a cyst with a needle. Go to a doctor. Doctors sterilize their equipment and know exactly how to drain a sebaceous cyst without causing any damage or risking an infection.

What happens if a cyst pops inside you?

You will feel pain if a cyst pops inside your body. And you run the risk of infection, blood poisoning, and inflammation in that area of the body.

Will an infected cyst go away on its own?

Infected cysts should be treated immediately. If left untreated, they can worsen and cause serious complications.

Learn the difference between a cyst and a boil with this detailed video! Check it out to understand the causes, symptoms, and treatments for each condition. Get the facts now!

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Dr. Schwarzburg is a leading authority in the field of minimally invasive cosmetic and laser medicine in New York City. He is an Ivy League school graduate with 7 years of experience in cosmetic dermatology and regenerative medicine.

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Anjali is an associate editor at StyleCraze. She specializes in hairstyles and hair and skin care and has written over 200 articles in these domains. She has 7 years of experience, and her philosophy about hair and skin care is simple: if you love and care for it, it will be healthy.

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