Cysts, abscesses and lipomas all have one common feature: they cause a lump or bump on the skin. All three are very common and I literally remove a hundred or more lipomas and sebaceous cysts a year.

Cysts and boils, while similar, differ in cause and appearance. A boil is red or discolored, swollen, and contains pus, like a pimple. A cyst is under the skin and is usually painless but can resemble ...

A bump on the gum may be a sign of a cyst, canker sore, or underlying infection. Bumps on the gums usually aren’t serious, but you should contact a doctor or dentist if it causes a lot of pain or ...

It could happen to anyone. You wake up with a surprise skin lump, whether it’s a painful boil, ingrown hair, or an acne undergrounder that won’t seem to rise to the surface. Sometimes, though, these ...

Bartholin's glands are located at the vaginal entrance. During sexual arousal, they secrete a lubricant which enters the vagina through a small duct from each gland. A cyst may form if the duct ...

There are different types of pilonidal cyst surgery. One involves cutting the cyst to drain the fluid, while another involves removing the cyst completely. Depending on the surgery type, a person can ...

A gum abscess, also called a periodontal abscess, is a painful pocket of pus on the gums that can cause serious complications if untreated. Common causes include bacteria from gum disease and plaque ...

Medically reviewed by Peter Weiss, MD Key Takeaways Your vagina can be swollen for common reasons such as pregnancy, hormonal shifts that can increase infection risk, or the use of irritants like ...