Resolved question:
I noticed a bump on my lower right arm about 2.5 inches from the wrist. I kinda noticed it before but I thought it might be an ant bite that I had a reaction to. I had a few ant bites on my feet, so i thought it was reasonable one got my arm. But a few days later & my foot bites are gone but my arm bump has not decreased. It is only slightly tender to the touch, I pushed down a bit and it did not hurt and there is no warmth to the touch.
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Internal Medicine Specialist
Thank you for using Ask a Doctor Service from Doctor Spring. The swelling in your lower part of arm looks mostly like a sebaceous cyst. These cysts are quite common and most commonly caused by blocked hair follicles, when a sebaceous gland, an oil-producing gland in the skin, becomes blocked or due to physical trauma or abnormally high levels of testosterone.A sebaceous cyst is a painless bump in the skin that generally appears the size of a small pea and can grow to a bigger size over time. It is not a serious/ dangerous condition and you need not panic. Sometimes these cysts are of only cosmetic concern. Because sebaceous cysts are generally harmless and cause no pain, they may require no treatment at all. Sebaceous cysts may also go away without any treatment or by simply applying a warm compress a couple of times a day to help the cyst to drain or reabsorb into the body.Sometimes, it may grow large enough to cause embarrassment or discomfort by rubbing on clothing or interfering with daily activities only in such case, treatment is advisable. So you could just leave the cyst or the bump on the skin as it is now, for a couple of weeks or so, during this period the cyst might resolve on its own, keep applying warm compression over the bump which will aid in faster recovery. But, if you notice any of the following like oozing of fluid from the cyst, pain, Redness, inflammation and swelling of the cyst then you must consult with GP as early possible, as it might be due to infection of the cyst. If you opt on your own for removal of the cyst for cosmetic reason, you must consult with GP/General surgeon, who will remove the cyst by a very minor surgical procedure. Do not try to drain the cyst on your own, as it can infect the cyst and cause more dangerous problem. I would now suggest you the following: Hope this helps, feel free to ask if you have any further questions. Thank you.