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Dermoid cyst
What is a dermoid cyst?
A dermoid cyst (der-moyd SIST) is a small capsule-like growth that forms while a baby is developing in the womb. Inside, it is lined with tissue similar to the outer layers of skin. Dermoid cysts form very early in the baby’s development when skin cells get stuck in the wrong place.
A dermoid cyst is a type of benign tumor called a mature teratoma. A benign tumor is an abnormal growth that is not cancer. So far, no one has discovered exactly what causes dermoid cysts.
A dermoid cyst usually looks like a lump or a knot underneath the skin. Occasionally, a cyst can look like a pit that seeps an oily substance. Because a dermoid cyst is made up of skin tissue, it can contain things found in or growing from the skin, like oil and sweat glands, hair and even teeth.
Dermoid cysts are present at birth. Sometimes, they are found when a baby is born, but it’s not unusual to spot them later. Most of them are found by the time a child is five years old.
Dermoid cysts are common skin abnormalities, and girls have a slightly higher tendency to develop them. A dermoid cyst will not go away on its own and will continue to grow slowly over time.
Where are dermoid cysts located?
A dermoid cyst can form anywhere, but the majority of them are found on the head and neck. One of the most common areas is along the outside of a baby’s eyebrow, in an area called the periorbital area. Other common areas on the head and neck are the forehead, back of the head, upper and lower eyelids.
Other possible locations include the:
- Nose and sinuses
- Chest
- Ovary
- Testes
- Spine
- Lower back
What are the symptoms of dermoid cysts?
Dermoid cysts may or may not have symptoms depending on where they are in the body and how big they are. Many of them just look like small bumps under the skin and have no obvious symptoms for quite a while.
But because they can grow over time, they can press into the surrounding areas and then cause symptoms. For example, a dermoid cyst that presses on the spine can cause weakness and tingling in the arms and legs.
In some cases, dermoid cysts on the head may expand into the brain. These can cause symptoms such as headaches or other problems, depending on the part of the brain that is affected.
Dermoid cysts can also become infected. If they burst, the infection can spread into nearby areas.
How are dermoid cysts diagnosed?
Some dermoid cysts can be diagnosed just with a physical examination. One that is near the surface of the skin near the eyebrow, for example, can usually be diagnosed right away.
There are other conditions that can look like dermoid cysts, and sometimes your child's doctor may need to do tests to make the correct diagnosis. This is especially true if there is a lump under the skin on the head, neck or middle part of the body. A doctor may do an ultrasound just to get a better idea of what the cyst looks like.
Depending on where the dermoid cyst is located, a doctor may do more tests to see if it has grown into the brain, spine or another sensitive area. These tests may include an MRI and/or CT scan.
What are complications from dermoid cysts?
Dermoid cysts that don’t grow into the brain or spine don’t usually have major complications. Sometimes a cyst will become swollen and infected. If it bursts, infection can spread to the area around it. A dermoid cyst may also put pressure on nerves or blood vessels over time as it grows. And a cyst near the eye can affect the position of the eyelid.
Cysts at a middle point of the body, such as between the eyebrows, are more likely to be connected to the brain or spine.
Treatment is removal in surgery
Because dermoid cysts don’t go away on their own and will continue to grow, doctors recommend removing them early in a child’s life.
When surgery is done on babies, it can help prevent complications that could happen as the cyst grows. Also, the surgery itself may be less complicated with a smaller scar. Removing it when it’s small also makes it easier to get it all out. For a dermoid cyst near the eye, which is a very common location, the recommendation is to remove the cyst when a child is one to two years old.
Before surgery, the doctor may do testing to see exactly where the cyst is in relation to nerves or other sensitive areas. Depending on the location and size of the dermoid cyst, your child may go home the same day of surgery. This is generally true for periorbital dermoid cysts.
Your surgeon at Children’s of Mississippi will give you instructions for taking care of your child after surgery. Recovery can take two or three weeks, depending on where the cyst was located and the type of surgery. The surgeon will also want to see your child after surgery to make sure everything is healing properly.
What is the outlook for dermoid cysts?
Dermoid cysts are not cancerous and almost never turn into cancer. Once they are removed, they don’t come back unless the surgeon wasn’t able to remove the entire cyst. Even then, the chances of them growing back are still extremely small.
Get help at Children’s of Mississippi
If your child has a dermoid cyst, you can schedule an appointment with our Children’s of Mississippi plastic surgery team. They are experts in removing dermoid cysts with the smallest and least noticeable scar possible. Schedule an appointment online.
Last reviewed: October 20, 2025