Cyst vs Boil: Difference and Comparison

Skin infections should not be taken lightly. It can lead to some other problems.

Infections like Cyst and Boil can lead to further problems if it is not treated properly.

Taking home care can sometimes help, but to get a fast and instant cure, you need to visit a dermatologist so that they can provide the proper treatment with their experience. 

Key Takeaways

1. A cyst is a sac filled with fluid or air that develops under the skin, whereas a boil is a painful pus-filled lump in the skin.
2. Cysts are painless, whereas boils are painful and tender to the touch.
3. Cysts can go away independently, whereas boils need to be drained and treated with antibiotics.

Cyst vs Boil

A cyst is a closed sac-like pocket that can form anywhere in the body, including the skin. Cysts can be filled with fluid, air, etc. A boil is a skin infection that occurs when a hair follicle or oil gland becomes infected with bacteria. Blemishes start as a painful red lump that becomes bigger.

A cyst is caused because of the blockage in the duct. This blockage can be caused by trauma, inherited tendency, or infection.

Cyst type will be identified based on the area that it is formed. Sometimes it can be created inside the internal regions, or it can be included in the external sites as well. It should be removed because it can be precancerous or noncancerous.

The sooner people remove it; they can lead a healthy life. 

A boil is caused by a bacteria called Staphylococcus Aureus. It can be found in the skin and inside the nose.

Someone cannot catch boils. If a staph bacterium causes it, it can spread from person to person.

So, please cover it with some bandages. Squeezing the Boil can lead to further infection.

People should not disturb that area to stop it from spreading further. 

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Cyst	Boil
Healing period	It will take 60 days to heal.	It will take 3 to 4 weeks.
Types	2	5
Symptoms	Bump	Bump filled with pus
Treatment	Physical therapy and fluid draining	Ointment and home remedies
Caused by	Bacterial or fungal infection	Swollen hair follicle

What is Cyst?

It is a noncancerous growth that is filled with semisolid substances or liquid. It can be formed in any part of your body.

Sometimes, it can be formed under your skin as well.

Before proceeding with the treatment, the dermatologist should identify the type of cyst, check whether it is infected or inflamed, find the location of the cyst, and check whether the person has any pain or discomfort in that area.

A surgeon can remove the cyst.

They will give general anaesthesia or sedation before proceeding with the removal process.

Some options for healing cysts include draining, injecting medicine in that area to reduce the swelling and pain, obliterating it with minor surgery, and laser removal.

Based on the growth and the pain, the doctor will proceed to any of the methods mentioned above. Usually, skin cysts will not hurt. But it can become tender and red.

Epidermoid cysts cannot go away naturally. Because if they go on their own, there are high chances that they will return. If they become inflamed or infected, they will start to pain in that area.

Cysts are soft blisters. If you leave them untreated, it will create further problems.

It is better to treat them at an earlier stage. It can last months to years if a person doesn’t treat them.

Cyst removal can become minimally painful if you can handle the slight sting of a shot. 

What is Boil?

It is a skin infection in a hair follicle or oil gland. It will be first seen as red and tender lumps.

They first fill that area with pus; then they start to grow in that area.

Later, it ruptures and drains. People can make go away with home remedies.

You should apply warm compresses in the boil area and soak them in warm water. This will slowly decrease the pain and help the pus to draw from the surface. 

Once it drains, you must wash the Boil with an antibacterial soap. It would help if you did this continuously until all the pus has been removed.

Then it would help if you cleaned that area with rubbing alcohol. During this process, you should not poke with a needle.

Boils are chronic skin diseases. The nodules in them can become painful and inflamed.

Boils last for 1 to 3 weeks. For some people, it will not heal until it completely opens and drains.

This process can take up to a week. A lot of people have this on their skin without their knowledge.

Once they get any cut on their skin, it will start to grow on their skin. Neosporin is one of the common ointments used for treating boils.

You must apply the ointment twice daily until the Boil is wholly gone. If you don’t use any medication, they can heal independently, but it will create pain and irritation in that area. 

Main Differences Between Cyst and Boil

1. A cyst can be divided into two types. On the other hand, Boil can be divided into five classes.
2. The time duration taken for a Cyst to heal will be 60 days. On the other hand, the time for a Boil to heal will be from 1 to 3 weeks.
3. A bacterial or fungal infection causes a cyst. On the other hand, the Boil is caused because of swollen hair follicles.
4. The symptoms of a Cyst include bumps. On the other hand, the symptoms of a boil include bumps with pus.
5. Treatment for cysts includes physical therapy. On the other hand, treatment for Boil includes ointment. 

References

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1874778712000244
2. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1744-7348.1956.tb06843.x

Last Updated : 06 July, 2023