Lipoma
- Made of fat cells
- Soft, doughy or rubbery
- Moves slightly under the skin when pushed
- No opening on the skin surface
- Usually painless and slow-growing
- Common on the back, shoulders, neck, arms and thighs
Cyst
- A closed sac filled with thick, cheesy material (keratin)
- Firmer and more rounded
- Often has a small central pore or blackhead
- Can become red, swollen and painful if inflamed
- May drain foul-smelling material if it ruptures
- Common on the face, neck, back, chest and scalp
Why the difference matters
A lipoma is removed by cutting it out whole, usually under local anesthesia. A cyst must be removed together with its wall; if the wall is left behind, the cyst usually comes back. An infected cyst is often drained first and removed once the infection has settled.
Neither condition turns into cancer. However, not every lump is a lipoma or a cyst, which is why an examination matters.
Talk with Dr. Arsenous about your options.
When to have a lump checked
When to seek urgent care
Have a lump examined if it is larger than about 5 centimeters (2 inches), growing quickly, hard, fixed in place, painful without an obvious reason, deep in the muscle, or if it came back after removal.
Treatment
Removal is usually a short outpatient procedure with minimal downtime. Learn more about lipoma removal and cyst removal.