Do cysts smell when popped?

Cysts are fluid-filled sacs that can develop in a variety of places in the body. When a cyst becomes bothersome or concerning, a doctor may recommend draining or removing it. This often involves “popping” the cyst with a needle or scalpel to release the fluid inside. A common question many people have is whether cysts smell when they are popped.

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Quick Answer

The short answer is – yes, cysts can sometimes smell unpleasant when they are popped or drained. However, this depends on the type of cyst and what is causing the odor. Here are some key points about cyst pops and odors:

Some cysts contain materials that have a foul odor, like skin oils, bacteria, or keratin. This can cause a bad smell when released.
Infected cysts often smell worse than non-infected ones. Bacteria and pus cause increased odor.
Cyst location plays a role. Cysts in areas with more apocrine sweat glands like armpits and genitals are more likely to smell.

Not all popped cysts smell. Small, non-infected sebaceous cysts may have no odor at all.
The odor is usually temporary and goes away once the cyst sac is removed and the area heals.

What causes the odor from some popped cysts?

There are a few reasons why draining or popping a cyst sometimes releases a foul odor:

Infected material – Bacterial infections inside cysts can lead to a build-up of pus, which has a characteristic bad smell. This is especially true with epidermoid and pilar cysts.
Keratin – Keratin is a protein that makes up hair, nails, and skin. Build up of keratin inside cysts can smell cheesy or rotten when expelled.
Apocrine sweat – Cysts around hair follicles in apocrine gland areas like armpits and genitals contain sweat residues that smell when exposed to air.

Necrotic tissue – The death of cyst tissue can cause foul odors associated with decomposition.
Location – Cysts in dirty or moist areas are more prone to odors from bacterial overgrowth.

Understanding what the cyst contains and where it is located on the body can help determine if any odor is likely to occur when it is drained or excised.

Do sebaceous cysts smell when popped?

Sebaceous cysts, also known as epidermoid cysts, are bumps that develop underneath the skin. They originate from the follicles and form around trapped keratin.

When popped, sebaceous cysts may emit a slightly foul smell, but not a strong, horrible odor. The smell is often described as cheese-like. The odor comes from the breakdown of the trapped keratin material inside the cyst.

In some cases, a sebaceous cyst can become infected, usually with the bacteria Staphylococcus. Infected sebaceous cysts are more likely to smell bad when drained due to pus and bacteria. However, simple, non-infected cysts have little to no odor.

Sebaceous Cyst Pop Odor Key Points:

Minimal odor – Sebaceous cysts often have no smell or a faint, cheesy smell when popped.
Infection – Infected sebaceous cysts are likely to have a foul, rotten smell from pus.
Temporary – The drained cyst may smell briefly until the area is cleaned.

No sac removal – Odor may come back if the cyst sac is not surgically excised.

Do pilar cysts smell when popped?

Like sebaceous cysts, pilar cysts are bumps that arise from hair follicles. They contain excess keratin and skin oils trapped under the skin’s surface. Pilar cysts are also known as trichilemmal cysts.

Popping or removing pilar cysts can sometimes release an odor. The smell is often attributed to the cheesy keratin debris inside. Bacterial infection can also increase odor.

In general, pilar cysts have less odor than infected sebaceous cysts. The cyst content is primarily just keratin rather than pus. But a pilar cyst still may have a mild, brief rotten smell when drained.

Pilar Cyst Pop Odor Key Points:

Mild smell – Pilar cysts have a minimal odor compared to sebaceous cysts.
Keratin causes odor – The foul smell comes from keratin accumulation.

Temporary odor – Draining a pilar cyst leads to a brief, mild smell.
Infection increases smell – Infected pilar cysts are more likely to smell worse.

Do epidermoid cysts smell?

Epidermoid cysts are essentially the same as sebaceous cysts. Both names refer to small bumps that originate from hair follicles and are filled with keratin debris, skin oils, and sometimes hair.

Like sebaceous cysts, epidermoid cysts may have a slight cheesy or rotten smell when popped open. However, they do not emit a very strong or unpleasant odor in most cases.

If an epidermoid cyst becomes infected, it has a higher chance of producing foul-smelling pus and fluid. See below for more on infected cyst odors.

Epidermoid Cyst Pop Odor Key Points:

Minimal odor – Epidermoid cyst pops have little to no smell in many cases.

Keratin causes mild smell – The odor comes from trapped keratin materials.
Temporary odor – The smell dissipates once drained fully.
Infection increases smell – Infected epidermoids have more pus and bacteria odor.

Do cysts smell more when infected?

Yes, infected cysts typically produce more odor when drained or excised compared to non-infected cysts.

Infection causes an accumulation of bacteria, pus, and necrotic tissue within the cyst. Pus in particular has a very foul, rotten smell due to the bacteria and dead white blood cells inside.

Cysts that are more prone to infection like epidermoid and pilar cysts will smell worse if bacteria or pus is present. Some common signs of an infected cyst include:

Swollen, reddened area around the cyst
Pain, tenderness, or warmth around the cyst
Fever

Thick, foul-smelling drainage from the cyst

While most cyst pops cause temporary odors, an infected cyst needs medical treatment. This involves draining the pus and bacteria fully, usually with an incision and antibiotics.

Which types of cysts smell the worst?

Some types of cysts are more prone to odor than others when drained or excised. Cysts that tend to smell the worst include:

Pilonidal cysts – located near the tailbone, these become filled with hair, skin debris and smell putrid when drained.
Epidermoid cysts – foul smell is more likely if infection is present.
Pilar cysts – may smell cheesy from keratin buildup.

Ganglion cysts – cysts near joints can smell terrible when punctured due to high protein content.
Baker’s cysts – cysts behind the knee smell bad when ruptured.

In contrast, small sebaceous cysts, cysts on the scalp, and cysts with clear fluid tend to have no odor or minimal odor when treated.

Does cyst fluid color affect odor?

The color and consistency of the fluid inside a cyst can sometimes indicate if odor will be present:

Clear fluid – Odorless. Most harmless cysts have clear contents.
White fluid – Slight odor possible from keratin. May be found in sebaceous or pilar cysts.

Cheesy/flaky debris – Foul, rotten smell likely from keratin. Often in sebaceous and pilar cysts.
Blood-tinged fluid – Metallic, unpleasant smell may occur.
Yellow/green pus – Strong, foul smell present due to bacteria and infection.

Knowing the type and color of cyst content can give an idea of potential odor. However, there are always exceptions. Some clear fluid cysts have some smell, while some cysts with foul content have no odor when ruptured.

Can certain foods or activities make cysts smell worse?

In some cases, certain foods, drinks, and activities may affect body chemistry in a way that makes cyst odor worse when popped. Here are a few factors that can increase cyst drainage smell:

Tobacco/smoking – Chemicals enter the bloodstream and can be excreted by cysts.

Spicy foods – Foods with sulfurous compounds like garlic, onion, curry can lead to body odors.
Alcohol – Drinking can increase sweat production and bacterial overgrowth.
Strenuous exercise – Sweat and bacterial buildup may worsen cyst smell.

Poor hygiene – Infrequent showering and washing can allow bacterial overgrowth.

For this reason, showering thoroughly and avoiding odorous foods, drinks, and activities before a cyst drainage procedure can potentially reduce odor.

Does cyst location impact smell?

Yes, cysts located in certain areas of the body are more likely to have odor when drained due to the concentration of sweat glands and hair follicles. Areas most prone to smelly cysts include:

Armpits – Many apocrine sweat glands release odorous sweat compounds.
Groin and genitals – Apocrine and sebaceous glands concentrate in this area.
Chest/breasts – Some cysts related to breast tissue can smell bad.

Back – Oily and sweaty environment increases cyst odor likelihood.
Behind ears – Sebaceous glands are concentrated here.

In contrast, cysts located on the scalp, fingers, toes, or back tend to be less odorous. These areas contain less sweat and oil glands overall.

Can you prevent cyst pops from smelling?

It is difficult to prevent a cyst from smelling when drained, especially if bacteria or infection is present. However, the following measures may help reduce odor to some degree:

Clean the area thoroughly with soap before draining.
Shower before the procedure to wash away sweat and oils.

Apply antibacterial ointment after draining to kill bacteria.
Wear gloves while draining to avoid germ transfer.
Apply gauze loosely over the area to absorb drainage.

Remove the entire cyst sac if possible to prevent recurrence.
Follow wound care instructions carefully during healing.

While unpleasant, cyst pops almost never cause harmful health effects from odor alone. The smell should go away fully once the area is healed.

Does cyst fluid smell linger on tools and gloves?

The fluids released from a popped or drained cyst can sometimes leave an odor on tools, gloves, and other surfaces. Some key points include:

Metal tools and needles can retain the smell of cyst contents to some degree.
Latex gloves also absorb and hold odors from cyst drainage.

The smell is usually temporary and goes away with cleaning.
Proper sterilization removes both odor and infectious agents.
Bleach can be used to fully eliminate any lingering cyst smells on surfaces.

Make sure to sterilize and clean any tools, gloves, gauze, and other materials after cyst removal procedures. This will protect against both odor and disease transmission if the equipment is reused.

When should you see a doctor about a smelly cyst?

While most cysts have a temporary bad smell when popped, foul odors can also be a sign of a cyst complication. It is important to get medical care if:

The area becomes increasingly swollen, painful, or warm.

Odor and drainage won’t resolve after a week.
Fever develops, indicating potential infection.
Cysts recur in the same area after draining.

Symptoms of blood poisoning such as chills, confusion, fatigue, or lightheadedness occur.

Seeking prompt medical treatment can help resolve a complicated cyst, manage infection, and prevent long term issues. Doctors have access to antibiotics and can fully excise troublesome cysts.

Conclusion

In summary, many types of cysts can emit foul odors when popped due to their content, location, or infection status. Sebaceous, pilar, and epidermoid cysts may smell cheesy from keratin materials. Apocrine sweat gland cysts also cause odors.

Infected cysts containing bacteria and pus always smell more foul. Proper wound care and hygiene can help reduce the duration and intensity of any odor.

While cyst pops may have temporary smell, this usually dissipates once drainage stops and the area starts healing. However, recurring, worsening, or spreading odor can indicate complications needing medical attention.