Steatocystoma multiplex is a rare inherited condition where small cysts filled with sebum appear on the skin, usually in areas with many sebaceous glands. While not cancerous, it can be disfiguring and may require treatment such as medication, draining, or surgery. Complications can include infection and scarring.
Steatocystoma multiplex is a rare condition in which many small, sebum-filled cysts appear on the skin. Cysts are hollow lumps and sebum is an oily substance produced by the sebaceous glands found near the hair roots. Steatocystoma multiplex is an inherited disease, but there may also be cases where there is no family history of the condition. Cysts usually develop during adolescence. Alternative names for the disorder include sebocystomatosis and epidermal polycystic disease, and in cases where only a single cyst develops, the disease is known as simple steatocystoma. While steatocystoma multiplex is not malignant or cancerous, it can be disfiguring.
People with steatocystoma multiplex often have a parent with the disease. Most often, the distribution of the cysts corresponds to those areas of the body that have the greatest number of sebaceous glands, such as the skin of the chest, neck and arms. Cysts are thought to result from abnormal development in those areas where the ducts, or passageways, that drain the sebaceous glands join the hair follicles. The cysts are usually skin-colored or slightly yellow and less than 1.18 inches (about 3 cm) in diameter, but occasionally a larger one may develop. An individual cyst may be firm or slightly soft to the touch, and there is a creamy yellow substance inside.
In the absence of complications, the cysts do not cause any symptoms, but sometimes steatocystoma multiplex can be complicated by an infection, causing an unpleasant-smelling discharge. A cyst can burst, become inflamed and form drainage channels, leading to scarring. Even if complications do occur, since each growth is a benign cyst, meaning it’s not cancer, the outlook for someone with the disease is very good, and treatment for steatocystoma multiplex focuses on reducing any inflammation or scarring which may be associated with the condition. Treatment may involve the use of medications such as antibiotics, and individual cysts may be opened and drained.
If drug treatment is unsuccessful, surgery may be required, and a variety of techniques can be used to manage steatocystoma multiplex. Draining the contents of the cyst using a syringe and needle may be helpful for smaller cysts or those on the face. This method can reduce the risk of scar formation and the cysts often do not recur. Larger cysts can be completely removed by cutting into the cyst wall and removing the contents. Laser therapy, in which a beam of light energy is used to vaporize tissue, is another method that can successfully destroy cysts.
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