What Is the Treatment for a Pilar Cyst?

Hair cysts originate from the isthmus of growing hair or hair follicles surrounding degenerate and stationary hair. The cysts are easily prolapsed, showing solid and smooth white cysts, which are autosomal dominant genetic diseases. Also known as hair sheath cyst.

Basic Information

nickname: Hairy sheath cyst
English name: pilar cyst
Visiting department: dermatology

Common locations: scalp
Common causes: Originating in the isthmus of growing hair or hair follicles surrounding degenerating and resting hair, with autosomal dominant inheritance
Common symptoms: Cysts are solid and smooth, and are easily exuded

Causes of hair cysts

Hair cysts originate in the isthmus of growing hair or hair follicles surrounding degenerating and stationary hair, and present an autosomal dominant genetic disease.

Clinical manifestations of hair cysts

Hair cysts are rare in the clinic, and more than 90% occur in the scalp. The distribution is different from epidermal cysts and cannot be distinguished from epidermal cysts.

Hair cyst diagnosis

Hair cysts require a biopsy to make a clear diagnosis.

Differential diagnosis of hair cysts

The disease should be distinguished histologically from proliferative outer hairy root sheath tumors, which are solid tumor-like hyperplasia. Tumor cells may have mild atypia, and squamous vortices and individual keratosis are seen.