Treatment of Sebaceous cyst (keratin cyst or "wen") on scalp

First and foremost, this does not take the place of professional advice  Go SEE YOUR DR!

I had been seen by my DR and had several small painless lumps on my head diagnosed as benign sebaceous cysts. I was told that as long as they didn't hurt or interfere with my life, I could let them be. A removal procedure was explained to be simple but required a trip the dermatologist, and would be considered unnecessary and cosmetic by insurance if there was no pain or infection. Stitches could be required as well.

But every time I brush my hair, I am reminded, one is much larger than the rest.  They are at best unpleasant, and my brush catches against them. I cringe if my husband tries to rub my head...

BUT THEN!

Over the holidays I smacked my head on the car door, inflaming and enlarging one of these lumps. With no Dr's available, I began research natural remedies, and I found this to not only work in clearing my inflammation but draining the cyst and removing the sack to keep it from recurring.

The wen wasn't burst, but it was red, swollen and angry.  Nerves down the side of my head hurt, pain where there shouldn't be any, and ice helped temporarily.  I felt like one of those people with a bug in their ear-- you are being driven crazy by something no one else really sees or knows about. After a lot of reading and frustration (and HATS!), this is my journey.

I started with a cotton square soaked with Castor Oil. I applied this to my head and held it in place with a hot water bag (use an ice bag with HOT water), repeating this process for an hour reheating the bag as it cooled.

After a short break, I applied apple cider vinegar (with the Mother) onto a folded paper towel and applied to the spot.  I applied ACV three times off and on during the day.

The next morning, the cyst had opened slightly.  I spent the entire day off and on gently (it is VERY painful on the scalp) purging the contents with pressure, cleaning with hydrogen peroxide, and washing my hair and the cyst with T/Sal (the salicylic acid helps to remove build up and shed dead skin).  I took aspirin to deaden the nerve pain a bit.  There were at least 5 different spots open on this once tiny little lump now.  I moistened a paper towel with very warm water and made an Epson salt paste, applied to the cyst for 10 minutes.  Continued expressing, and went to bed with apple cider vinegar bandage on the spot.  The following day I had a ton of social obligations so I broken out some cute hats, and any time I had at home in between was cleaning with hydrogen peroxide, or drying with either Epsom paste or apple cider vinegar.

Day four, I made an ACV mask for my head (soaking paper towels and sitting in the bathtub) and could feel the vinegar as it found my other cysts.  Like a massage therapist honing in on sore muscles, this stung in all the right places.  Left that on for 10 minutes, then washed my hair with T/Sal.  Got ready, hats again that day.  Any spare time I cleaned it with peroxide, ending day with ACV applied with a Q-Tip to trouble spot.

Day Five I found a small scab on the cyst and kept myself from touching it other than to apply peroxide and ACV. I treated the other bumps and wore another hat that day.

Day Six I couldn't stand it-- I carefully pulled the scab and the weird rubbery sac (that continues to make/release Keratin) came out with it!  So did some hair strands, which has me concerned but everything I have read says that should heal and regrow.  Now washing 2 times a week with TSal, and ACV scalp soak twice a week.

I will update this on hair regrowth as well as effect on other scalp keratin cysts.  So far they have all reduced in size.