Introduction

Large, painful skin lumps can be alarming, especially when they suddenly become swollen, red, and begin draining thick material. The image appears to show a significantly inflamed skin cyst or abscess that is being treated by a medical professional. While it cannot be diagnosed from an image alone, lesions like this are commonly associated with infected epidermoid (sebaceous) cysts or skin abscesses.

If left untreated, these conditions may continue to enlarge, become increasingly painful, or spread infection to nearby tissues. Professional medical evaluation is the safest approach.

What Is an Inflamed Skin Cyst?

A skin cyst is a closed sac beneath the skin that contains keratin, dead skin cells, and natural skin oils. Most cysts grow slowly and remain painless for months or even years.

However, if bacteria enter the cyst or it becomes irritated, it can become infected and rapidly enlarge. This often causes redness, tenderness, swelling, and the accumulation of pus.