Which statement best describes a sebaceous cyst?

• A. A growth that arises from the epidermal tissue and is caused by a blocked sebaceous gland duct. The physician will perform an incision to drain the cyst and then prescribe antibiotics as needed.
• B. An infection of the dermis caused by fungi.
• C. A benign lesion caused by an overgrowth of sebaceous glands with oily skin.
• D. An abscess that forms under the skin due to bacteria.

Answer: (A)

Sebaceous cysts form when a duct of a sebaceous gland becomes blocked, causing a pocket beneath the skin to fill with sebum. They originate from epidermal tissue and usually present as a benign, slow-growing bump. When they become inflamed or infected, a clinician may drain the cyst and may prescribe antibiotics as needed, though definitive treatment is typically surgical removal of the cyst wall to prevent recurrence. The other descriptions point to different conditions: a fungal infection of the dermis is not a cyst, an overgrowth of sebaceous glands with oily skin is not a cyst, and an abscess is a pus-filled infection rather than a sebaceous cyst.