Your cyst became inflamed or infected and your healthcare provider wanted to drain it. Gauze packing may have been inserted into the cyst opening (cavity). This keeps the cyst open so it doesn’t seal up before it has time to drain more. No matter how well it was cleaned out, no cleaning is perfect. The packing will need to be removed.
Once the pus is drained, antibiotics may not be needed unless the infection has spread into the skin around the wound. The wound will take about 1 to 2 weeks to heal, depending on the size of the abscess.
The following will help you care for your wound at home:
The wound may drain for the first 2 days. Cover the opening with a clean dry bandage. If the dressing becomes soaked with blood or pus, change it.
If a gauze packing was placed inside the opening of the cyst, it will need to be removed. Your healthcare provider will usually do this after 2 days. If it falls out sooner, do not try to put it back inside the wound. Once the packing is removed, you should wash the area carefully in the shower once a day, until the skin opening has closed. This could take up to 5 days depending on the size of the cyst. It is good to direct the shower spray directly into the opening if this is not too painful.
If you were prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed until they are all used up.
You may use over-the-counter pain medicine to control pain, unless another medicine was given. If you have chronic liver or kidney disease or ever had a stomach ulcer or GI bleeding, talk with your provider before using these medicines.
Follow up with your healthcare provider, or as advised. If a gauze packing was put in your wound, it should be removed as instructed by your healthcare provider. Check your wound every day for the signs listed below.
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