Q. I hope you can help me and my boyfriend. I have a bunch of bumps all over my scalp that feel creepy. Every once in a while the cysts burst and some foul-smelling liquid comes out. Needless to say, my boyfriend sometimes freaks out. What do you think they are and what can I do about them?

You may either have multiple sebaceous cysts or neurofibromatosis.

Neurofibromas do not generally burst or have liquid in them. They are made of neural tissue and are generally solid.

If as I presume you have sebaceous cysts, there is a simple solution — remove the cysts surgically. Some of the cysts may recur or new ones may form. The surgery is performed in an outpatient setting under local anesthesia.

I would first take one cyst out and send the cyst to a pathologist to confirm your diagnosis. Once this is done I would proceed with your surgery.

You do not have to shave your hair. Once the local anesthesia is in, very small incisions are made to remove the cysts and its contents. The most important aspect of the surgery is to remove the sac of the cyst, or you are guaranteed that the cyst will recur. I use absorbable sutures (they do not need to be removed) to close the incision. I ask the patient not to wash their hair for about two days.

Dr. Carlos Wolf is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon and is a partner in Miami Plastic Surgery.