Can you treat a myxoid cyst with salicylic acid?

I found a bump just a couple hours ago on my index finger just under the nail and off to the side. It's small (the size of the tip of a dull pencil), skin colored and hard. It doesn't itch but is a teeny bit painful/uncomfortable when pushed on or gently scraped with a nail. Initially I thought that this was a wart(and immediately slapped duct tape on it!), but after looking at tons of pictures and reading articles online, it looks a lot more like a myxoid cyst. I don't have health insurance and can't afford to go see a doctor. I've actually had another one very similar to this on one of my toes for years, but this one is on the index finger of my dominant hand which bothers me cosmetically. I looked at pictures of all the other things that doctors on this website and others have suggested and it definitely doesn't look like granuloma annulare, contact dermatitis or dyshidrotic eczema. And it doesn't really look like a wart either.

I have a few questions that I would really like to have answered about this. 1.) Can this be treated with salicylic acid like you would a wart? 2.) What other things can I do at home to help shrink/remove this from my finger (and/or toe)? 3.) I'm a 25 year old female, are there any other related health risks/causes that I should be aware of or concerned about?

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.
Jill

[firejillie]

I am also curious if this is at all contagious...

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
There are many treatment options available for myxoid cyst. These include warm compresses, treatment with topical steroids and Cordran tape, application of heparin cream, silver nitrate, Chemical cauterization, needling the cyst with a wide-bore needle by a dermatologist, cryosurgery, curettage, sclerotherapy, electrodesiccation and surgical excision.

I suggest you to consult a dermatologist and get it evaluated and discuss the treatment options with him. Please do not apply salicylic acid as it may cause contact dermatitis or an allergic reaction.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[firejillie]

Again, no health insurance, so no doctor for me! (Trust me, I'd love to go.) Actually I kept the duct tape on it for about ten days and I'm happy to report that it's almost completely gone! I'm trying the duct-tape method on the one on my toe now. It seems like it would have the same effect as all of those treatments you suggested... Irritating it until it drains and then goes away. Still curious if it's contagious or not...