Sometimes the path forward is blocked by things we have let pile up for too long. Clearing the way makes everything easier.
The skin on the upper back and shoulder can collect a surprising amount of build-up, from blackheads to a swollen, inflamed cyst.
Blackheads form when pores fill with oil and dead skin, and around a cyst they often gather in a ring of small dark dots.
The cyst itself sits under the surface, slowly filling with keratin until it becomes a red, raised and tender lump.
When it starts to open, thick yellow material may come out, which is a sign that the cyst is full and under pressure.
