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I have a really deep cyst on my neck, just underneath my chin in the midline. I think it's about the size of a bottletop, maybe smaller, but it's kind of flat and has a bit that protrudes more than the rest. It's quite soft and it seems to move around.
I've never used a drawing salve before, do they actually work? How long does it take approx. to bring a deep cyst to a head with this technique?
This cysts has been there for about 10 years and it kind deflates and inflates, and it actually has a little hole in it where if you squeeze it, some cheesy material will come out, it's really strange...I've had it kind of extracted before, but it came back, or maybe it wasn't fully extracted. The beautician who was doing the extraction said she thinks it's a blocked hair follicle, mind you, this was 5 years ago.
I haven't used a drawing salve, but if the stuff coming is out is cheesy it's generally a keratin plug, not a normal zit.
As for the drawing salves, though, it might be good to know that they don't actually "draw" anything out, they're just wound ointments. See:
Drawing salve is an ointment that can be used to treat a variety of skin inflammations. The ointment "draws out" problems such as infections, ingrown toenails, wood splinters, glass shards, and insect poison. The term "drawing" appealed to some people's sense that infection was a spiritual affliction. Instead of drawing something out, the liniment simply treats the wound. For generations, this home remedy has been used to heal cuts, poison ivy, sores, and many other surface abrasions.
Main Ingredients
The most popular brands of drawing salve list their main ingredients as ichthammol, phenyl alcohol, arnica montana, and several familiar herbs such as echinacea, calendula, etc. These are combined with skin-enriching vitamin E, antiseptic bergamot oil, and anti-inflammatory comfrey oil, in a base of beeswax. Ichthammol, the most active ingredient, is considered a medicine in some countries and is natural substance found in the rock, schist. It softens skin by weakening it slightly, which increases circulation. When more blood goes to the area, the wound will heal faster by ejecting any pus or irritant.
The History of Drawing Salve
Drawing salve became successful during the period of widely advertised medicinals and balms of the late 1800s. Catchy slogans, bright packaging, and sworn testimonials from satisfied customers littered the old-fashioned pharmacies. The line between medicine and fraud was not as firmly drawn as it is today. However, this salve, otherwise known as Black Ointment, or Icthyol Salve, was an effective blend of herbs, roots, extracts, and oils, which actually serve to soothe skin.
Drawing salve is still commonly used in modern times. Many families today consider it a staple of their medicine cabinet, and use it liberally when children encounter bee stings, splinters, or rose bushes. Due to advances in modern medicine, it is now known that the salve does soothe irritated skin, and this has now become it's main purpose. While still unregulated by the FDA, and not considered a medicine in the United States, over-the-counter demand for drawing salve remains high. The ointment can be purchased from many major drug stores or online in a variety of brands.
In the early 2000s, interest was reinvigorated in the use of drawing salve as a holistic treatment for cancerous tumors, in particular skin cancer. Some people believe it can heal internal inflamed or abnormal tissue, like cysts and tumors. However, more scientific research needs to be conducted to support these claims.
I've used a drawing salve on my acne several times before. As for small pimples it works nice, it's also fairly cheap. I'd be very careful though if you want to use it to draw a cyst out. I've tried before and sometimes it seems to work and sometimes not. Probably depends on how deep the cyst is. The ointment I've been using contains ichthammol and salicylic acid but the problem is it's fairly strong and not really supposed to be put on your face so you don't want to leave it there overnight. If the pimple it too stubborn and you leave the ointment there for a long time it's going to cause irritation. I don't have super sensitive skin but it's happened to me a couple of times (red inflamed nodules that are itchy and flaking at the same time... definitely not nice). You might be able to find a product that doesn't contain salicylic acid, I don't think it will be as much effective but it's not likely to cause any irritation.
Overall the drawing salve works, letting the cyst heal naturally is probably a better choice but if you want to remove it faster this will help. If your cyst is really painful and you just want to relieve the pain it's worth giving a try.
Drawing salves do work, especially on cysts. (I know from personal experience rather than just reading some article on the internet.)
If you want a cheap, effective drawing salve, make a very concentrated water/epsom salt solution in the microwave. Soak a cotton ball in the solution and bandage it to the cyst. Replace or resoak as the cotton ball dries up.
You could also buy some Magnoplasm, but it's basically the same thing.
Drawing salves do work, especially on cysts. (I know from personal experience rather than just reading some article on the internet.)
If you want a cheap, effective drawing salve, make a very concentrated water/epsom salt solution in the microwave. Soak a cotton ball in the solution and bandage it to the cyst. Replace or resoak as the cotton ball dries up.
You could also buy some Magnoplasm, but it's basically the same thing.
Tried this...I used to make a saline solution as well and do the same thing, did nothing. I think the cyst is too deep to be 'brought' to the surface. My doctor told me to stop badgering it, as he thinks it might be a thyroglossal one...I'm seeing an ENT next month, and even if it's not a thyroglossal cyst, he/she will be cutting it out because of the sensitive location. He reckons it's going to leave a 2 inch scar 
But I don't care I just want it OUT, it's been there almost 10 years...too long.
Just as a side note, Epsom salt (Magnesium Sulfate) has nothing to do with regular salt (Sodium Chloride) I'm sure you know that, but I just thought I'd throw it out there for everyone else. I wish you the best of luck whatever you decide.
I mean I have tried it with epsom salt as well as sea salt a few years back. I put a bandage with cotton wool soaked in saline on it, and slept like that for 2 weeks with no results. 
I think this lump/cyst is far too deep for anything topical to work, unfortunately. I don't think I'm going to try a drawing salve.
This is a moot point now on this thread to you, armadillo, but I wanted to add that drawing salve does work for things like splinters, small pieces of foreign objects in the skin, though not intended to be used on the face as it could burn the skin.
However, Mario Badescu does have a drying mask that contains the ingredient ichthammol that is specifically for acne. It is a good spot treatment, though it smells terrible.
Brand "smile's PRID DRAWING SALVE CREAM, that you can buy in Walmart for 4 dollars, 100% works on drawing out any pimples or deep under skin pimples, or even female abcess on her private area, and brings out the puss. I know because i have used it since i was a child. I know because i used it recently also on a huge underskin female private area clog.
I actually registered here, because i have seen some of the ridiculous "analysis" of people saying that it does not work by the people that have never tried it or used it.
This is a homeopathic cream that is actually used and make around the world, i know that because i came from another country, and had an issue, was researching the blogs, and found posts about the same cream with same ingredients in my home country, and in usa.
The way to use it, is to put it on some cotton, and put the cotton on the area, leave it overnight, and keep doing it until the area bursts. There is no pain what so ever, it does not run other places because its very thick. It is very effective. The active ingredient is ihtamol, also in usa called ICHTHAMMOL.
I would have gone under a knife, for my female abcess, which happens when the gland cloggs up and happens to many women at any age, I was able to solve my problem with this cream over one night. It has burst by the morning and completely drained. i never had to go to the doctor and it never came back yet. Women do under a knife for these things, and it comes back for them, so ...think about it, no scars, no bills and it gentler on your body. it works.
When i was a kid, i had some deep under skin pimples. What we would do is put this cream on the cotton and on the skin, then take something over it so it stayin a place, it can still breath , you dont have to tape it all around. It worked every time.
I just got a tooth periapical abcess, which is the one that is way up in your mouth around the rooth of a tooth.
The dentist office is closed, so i have to wait a day, and i just remembered that i can use this cream and see what happens. i took some paper towel,. put the cream on both sides, and stuffed the cotton in between so it can be wedged in my chin ared where the abces is located. i am sure that this can only help and maybe even cure, i will see by tommorow morning.
In Croatia this cream is called CRNA MAST, which translates to black pomade, but really i just bouht it last summer and is now sold as IHTAMOL MAST. it does have the same ingredients as PRID, DRAWING SALVE CREAM BY SMILE'S, SOLD IN WALMART AND THAT IS THE ONE I USED HERE IN USA.
i am writting all this for someone elses benefit, i recommend it. Its amazing.
On 1/22/2013 at 7:40 AM, armadillo said:Update:
I had an ultrasound and it's not clear whether this cyst is attached to my thyroid or not [thyroglossal]
The ENT surgeon agreed to cut it out as soon as it comes out of dormancy, because at the moment, it's too small to be removed effectively. [around 5mm across]
Iodine deficiencies always result in some kind of cyst(s)The 150 mcg minimum dailyrecommendation for iodine by the fda is the bare minimum required only to prevent goiter. We need much more.See dr group on YouTube. Increasing iodine intake can prevent and correct cystic conditions. I just learned about this and Im a nurse. I learned that just about the whole world is iodine deficient. Never take someones word for it though. Research for yourself. K?
About thyroglossal duct cysts - my daughter had one or something like it - they never were conclusive -at five years old under her chin right in the middle. Had an ENT remove it and three years later, another surgery.It had never healed completely. Infections and drainage.Had a plastic surgeon remove it the second time. It had fingers that went up near her facial nerves so plastic surgeon was thebest choice. Shes 28 today. Shes had other cysts since then and told me about Smiles Prid Drawing Salve. It has worked for me too when I thought surgery was my only option.
My ex had a under jawline cyst and had a dermatologist remove it surgically. It worked.
Either option can work or maybe not. Im using the salve right now which is why I found this post. Good luck to you all!!!