Staying calm when something unexpected happens is a skill worth practising. Panic rarely helps, but a clear head almost always does.
A swollen lump on the side of the neck can appear surprisingly fast. One week it is a small bump, the next it is red, round and hard to hide.
Many of these lumps are inflamed cysts. They start when a follicle becomes blocked and keratin collects inside a small sac under the skin.
When bacteria get inside, the cyst swells, the skin turns pink and shiny, and the area becomes tender when turning the head.
Because the neck contains glands and other important structures, any new lump there should be checked by a doctor rather than squeezed at home.
