When a lump appears somewhere you cannot hide, hold steady. Worry does not make it smaller, but a clear plan does.
This photo shows a man in profile with a large red swelling on the side of his neck, just below and behind the ear, while a gloved hand holds gauze nearby.
A lump in this spot is usually an inflamed cyst. The area behind the ear and along the jaw has many oil glands, so blocked follicles are common there.
It begins as a small, painless bump under the skin. Over weeks the sac fills up, and rubbing from collars or hair products can irritate it further.
When the cyst becomes infected, it swells fast, the skin turns red and tight, and turning the head or lying on that side becomes uncomfortable.
