Stress makes every problem look bigger than it is. Let go of the stress, take a slow breath and look at what is really in front of you.
This photo shows a woman in her forties with curly auburn hair pinned up, sitting in an exam chair in profile, with a tight, red lump on the side of her neck just below the ear.
A lump in this spot is most likely an inflamed epidermoid cyst, although a doctor will also think about a swollen gland or an abscess.
The skin below the ear and along the jaw has many oil glands and is often missed during washing, and hair products can add to the blockage.
Once inflamed, the cyst can grow quickly, feel warm and tender, and make it uncomfortable to turn the head or rest on that side.
A doctor will examine the lump carefully, because swellings on the neck should always be checked by a professional before anything is done.
If it is a cyst, the area is numbed, the lump is opened and drained, and the sac is removed so the swelling does not return.
The spot is then cleaned and covered with a light dressing, and keeping hair and collars off it for a few days helps it heal.
Washing the neck and the skin behind the ears daily, rinsing hair products off well and not picking at bumps all help prevent new cysts.
Let go of the stress and let someone experienced take care of it. The videos below show neck cysts being treated by professionals.
