Waiting for a problem to fix itself sometimes works, but sometimes waiting only makes it harder to deal with later.
A cyst on the ear can grow surprisingly large if it is left alone, until the whole outer ear looks swollen and purple.
The ear has thin skin stretched over cartilage, so even a small cyst there can feel tight, tender and uncomfortable.
These cysts usually start from a blocked pore or follicle, often around the earlobe or behind the ear, and slowly fill with keratin.
When they become infected, they can swell rapidly and start to drain through small openings, which is both painful and messy.
