Some days are harder than others, but brighter days are always ahead. A problem that looks big today can be much smaller once it is properly looked after.
This photo shows an older woman with a swollen, red lump on her cheek near the jawline. The skin over it is stretched and shiny, with a small yellowish crusted spot.
A lump like this is most likely an inflamed cyst. It forms when a pore on the face becomes blocked and a small sac under the skin slowly fills with keratin and oil.
The cheek and jaw have many oil glands, so cysts and deep blemishes appear there often, and touching or squeezing them can make the swelling worse.
When the cyst is inflamed, it can grow over a few days, feel warm and tender, and make chewing or resting the face on a pillow uncomfortable.
