When something feels wrong with our body, asking the right questions is often the first step toward the right answer.
A swollen, purple lump behind the ear is one of those things that raises a lot of questions, because it can appear quickly and feel very sore.
Most lumps in this area are skin cysts that form around a blocked oil gland or hair follicle and slowly fill with keratin.
When a cyst becomes infected, it can swell up, turn dark red or purple and develop small yellow points on the surface.
Because the skin behind the ear is thin and close to the bone, an infected cyst there can press on the area and hurt when you lie down.
