Some problems look bigger than they are. Carry on with a calm mind, get the right help, and most of them turn out to be manageable.
The photo shows an older man seen from behind, with a large, tight red lump on the top of his shoulder while a doctor holds gauze and tweezers beside it.
A swelling like this on the shoulder is most often an inflamed cyst. The skin is stretched thin and shiny, and a small crusted head has formed near the top.
Cysts on the shoulder form when a follicle becomes blocked, often where straps, bags or collars rub the skin day after day.
As the sac fills, the lump grows and the pressure makes it sore. Once bacteria get in, it becomes red and warm and can grow quickly within a few days.
