Worry less, live more. Most problems feel smaller once we stop guessing and find out what they really are.
This photo shows a woman in her early thirties with blonde hair in a loose low bun and a grey t-shirt, seen from the side and behind, with a swollen red lump just behind her ear.
A lump in this spot is most likely an inflamed epidermoid cyst, which starts when a follicle behind the ear gets blocked and slowly fills with keratin.
The skin behind the ear has many oil glands and is often missed during washing, and hair products and glasses can add to the blockage.
When the cyst becomes inflamed it can grow quickly, feel tender and warm, and make it uncomfortable to wear glasses or rest the head on a pillow.
A doctor will examine the lump carefully, because swellings near the ear 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 small dressing, and keeping hair products away from it for a few days helps it heal.
Washing behind the ears every day, rinsing out shampoo and conditioner well and not picking at bumps all help prevent new cysts.
Worry less, live more, and let someone experienced take care of it. The videos below show cysts behind the ear being treated by professionals.
