In most cases, the lump behind the ear does not cause any pain, itching, or discomfort, and therefore this is generally not a sign of something dangerous, occurring in simple situations like acne or a benign cyst.
However, the mass may also come from infections at the site, which require more attention and proper treatment, so if the lump causes pain, it takes time to disappear, if it is very irregular or increases in size, it is very important to consult a dermatologist or family doctor, to identify the cause and start treatment.
As mentioned above, the bump behind the ear can have several origins
The lumps behind the ear can be caused by infections in the throat or neck, such as pharyngitis, cold, flu, mononucleosis, otitis, conjunctivitis, herpes, tooth decay, gingivitis or measles, for example. This is due to inflammation of the lymph nodes in the area, which increase in size as the body fights infection.
When this happens, it is important not to remove the site from inflammation to facilitate recovery, as the lymph nodes slowly return to their original size as soon as the basic infection is treated.
Mastoiditis is an infection of the bone behind the ear, which can occur after an ear infection, especially if not treated properly, and can cause a lump.
This problem is most common in children younger than 2 years, but it can occur at any age, accompanied by other symptoms such as headaches, decreased ability to hear and release fluid through the ear, for example.Learn more about mamoidite symptoms and treatment.
In acne, the pores of the skin can clog due to excessive production of sebum by the sebaceous glands, located at the base of the hair follicle, which mixes with skin cells, and this mixture forms a pimple that can swell and become painful.
Although rarer, acne can also affect the skin behind the ear, causing a lump to appear that can go away on its own.Learn how to treat acne.
Sebaceous cyst is a type of lump that forms under the skin, which is composed of a substance called sebum, which can occur in any area of the body. It is usually soft to the touch, can move when touched or pressed and usually does not hurt unless it becomes inflamed, sensitive and reddish, making it painful, being necessary to resort to a dermatologist, which can indicate a small surgery to remove the cyst. See more about the sebaceous cyst.
The lump in the skin, rounded and soft can also be a lipoma, a type of benign tumor, composed of fat cells, which should also be removed by surgery or liposuction.
Lipoma is a type of mass that does not produce pain or other symptoms, being composed of a cluster of fat cells, which can appear anywhere in the body and that develop slowly, learns to identify lipomas.
What differentiates lipoma from a sebaceous cyst is its constitution, lipoma is composed of fat cells and the sebaceous cyst is composed of sebum, however the treatment is always the same, and consists of a surgical intervention to remove the fibrous capsule.
Lymph nodes, also known as lingua, spread throughout the body and, when they grow up, usually indicate infection or inflammation of the area in which they occur, which can also occur from autoimmune diseases, drug use or even head, neck or lymphoma.cancer, for example.Understand the function of the lymph nodes and where they are located.
Typically, the waters usually have benign and transient causes, being a few millimeters in diameter and disappearing over a period of about 3 to 30 days.However, if they continue to develop, last more than 30 days, or are accompanied by weight loss and fever, it is important to see your doctor for appropriate treatment.
You should see your doctor if the lump behind the ear suddenly appears, remains fixed and motionless to the touch, persists for a long time, or is accompanied by signs and symptoms such as:
In these cases, your doctor may perform a physical assessment of the mass based on its appearance and reaction to touch, as well as an assessment of other symptoms such as fever and chills, which may indicate infection; if the lump is painful, it can be a sign of abscess or shin.
Treatment depends heavily on the origin of the lump and may disappear without any treatment, or may include the administration of antibiotics in case of infection, or even surgery in case of lipomas and sebaceous cysts.