For acne specifically, pimples tend to form a “head” that can sometimes be felt. Cysts and acne are often more irritating than painful, while abscesses are likely to be inflamed and will feel warm and painful to the touch.
Furthermore, acne, cysts, and abscesses tend to consist of localized bumps while something like lymphadenopathy or an infection would feel more like generalized swelling. Lipoma is typically painless and acne or cysts are tenderer. Your hand is the main tool for detecting lumps behind your ear. Having said that, there are certain signs you can keep in mind when inspecting any lumps you may have. Identifying which is which is best done by a medical professional. Identifying Lumps behind EarĪmong the different types of ear lumps, there are possibilities that warrant medical attention and those that can be left alone. Depending on its size and placement, a benign tumor could affect the hearing quality or cause dizziness. While only a malignant tumor is cancer, a benign one can still be problematic. These result when cells multiply uncontrollably instead of self-destructing at the end of their life cycle.
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Tumor:Ī growth from the tissue of the salivary gland, mastoid bone, or skin behind your ear could be a tumor. Ear infections can sometimes spread to the mastoid bone and result in swelling or lumps behind the ear. The mastoid bone runs directly behind the ear. An abscess can develop around foreign bodies, infections, or form out of existing cysts. The main difference is that an abscess is filled with pus. Abscess:Ībscesses and cysts are similar in the sense that they are enclosed “capsules” filled with fluid. Having said that, true sebaceous cysts-while rare-can also form behind or on the ear. A true sebaceous cyst originates from oil-producing sebaceous glands and is filled with sebum, not keratin. Sebaceous cysts:Įpidermoid cysts are sometimes called sebaceous cysts, although this term is misleading. These cells form the walls of the cyst and begin secreting keratin. Sometimes these cells move deeper into the skin and begin replicating when they are supposed to fall off (i.e. Your skin (epidermis) is topped by a thin layer of cells that your body regularly sheds. The main form of cyst that can appear behind the ear is an epidermoid cyst. Depending on their size and the layers they form between, a lipoma is not always noticeable. These can appear anywhere on the body and are almost always harmless. Lipoma:Ī lipoma is a fatty lump that forms between the layers of your skin. Obviously, the severity of your infection will affect how much of a concern the ear lump is. Mononucleosis, for instance, commonly occurs with throat swelling and the above-mentioned lymphadenopathy. Infection:Īny infection that causes swelling of the throat can cause a bump to appear behind the ears. It happens as part of the body’s response to many different conditions and can sometimes persist for a while, even after the infection itself clears up. In and of itself, a swollen lymph node is not a cause for concern. There is a lymph node in the neck that can sometimes appear as a bump behind the ear if it begins to swell. Lymph nodes also produce lymph fluid in response to infection. They are ovular, vaguely kidney-shaped organs that are distributed throughout the body. This is a fancy way of saying a swollen lymph node.
While pimples are less likely to develop there due to the area’s relative isolation, it can happen. The skin behind your ears is no exception. Pimples in the ear can develop wherever a hair follicle or pore becomes clogged. The most common causes are also the most benign, but some more serious ones also exist: Acne: There are numerous causes why a lump could develop behind your ear.