Freaking out… Can anyone tell me what this lump is behind my ear!?

[CandidDaisy]

I’m panicking about this as I’ve had pain here for ages. Sounds silly, but I thought it felt a bit bone like and was probably where I’ve worn earrings to bed and maybe the back had dug in somehow. But I’ve not been wearing them for months and this area is still sensitive. I really thought nothing of it until tonight I attempted to take a pic of it and see what it looks like. Now I’m really scared.

I know I need to see a doctor, but does this look sinister? I’m alone and quite frightened.

Pics have now been approved…

It looks so much more like a lump than I realised. I thought it was just a bit of bone. 😫

As a professional popper, I think you need to stick a pin in it and see what happens. Puss. Piss. Eggs. Film it. Do it now. <grunt>

Probably a fluid filled cyst? Does it hurt? Make a GP appointment if you are worried

I realise my post might have been a bit insensitive. It looks like a gnat bite. Pop it.

Stop. The OP needs to be seen and not goaded into popping whatever it is (clearly not a gnat bite given the duration). She does not need to give herself an infection or further pain.

Ohhh my dh used to get these. His is old scar tissue that was the gift that kept on giving. Unfortunately it doesn’t full up anymore.
I wouldn’t be overly concerned but I would defo drain it!

I've had something similar. I'm not someone that can leave it alone so I poked it about and squeezed it. The popping sound was so satisfying and it never came back. If you're worried, get it checked out.

Don’t panic, behind the ear is a really common place to get little cysts, send a picture to your GP they will probably drain it for you.

I've got one of those. It looked like that at first, but then I managed to sort of pop it and a load of pus came out, and now it just looks like a smaller version of that. And it's been like for like 4 years!

I had something like that in exactly the same place. It was there for ages but it didn’t continue to get bigger and it very much felt like it had fluid in it so I just left it alone and it eventually disappeared of its own accord. It must have been there for a good few months or even a year or so.

But if it is causing pain and you are worried, get it checked. Maybe try a pharmacist first and then GP. At my GPs we can send photos on an econsult- and your photos are very clear so hopefully you can use that service where you are.

Oh, I had one of those once! It came & went, sometimes was bigger and exquisitely tender, then would quietly subside. Gradually disappeared. As pp has said, that area is prone to little cysts which can get inflamed. I would leave it alone unless it’s agony in which case see GP about it.

Bumps like this are the ONE thing I miss about my ex husband. His would produce long thin sort of lines of stuff, sometimes a couple of cm long and they absolutely stunk.

Good times.

I had one that came and went for a few years. Even needed antibiotics a couple of times. After a while it disappeared for good.

Thank you for all the replies. This is a big relief. I will still see the GP as it is quite uncomfortable and I’ve given it a long time and it hasn’t gone away. I also couldn’t possibly pop or drain something like this. Even if it was somewhere I could comfortably get to. 😅 Hopefully just a cyst.

Hi OP, i get these quite regularly! Possibly more so when i am feeling run down, but i do get them quite often - a few times a year. Went to the GP a few years back & she said they were harmless cysts which come & go. No harm in getting yours checked out but hope this puts your mind at rest a little.

infected cyst I'd put money on it

A cyst. And it’ll stink when it pops. I’m so gutted I can’t pop it for you!

I’m going to add to the chorus of infected cyst. It could be something more interesting, but it’s such a common spot and doesn’t look particularly odd in the picture.

I had this recently, I stuck a needle in it but only blood came out which was disappointing as I was hoping for pus. Yes I’m a nurse and yes this is satisfying for us…

Id get a cotton bud. Hold it under the hot tap. Then press

What will that do @legolegoeverywhereandnotadroptodrink? I don’t think there is any sort of head on it.

So I know I shouldn’t have, but I had a warm compress on for 20 mins and then gave it a bit of a squeeze. Only a very little bit of blood came out and a little clear fluid. Hasn’t made much difference. Is that more worrying??

A better picture, taken by DC. 😅

Not remotely worrying. Just further evidence that it is probably a pimple or cyst.