Can’t sleep.. freaking myself out reading about this online.. pic attached

[Heheh76598]

At the beginning of the week I was taking off my make up and felt a lump in front of my ear. My skin is generally spot free so thought it was strange to have a spot there.

I have kept an eye on it and I feel like it’s slowly getting abit bigger. I went to speak to the pharmacist and they have told me if it’s not sore then I shouldn’t worry about it

Has anyone else experienced a lump in this area? I read online there’s a lymph node there so that’s freaking me out even more.

x

I have a sebaceous cyst in that exact place. I’ve had it for about 15 years! Completely harmless. It is like a soft round lump. Sometimes it gets bigger and I squeeze it to drain it and it goes tiny again.

It can be removed surgically but I haven’t had it done because there is a main nerve into the face in that area and surgery carries a risk of facial paralysis.

This is what it says on Healthline:
If you feel a bump around your earlobe or scalp, it is most likely a benign cyst and it will go away without treatment. Sometimes the cyst will get bigger, but it should still go away without treatment. You should see a doctor if the cyst gets large, causes you pain, or affects your hearing

Thanks so much for replying!

99% of what I was reading online was speaking about the scary C word so I’ve completely freaked myself out.. however, as you have a cyst in the exact same place this has made me feel better!!

I am going to make an appointment at my doctor on Monday just to double check.

Did your doctor do any checks or just look at the lump?

Thanks CherrySocks - will be getting checked on Monday just to confirm.

I’m mid/late twenties with 2 young babies so the thought of this lump being anything major is completely freaking me out! My partner works away and isn’t home for 3 weeks and didn’t want to mention as he is a big worrier so have just been researching things myself

Smellbowspacebowl - I’m well at the moment so don’t know what infection I could have.

Does the area swell or do you get an actual lump? The area doesn’t seem swollen to me, just a small bump that has gradually gotten bigger

Ooh ok thanks for letting me know, I have the tiniest cough I caught from my daughter so hopefully it’s just something to do with that.

Yes, definitely going to get checked on Monday, better to be safe

Doctor only looked at the lump. No checks. Then referred me to ENT for removal due to the position so near the ear. The ENT specialist also examined it (no tests), confirmed the diagnosis and told me of the surgical risk.

Biggirlknickers - sorry one more question! When you saw the doctor about your cyst was it just a small one then? Or was it quite large and that’s when you were referred?

Thanks for all of the replies, I wasn’t expecting any!

It was large but at its largest this cyst is only the size of maybe a broad bean, except it’s round, not bean shaped.

My son had one in that exact spot that he got surgically removed. A painless hard lump that grew very slowly. I don't know the medical name for it but it was a hair follicle tumour which are benign and harmless but they said it would probably just keep getting bigger so they removed it.

Thanks! I’m hoping this is something along the same lines..

Hate going to the doctors too and I’m never there, eeeek

My appointment is now on Thursday, stupidly keep googling and freaking myself out more.. think I may have health anxiety

Apparently it’s a swollen gland and if it’s still there in 3/4 weeks I have to go back.

I haven’t been poorly so not too sure why it’s swollen but fingers crossed it goes away!

Is it in the skin? Can you get under it with your fingers?

Oh just seen that you have been. Hopefully it will disappear.