Lumps behind the ears

In nearly cases, lumps or nodules behind the ears are harmless. They may betoken a need for medication, as in the example of an infection, but they are rarely a sign of a dangerous or life threatening trouble.

Lumps can vary in size but are by and large small- to medium-sized bumps, which may occur anywhere on the back of the ear and tin can be either hard or soft. In some cases, these lumps might be painful or tender, while other bumps crusade petty to no pain.

Several conditions may lead to knots, lumps, bumps, or nodules backside your ears. In order of likelihood, these conditions are:

  • infection
  • mastoiditis
  • abscess
  • otitis media
  • lymphadenopathy, or bloated lymph nodes (secondary to ear or throat infections)
  • sebaceous cysts
  • acne vulgaris
  • lipoma

Causes

Infection

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Strep throat, pharyngeal swelling with exudates. James Heilman, Medico, CC By-SA iii.0

Many bacterial and viral infections can crusade swelling in and around your cervix and confront. Two such infections are strep throat and infectious mononucleosis (caused by the Epstein-Barr virus). Other conditions can also cause swelling in and effectually the cervix and confront. They include:

  • HIV and AIDS
  • measles
  • chickenpox

Mastoiditis

If you develop an ear infection and don't get treatment, you may develop a more serious infection of the ear called mastoiditis.

This infection develops in the bony protrusion behind the ear, which is called the mastoid. It may cause pus-filled cysts to develop. In turn, you may feel those every bit lumps or knots behind your ear.

Abscess

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Abscess in earlobe. 3623/Shutterstock

An abscess develops when tissue or cells in an area of the body become infected. Your body responds to the infection past trying to impale off the invading leaner or virus. To fight the leaner, your trunk sends white blood cells to the infected areas.

These white claret cells begin gathering in the damaged location, and as a result, pus begins to develop. Pus is a thick, fluid-like product that develops from dead white bloods cells, tissue, bacteria, and other invading substances. Abscesses are oftentimes painful and warm to the touch.

Otitis media

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Otitis externa is also chosen swimmer's ear. Designua/Shutterstock

Otitis media is some other term for an ear infection. These tin can be bacterial or viral. When an infection occurs, information technology can crusade painful fluid buildup and swelling. These symptoms may outcome in visible swelling backside the ear. Antibiotics may be used to ease the symptoms and end the infection.

Lymphadenopathy (secondary to ear or throat infections)

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Lymphadenopathy in the neck.Coronation Dental Specialty Group, via Wikimedia Commons

Lymphadenopathy begins in your lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are tiny, organ-similar structures that are present throughout your torso. This includes:

  • under your artillery
  • in your neck
  • in your pelvis
  • behind your ears

From fourth dimension to time, your lymph nodes will swell. In many cases, the swelling is the upshot of an infection. Every bit the number of infection-fighting cells grows, they will begin to build upwardly in the lymph nodes. Swollen lymph nodes are ordinarily caused by infection, inflammation, or cancer.

Sebaceous cysts

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Sebaceous cyst behind the ear. Photograph By BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Sebaceous cysts are noncancerous bumps that ascend beneath the skin. They about commonly develop on the head, neck, and torso.

This type of cyst develops around the sebaceous gland, which is responsible for producing oil that lubricates your skin and hair. Most sebaceous cysts cause footling to no hurting. They may exist uncomfortable or irritating because of where they develop on your body.

Acne vulgaris

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Acne on the face and ear Yashkin Ilya/Shutterstock

Acne is a mutual skin condition that occurs when hair follicles in the skin become clogged. Dead peel cells and oil can clog the follicles, and then pimples and bumps may develop. In certain cases, these bumps volition grow to exist big, solid, and sometimes painful.

Lipoma

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Lipoma in the neck. Casa nayafana/Shutterstock

A lipoma is a fat lump that develops between the layers of your skin. A lipoma tin develop anywhere on your body, and it's virtually ever harmless.

Lipomas are not always detectable from the skin's surface, but as they abound larger, it's more than likely that you lot'll be able to feel them with your hand.

Identifying lumps behind the ears

If you lot take a history of acne, it may exist easy for yous to diagnose a lump or bump behind your ear every bit a pimple. But for other people, figuring out what'southward causing the raised area may be trickier.

How to self-check

Your hand is your best tool for detecting lumps or bumps behind your ears. Below are a few questions you lot can ask yourself:

  • Does the lump feel soft and pliable? If so, it'south probably a lipoma.
  • Is the spot tender and painful, especially when touched? Then it could be a pimple or an abscess.
  • In addition to the bump, are yous experiencing other symptoms? Other symptoms could include fever or chills. If so, the lump could be some other sign of an infection.

When to run across a doctor

If the lump is problematic, causing you hurting or discomfort, or associated with other symptoms, make an appointment with your doctor. Yous can connect to a physician in your expanse using the Healthline FindCare tool.

A quick physical inspection of the area and a full general checkup tin usually assist your doctor figure out exactly what is happening behind your ear.

Based on what your doc finds, they may advise leaving the lump to go away on its own, or any number of treatments, from medication to surgery.

Lumps behind the ear usually aren't harmful. Together with your doctor, you lot can notice the all-time way to become rid of the lump and prevent time to come problems.

Treatment options

Treatment for lumps behind the ear tin can vary depending on the specific crusade.

Antibiotics may be used to treat abscesses or sure types of infections, including mastoiditis or otitis media.

Topical treatments tin too exist used for lumps acquired by acne. This could include medications like benzoyl peroxide, retinoids, or antibiotics, all of which can exist practical topically.

In some cases, surgical procedures may be recommended to bleed or remove sebaceous cysts, abscesses, or lipomas.

Frequently asked questions

Tin can a lump behind the ear be cancer?

Although uncommon, lumps behind the ear could be caused by a benign (noncancerous) or malignant (malignant) tumor.

Your dr. tin can perform a biopsy to make up one's mind whether a lump is cancerous. This procedure involves collecting a small tissue sample from the area and examining it in a lab.

How practice I get rid of a swollen lymph node behind my ear?

Swollen lymph nodes usually go away on their own over fourth dimension in one case the infection clears upwardly.

Some ways to help alleviate symptoms caused by bloated lymph nodes include:

  • staying hydrated
  • getting plenty of rest
  • applying a warm shrink to the area
  • using over-the-counter hurting medications like ibuprofen

How long does it have swollen lymph nodes to go away?

In well-nigh cases, swollen lymph nodes should resolve within 2 weeks.

Talk with a doctor if:

  • the swelling does non go downward after 2 weeks
  • your lymph nodes feel hard when you press them
  • you're experiencing dark sweats or a loftier fever for more than 3 to 4 days