Why is there a hard lump next to my ear?

For friends who have hard lumps near their ears, they need to pay attention to examination. For example, common lymph node enlargement and other diseases may show symptoms of hard lumps near the ears. Scientific treatment should be carried out after the cause is identified.

1. Swollen lymph nodes. The most common symptom of a hard lump behind the ear is swollen lymph nodes. The cause of swollen lymph nodes is generally bacterial or viral infection of the surrounding tissues, such as inflammation of the middle ear canal, ringworm of the scalp and other infectious diseases. If you suspect you have swollen lymph nodes, you should first check whether there are any infected lesions around or whether there are any infectious symptoms. If there is pain in the ear, pus discharge from the external auditory canal, or even hearing loss, it means you have otitis media; if there are yellow or white scales on the scalp, water discharge, and a foul odor, it means you have a scalp infection; if a child has swollen and painful parotid glands, it may be mumps. These diseases can cause swelling of the lymph nodes behind the ears.

2. Sebaceous cyst. Sebaceous cysts are more common in adolescents during puberty. At this time, the various glands in the body secrete vigorously. If you do not pay attention to the hygiene behind the ears and do not clean them in time, which leads to blockage of the sebaceous gland ducts, the secretions will not be discharged smoothly, which will cause sebaceous cysts. This condition also manifests as a hard lump behind the ear. It is different from swollen lymph nodes in that the lump is softer in texture, non-tender, and can be treated surgically.

3. Furuncle. This is what Western medicine calls folliculitis. The hair follicles are invaded by bacteria, which manifests as local redness, swelling, burning sensation, and pain. It will usually become purulent after a few days, and the disease will heal after the pus is discharged.

Now you know what it means to have a hard lump behind your ear. Whether it is swollen lymph nodes or sebaceous cysts, they are minor problems and there is no need to be too nervous. If the hard lump not only does not disappear after a while but also gets bigger and bigger, you should be alert to the possibility of a malignant tumor.