Lump Under the Skin by the Ear: What to Know

A lump in the skin behind or in front of the ear may be an irritated follicle, cyst, or boil, especially if it is red, warm, and sore; see [Boils](/conditions/boils/). A lump deeper behind the ear can be a swollen lymph node responding to a nearby scalp, ear, throat, or skin problem. Note whether it moves under the fingers, sits in the skin, or is accompanied by ear pain, discharge, or a sore throat. [Skin Lumps](/symptoms/skin-lumps/) explains why several causes can look alike.

Leave the lump alone rather than squeezing, piercing, or repeatedly pressing it. Keep the surrounding skin clean and avoid headphones, helmet straps, earrings, or hair products that rub the area if they make it sore. Check once a day for growth, spreading redness, drainage, or changes in the overlying skin. Do not put drops into the ear unless a clinician advises them. A clinician can determine whether the lump is superficial or deeper and whether treatment is needed. Some selected inflamed skin lesions are treated with [Steroid Injection Into The Skin](/treatments/injectables/intralesional-steroid-injection/).

Seek prompt care for fever, severe ear pain, rapidly spreading redness, pus, marked swelling, severe headache, dizziness, or new hearing changes. Arrange an examination if the lump persists, grows, becomes hard or fixed, bleeds, ulcerates, or keeps returning. These signs do not prove cancer, but a persistent changing skin lesion should be checked; [Basal Cell Carcinoma](/conditions/basal-cell-carcinoma/) is one condition a clinician may need to exclude.

Ask whether the lump is in the skin, a lymph node, or tissue near the ear. Ask whether your ear, scalp, teeth, or throat should be examined, whether testing is needed, and what symptoms would require same-day care.