what should i do with this lump under my left ear?

Question

im 13 and right now im vacationing in japan. a few days ago i had this lump under my left ear and when i touch it it hurts real bad. i cant go to the doctors because i dont have insurence here. what should i do? i had it a few times before but it got cured. i've been searching things on the internet to see if i can do anything but i have no idea. any one have a clue what im going through?

Answer 1

My husband has (for as long as he can recall) had the same issue. He gets these pea sized bumps right behind his earlobe, but up a lil' higher behind the ear. It sounds similar to me; in that--it could be something as simply as a boil, or an ingrown hair gone infected? I agree with many of the others who answered....hot compress for 15-20 minutes....then try squeezing and see if white puss comes out. This will tell you that it is nothing more than a clogged pore and that u just need to keep up on keeping the area clean, more often.

I say this, not to be rude. As I clearly do not KNOW your personal hygiene habits. But, my husband tends to perspire heavily, and behind and below the ears is just one of those places that pores can get more easily clogged and thus infected if not managed by cleaning atleast 2-3x's per day. Wherever an area exists that is dark and moist; there is much possibility for infection by clogged pores or ingrown hairs. TRY the warm (as hot as your pain threshold will allow) the hotter the better, it will soften the area and liquify the infection...then you can lance it by poking it with a sterile safety pin, or simply by squeezing it. If this does not work; I highly suggest u do NOT try it again....It could be a cyst, and thus will NEED a doctor's attn. ~Good luck and GoD bless YOU,
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Answer 2

This definitely needs to be seen by a dr. As for the insurance issue, many U.S. (if from the U.S. that is) insurance companies can cover medical care that is given overseas if one has to do that when there. Please get in touch with your parents as well to let them know what's going on. In the mean time you could try heat by using a warm, wet face towel to put on the area until you get back Stateside. If you feel worse while there please don't wait but please do let your parents know what is going on. And they will help you with the next steps from there.

Answer 3

Depends upon where exactly it is.
it could be a boil. Heat . Then it will soon go away. Use a local ointment or calamine.

Or it could ne glands.
Which is not so good a sign. May be an infection.

Do go to a doc soon.

Answer 4

It might be something simple like a pimple or boil. I suggest applying heat (hot compress) to the area regularly. Hopefully it will go away on its own.