Possible treatment: If a lymph node becomes painful, continues to swell or doesn't decrease in size after a short time, you may need tests to diagnose what's going on. You also have lymph nodes in your armpits and groin. Once you've recovered, a benign lymph node will shrink again. Lymph nodes help filter toxins and fight infection, and it's normal for them to swell if you have a cold or a virus. On your neckįeels like: A tender lump under your jaw or behind your ear.Ĭould be: A swollen lymph node. The surgeon may drain the cyst with a needle or, if it's persistent, remove it surgically. Possible treatment: "We typically leave these alone unless they become painful, interfere with joint function or are really unsightly," Wollner says, in which case he refers the patient to a surgeon. On your wrist, foot or ankleįeels like: A soft, fluid-filled bump that doesn't move and might increase and decrease in size periodically.Ĭould be: A ganglion cyst, caused by a buildup of leaking joint fluid.
#SMALL BALL IN NECK THAT MOVES SKIN#
Irresistible as it might be, never squeeze a cyst yourself breaking the skin can lead to infection. In that case, you might need antibiotics or an outpatient procedure to drain the cyst. Possible treatment: None needed, unless the cyst gets bigger, becomes painful or starts draining, Wollner says. On your back, chest or shouldersįeels like: A smooth, firm lump that's painless to the touch.Ĭould be: A sebaceous cyst (a small sac filled with sebum, the oily substance that moisturizes your hair and skin) or an epidermoid cyst (a lump containing skin cells and protein). Possible treatment: No need for treatment unless the lipoma causes discomfort or you feel it's unsightly and want to talk to a plastic surgeon about removing it.
Lipomas can pop up anywhere on the body, but they're seen most commonly on the torso and neck.
On your torso or neckįeels like: A soft, movable bump just under your skin that’s not painful when touched.Ĭould be: A lipoma, a benign tumor in the fat cells under the skin. "A physician with some experience has likely seen and felt thousands of the really common, harmless lumps and bumps," Wollner says, "and has probably seen hundreds of even the more rare and worrisome ones."Ī lump or bump's location - along with how it looks and feels - is always the first clue as to what it might be and whether it's appropriate to refer the patient on to a specialist. If you notice a new bump, your first stop should be your primary care doctor's office. We talked with Wollner about some of the common lumps and bumps his patients experience, along with the signs and symptoms that call for a visit to a specialist. Feeling a new lump or bump on or under your skin can be alarming … but not every bump is something to worry about, says Timothy Wollner, DO, a family medicine physician at RUSH University Medical Center.
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