HomeAnswersOtolaryngology (E.N.T)epidermal lesion

Do bumps on the outer ear go away on their own?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I noticed a small bump on my outer ear. I noticed it just three days back, not sure if it was there before or not. What to do?

Kindly advise.
Answered by Dr. Ranjit Peter

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Ranjit Peter has 26 years of clinical experience. He did his MBBS and DLO from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal in 1997 and 2000, respectively. He is qualified with an MS in Oto-Rhino-Laryngology from Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum, and DNB in Oto-Rhino-Laryngology from the National Board of Examinations, New Delhi, India. He completed training in Endoscopic Endonasal Surgery of the Cranial Base and Pituitary Fossa in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. He is well versed with all Basic and Advanced Surgical Procedures in the ENT - Head and Neck Surgery Specialty with a particular interest in Endoscopic Ear Surgeries, Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, Endoscopic Anterior Skull Base Surgeries. He is proficient in the Head and Neck Surgeries, including Obstructive Sleep Apnea Correction Procedures.

Dr. Ranjit Peter has worked as an Assistant Professor in the ENT Department, K.S. Hegde Medical Academy, Mangalore, India before joining the Government of His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei in the ORL Department of the tertiary Care Hospital, RIPAS, Ministry of Health, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. Later, he worked as a Consultant and Head of the E.N.T. Department at Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) Hospital, Kochi. Currently, Dr. Ranjit Peter holds the post of Senior Consultant and Head of the Department of ENT – Head and Neck Surgery, Kinder Multispecialty Hospital, Kochi, India. He is also a Visiting Senior Consultant Surgeon at Mandalar Hospital, Mandalay, Myanmar. He updates his knowledge and surgical skills by regularly attending International Conferences and Surgical Workshops. He has several Scientific Publications in International Journals and has also contributed to a Chapter in a Medical Textbook. He has delivered several Guest Lectures and Academic Presentations at Continuing Medical Education Programs and is well-versed in Evidence-Based Medicine.

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Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Thank you for sharing the clinical photograph (attachments removed to protect the patient's identity). Considering the clinical history of three days and in the absence of any other regional lesions, it is most likely to be an epidermal lesion, which should subside on its own. If it increases in size over the period of next month, it would need further evaluation. If not, then it can be left as it is and avoid traumatizing it by scratching it.

I hope this helps you.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Could it be a lymph node? It is over the tragus, I think. Here, I am attaching another photo from two days back. Could it be cancer?

Kindly advise.

Answered by Dr. Ranjit Peter

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Ranjit Peter has 26 years of clinical experience. He did his MBBS and DLO from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal in 1997 and 2000, respectively. He is qualified with an MS in Oto-Rhino-Laryngology from Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum, and DNB in Oto-Rhino-Laryngology from the National Board of Examinations, New Delhi, India. He completed training in Endoscopic Endonasal Surgery of the Cranial Base and Pituitary Fossa in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. He is well versed with all Basic and Advanced Surgical Procedures in the ENT - Head and Neck Surgery Specialty with a particular interest in Endoscopic Ear Surgeries, Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, Endoscopic Anterior Skull Base Surgeries. He is proficient in the Head and Neck Surgeries, including Obstructive Sleep Apnea Correction Procedures.

Dr. Ranjit Peter has worked as an Assistant Professor in the ENT Department, K.S. Hegde Medical Academy, Mangalore, India before joining the Government of His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei in the ORL Department of the tertiary Care Hospital, RIPAS, Ministry of Health, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. Later, he worked as a Consultant and Head of the E.N.T. Department at Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) Hospital, Kochi. Currently, Dr. Ranjit Peter holds the post of Senior Consultant and Head of the Department of ENT – Head and Neck Surgery, Kinder Multispecialty Hospital, Kochi, India. He is also a Visiting Senior Consultant Surgeon at Mandalar Hospital, Mandalay, Myanmar. He updates his knowledge and surgical skills by regularly attending International Conferences and Surgical Workshops. He has several Scientific Publications in International Journals and has also contributed to a Chapter in a Medical Textbook. He has delivered several Guest Lectures and Academic Presentations at Continuing Medical Education Programs and is well-versed in Evidence-Based Medicine.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Thank you for providing a clearer photo from a slightly different angle (attachments removed to protect the patient's identity). The two main differential diagnoses for this particular preauricular area, close to the tragus (as seen in the photograph and correlated with the clinical history), would be:

  • A preauricular lymph node.
  • A skin-level epidermal lesion, such as an epidermal cyst or reactive skin changes due to irritation.

A physical examination would be necessary to confirm whether this is a lymph node. However, based purely on the photograph, it appears more likely to be an epidermal lesion. That said, a preauricular lymph node can enlarge in response to irritant factors such as dandruff, scalp irritation from excessive scratching, dry skin, or similar conditions. If any of these factors are present, it would be advisable to manage them appropriately.

I would also like to reassure you that there appears to be very little likelihood of cancer, so there is no immediate cause for significant concern.

I hope this helps you.

Thank you.

Answered by
Medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team
Published At May 2, 2022
Reviewed At May 15, 2026

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Ranjit Peter has 26 years of clinical experience. He did his MBBS and DLO from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal in 1997 and 2000, respectively. He is qualified with an MS in Oto-Rhino-Laryngology from Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum, and DNB in Oto-Rhino-Laryngology from the National Board of Examinations, New Delhi, India. He completed training in Endoscopic Endonasal Surgery of the Cranial Base and Pituitary Fossa in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. He is well versed with all Basic and Advanced Surgical Procedures in the ENT - Head and Neck Surgery Specialty with a particular interest in Endoscopic Ear Surgeries, Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, Endoscopic Anterior Skull Base Surgeries. He is proficient in the Head and Neck Surgeries, including Obstructive Sleep Apnea Correction Procedures.

Dr. Ranjit Peter has worked as an Assistant Professor in the ENT Department, K.S. Hegde Medical Academy, Mangalore, India before joining the Government of His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei in the ORL Department of the tertiary Care Hospital, RIPAS, Ministry of Health, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. Later, he worked as a Consultant and Head of the E.N.T. Department at Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) Hospital, Kochi. Currently, Dr. Ranjit Peter holds the post of Senior Consultant and Head of the Department of ENT – Head and Neck Surgery, Kinder Multispecialty Hospital, Kochi, India. He is also a Visiting Senior Consultant Surgeon at Mandalar Hospital, Mandalay, Myanmar. He updates his knowledge and surgical skills by regularly attending International Conferences and Surgical Workshops. He has several Scientific Publications in International Journals and has also contributed to a Chapter in a Medical Textbook. He has delivered several Guest Lectures and Academic Presentations at Continuing Medical Education Programs and is well-versed in Evidence-Based Medicine.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Ranjit Peter

Otolaryngology (E.N.T)

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Ranjit Peter has 26 years of clinical experience. He did his MBBS and DLO from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal in 1997 and 2000, respectively. He is qualified with an MS in Oto-Rhino-Laryngology from Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum, and DNB in Oto-Rhino-Laryngology from the National Board of Examinations, New Delhi, India. He completed training in Endoscopic Endonasal Surgery of the Cranial Base and Pituitary Fossa in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. He is well versed with all Basic and Advanced Surgical Procedures in the ENT - Head and Neck Surgery Specialty with a particular interest in Endoscopic Ear Surgeries, Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, Endoscopic Anterior Skull Base Surgeries. He is proficient in the Head and Neck Surgeries, including Obstructive Sleep Apnea Correction Procedures.

Dr. Ranjit Peter has worked as an Assistant Professor in the ENT Department, K.S. Hegde Medical Academy, Mangalore, India before joining the Government of His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei in the ORL Department of the tertiary Care Hospital, RIPAS, Ministry of Health, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. Later, he worked as a Consultant and Head of the E.N.T. Department at Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) Hospital, Kochi. Currently, Dr. Ranjit Peter holds the post of Senior Consultant and Head of the Department of ENT – Head and Neck Surgery, Kinder Multispecialty Hospital, Kochi, India. He is also a Visiting Senior Consultant Surgeon at Mandalar Hospital, Mandalay, Myanmar. He updates his knowledge and surgical skills by regularly attending International Conferences and Surgical Workshops. He has several Scientific Publications in International Journals and has also contributed to a Chapter in a Medical Textbook. He has delivered several Guest Lectures and Academic Presentations at Continuing Medical Education Programs and is well-versed in Evidence-Based Medicine.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality
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