# Opinions needed! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 14, 2003, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-needed/168605 "2003-04-14T11:57:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-needed/168605/1 "2003-04-14T11:57:14Z")
I just recently noticed that a lump has formed at the back of my ear lobe… I didn’t pay much attention to it when I first noticed it 3 days ago… but now it’s starting to worry me… Anybody have any clue on what this could be and or what I should do?!? ☹ ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-needed/168605/2 "2003-04-14T11:59:45Z")
Probably just, to use a medical term, a zit. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-needed/168605/3 "2003-04-14T12:05:26Z")
If it doesn’t go away after a day or two, go to a doctor. Better safe than sorry. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a zit, either. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-needed/168605/4 "2003-04-14T12:35:24Z")
I thought it was a zit as well… its hard to describe, it’s not like the ones we get on our foreheads… its about 0.5cm in diameter and it isn’t visible… it’s internal, I can sort of feel it inside… if that makes any sense… Anyway, time to make an appointment… ---
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-needed/168605/5 "2003-04-14T12:43:35Z")
Have you had your ear pierced before in that place? I haven’t worn earrings for years, but I can clearly feel bumps where the holes were. I give them an occasional squeeze and they squirt Piercing-Geckk™. Could it be that? ---
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-needed/168605/6 "2003-04-14T12:50:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Iteki \* > \*\*Have you had your ear pierced before in that place? > I haven’t worn earrings for years, but I can clearly feel bumps where the holes were. I give them an occasional squeeze and they squirt Piercing-Geckk™. Could it be that? \*\* Nope I haven’t had my ear pierced. I certainly would like to though! But a friend of mine had a similar experience as yours, he developed what he told me was a ‘keeloid’ (sp?) or something like that, and needed an operation to have it removed…:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Phage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a4c791/32.png) [@Phage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phage)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-needed/168605/7 "2003-04-14T14:19:45Z")
I have had something that your description fits practically exactly; yes, it is a zit that has no bone to make it pop out. You could mash at it to get some of the Geckk green\_bladder mentioned, or just leave it alone and it should go away in about a week at the most. Kinda annoying tho… ---
**Author:** ![troub](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troub/32/14802_2.png) [@troub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troub)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-needed/168605/8 "2003-04-14T14:39:16Z")
Wow, I’m glad I’m not the only one to have Piercing-Geckk™ come out of my old earring holes. To the OP, I’d say it’s probably a pimple. The subcutaneous ones can be REALLY hard to pop, so I’d just leave it alone until it goes away (about a week or so). If it does pop out and come to a head, though, go ahead and play with it if you want 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-needed/168605/9 "2003-04-14T15:34:00Z")
I have also had ocassionally an internal cyst which would go away on its own after some time so it’s probably nothing. On the other hand it could be a new form of cancer which will engulf your entire brain in the next 24 hrs and cause you to die a painful death. Let us know what it turns out to be. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Zazie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Zazie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zazie)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-needed/168605/10 "2003-04-14T18:06:05Z")
Sailor, you are so cruel!! I could be a ball of fat… Yikes, I know… I don’t know what the term is in English, but litteraly it is “ball of fat”! I usually goes away on it’s own, or can be popped. Sometimes a little incision is necessary (from a doctor of course). ---
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-needed/168605/11 "2003-04-15T02:41:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sailor \* > \*\*On the other hand it could be a new form of cancer which will engulf your entire brain in the next 24 hrs and cause you to die a painful death. Let us know what it turns out to be. 🙂 \*\* Certainly will, sailor, certainly will… 😃