Various Causes of Lumps on the Neck and How to Treat Them

According to Medical News Today – The appearance of a lump in the neck can cause concern, especially if it is large and painful to the touch.

In most cases, lumps on the neck are benign (non-cancerous) and therefore harmless. However, there are also cases of lumps caused by infection or cancerous growths.

To help you understand this condition, take a look at the various causes of neck lumps and how to deal with them.

Causes of neck lumps:

From lipomas to HIV, here are the causes of neck lumps and how to treat them.

1. Lipoma

A lipoma is a fat-filled lump that sits between the skin and muscle. Lipoma lumps can grow in size over time.

One of the symptoms of a lipoma is that the lump on the neck moves when touched, feels rubbery, and is 2-3 centimetres (cm) in size.

If the lump gets bigger, pain may occur as the surrounding nerves are compressed. The presence of blood vessels within the lipoma can also cause pain.

The cause of lipoma is not known for certain. However, genetic factors are thought to be one of the triggers for lipoma development.

Lipomas are considered harmless neck lumps. Nonetheless, its pain can interfere with the daily activities of the sufferer.

The way to remove a lump on the right or left neck due to a lipoma is to perform surgery to remove it.

Liposuction may also be recommended by your doctor to remove fatty lipoma lumps.

2. Cyst

Another reason for a lump in the neck is a cyst. In general, cysts are pockets of membranous tissue filled with fluid, air and other substances.

There are different types of cysts, but most cysts are not cancerous.

Cysts that are still in the developmental stage may feel like a small lump with a smooth surface.

Most cysts are painless and are only realised when they get bigger.

Broadly speaking, the causes of cysts are inherited diseases, blockages in skin ducts, infections, and chronic inflammation.

There are various ways to remove a lump on the left or right neck caused by a cyst, including:

The doctor may cut the cyst and remove the debris inside. However, the cyst may return afterwards;

Injecting medication into the cyst to relieve swelling if the lump is painful, swollen or continues to grow;

Removing the cyst through a minor surgical procedure to remove the entire cyst wall. This usually prevents the cyst from coming back;

Using a laser to remove the cyst;

Consult your doctor immediately if you notice a small lump in your neck that keeps growing and getting bigger.

3. Lymphoma

If you have a lump in your neck but it doesn’t hurt when pressed, one of the possible causes is lymphoma.

Lymphoma is a cancer that attacks immune cells and triggers swelling in lymph nodes throughout the body, such as the lymph nodes in the neck.

This cancer attacks the lymphatic system and can spread to other organs of the body.

Currently, the cause of lymphoma is unknown and is thought to arise due to gene mutations in lymphocyte cells that trigger the production of abnormal lymphocyte cells.

A small lump on the neck may not hurt, and may appear in the armpit and groin.

In addition, sufferers may experience itchy skin, loss of appetite and weight, night sweats, and fever and chills.

Treatment for lymphoma includes chemotherapy, which uses drugs to destroy fast-growing cells such as cancer cells; and radiation therapy, which uses high-powered energy beams such as X-rays and proton beams to kill cancer cells.

4. Boils

Not all causes of small bumps on the left or right neck are due to serious medical conditions.

It could be a boil, which occurs when a hair follicle or oil gland becomes infected.

The infection, which is commonly caused by Staphylococcus bacteria, is characterised by small, soft-textured bumps and redness in the surrounding skin.

At first, the characteristics of this harmless neck bump are the appearance of a small red lump and pain.

After 4-7 days, the lump will increase in size and tenderness, and turn white in colour with pus accumulating under the skin.

In certain cases, this small neck lump may be accompanied by fever and swelling of the lymph nodes.

Unlike most other infections, antibiotics alone are not enough to cure boils. In general, boils need to be opened and drained inside.

Sometimes, the boil may burst on its own. However, it usually requires warm compresses or a doctor’s incision and drainage to break it open.

You are advised not to break the boil yourself so as not to aggravate the infection.

5. Acne

Apart from boils, acne is another harmless cause of neck bumps.

Lumps caused by acne are generally small, hard, swollen, and painful.

You may think that acne only appears on the face, but this skin problem can also occur on the neck, especially the back.

The cause of these bumps on the back of the neck can be treated with prescription medications, such as retinoids and topical antibiotics, antibiotic tablets, and azaleic acid cream.

If the acne is severe, or the various medications above are not giving positive results, your doctor may refer you to a dermatologist.

6. Lymphadenopathy

Lymphadenopathy is a condition characterised by swollen lymph nodes.

Lymph nodes are scattered in many parts of the body and are part of the immune system to fight viruses or bacteria.

Swollen or enlarged lymph nodes due to lymphadenopathy can cause lumps under the skin that may or may not be painful.

If the neck lump hurts when pressed, you can take over-the-counter painkillers, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, and apply warm compresses to the affected area.

However, these methods of treating neck lumps do not shrink the swollen lymph nodes, but only temporarily relieve the pain until the underlying infection or disease is cured.

7. Lymphadenitis

Lymphadenitis generally occurs due to infection. This condition causes the lymph nodes to enlarge as white blood cells and chemicals from the immune system gather in them.

Under normal conditions, lymph nodes are generally small. However, lymphadenitis can make them enlarged and easily palpable, especially during a physical examination by a doctor.

Medications for lumps in the neck caused by lymphadenitis are generally oral or injectable antibiotics to fight infections caused by bacteria.

In addition, the doctor may also prescribe medications to control pain, fever, and relieve swelling.

If the lymph node is filled with pus, the doctor will need to perform surgery to drain it.

8. Allergies

Did you know that allergic reactions and skin irritations can cause lumps on the neck?

Various hygiene products, such as shampoo and detergent, can cause irritation in the neck, resulting in lumps.

If the bumps are small, itchy and accompanied by dry skin, this could indicate an allergic reaction or skin irritation.

If this is the case, the best way to treat a neck bump is to place a cold compress on the affected area.

If it is accompanied by itching, rashes and swelling, you can take an antihistamine.

9. Upper respiratory tract infection

In response to an upper respiratory infection, the lymph nodes in the neck may swell.

One common upper respiratory tract infection is the common cold.

Treatment is based on the cause of your upper respiratory infection.

If it is a cold, there is no cure. However, some medications can relieve the symptoms, such as painkillers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen.

They are believed to alleviate fever, sore throat and headache.

For children, avoid aspirin as it may increase the risk of Reye’s syndrome.

It is important to consult your doctor before giving any medication to your child to prevent any adverse side effects.

10. HIV

Apart from cancer, HIV is a cause of lumps in the neck that needs to be watched out for. The lump is caused by swollen lymph nodes.

Not only in the neck, lumps due to swollen lymph nodes can also appear in the armpits and groin.

The swelling can occur several days after the sufferer is infected with HIV.

However, a person infected with the HIV virus may not experience any symptoms for years. Therefore, you should consult a doctor if you experience swollen lymph nodes.

There is no cure for HIV. However, there is antiretroviral therapy (ART) that can reduce the amount of HIV virus in the body and help sufferers stay healthy.

Content created and supplied by: Trendyhealth (via Opera
News )