About three weeks ago I got my right earlobe pierced two times. About a week ago, I noticed a big bump developing behind my right ear on my head, not on my ear. Then about four days later, the two new holes began bleeding, a lot. I quickly took the two new earrings out and they stopped bleeding. But the bump behind my ear is still there and getting bigger. What is it, and how do I get rid of it?

F.

Let's start off with a painfully obvious observation: The bump on your head is either related to the piercings, or else it's not related to the piercings.

If it's related to the piercings, then it can be only one thing: an enlarged lymph node. You have these little critters scattered all over your body, but usually they are too small to feel. In response to infection (or inflammation), lymph nodes can grow, sometimes to an enormous size. That's because within the lymph node, white blood cells are dividing like crazy and chugging out lots of antibodies to deal with the infection (or inflammation). In other words, through cell division, there's an increase in the absolute number of cells within the lymph node. More cells, bigger lymph node.

If this is the problem, then you have a few choices. You could "ride it out" and wait for the lymph node to calm down and return to its former size. Unfortunately, lymph nodes occasionally remain enlarged for life. Or you could see a doctor and possibly receive a prescription for antibiotics. You could even have the lymph node surgically removed.

If it's not related to the piercing, what could it be? Well, what lives back there? On this bit of scalp, you have (in addition to lymph node tissue) skin, hair follicles, oil-secreting glands, sweat glands, fat, blood vessels, sensory nerves and bone. Any one of these tissues may give rise to a tumor, and tumors can be benign or malignant (cancerous) Occasionally, a doctor can make a diagnosis based on the look and feel of the tumor, but more often than not a biopsy (removal of a small tissue sample for analysis) is necessary.

There are also lumps that are not true tumors, but are instead cysts. A cyst is a balloon-like structure in which the wall is composed of normal tissue, and the interior contains STUFF. For example, epithelial inclusion cysts have walls that are similar to skin, and the interior contains debris that is similar to dead skin. Sebaceous cysts are derived from sebaceous glands, the skin glands that make our skin oily. The "stuff," in this case, is sebum, the oily secretion produced by sebaceous glands. If they are bothersome, cysts should be removed. They rarely go away on their own. Typically, they remain the same size or grow slowly. They can also become infected.

If you still have this lump, you should see a doctor -- especially if the lump has grown since you asked your question.