What can cause lumps on back of your head and neck that just appeared over night and are kinda of tender?

Answer 1

Ok so. It really depends where these lumps are. These sound like lymph nodes. You have lymph nodes all over your body but the primary ones that you will notice are behind the ear (occipital lymph node), two areas down your neck from the edge of your jaw down to your collar bone (cervical nodes), one big one under each of your tonsils, some on the shoulder area and a nice little guy under your chin. The lymph nodes serve as a way for your body to drain infection and fight it or to drain excess fluid. When the lymph nodes get swollen, like any part of your body, it hurts. If they are infact lymph nodes they will be about the diameter of a dime or smaller and will move around a bit when touched. Generally, they are a sign of infection somewhere near the area they are inflamed. So, if they are the occipital nodes you may have a fungal, viral or bacterial infection. This can be something as simple as ringworm or a pimple. It can also be something worse. If they are bothering you go see a doctor.

Well I have just noticed these two large lumps on the back of my head... sounds like they are glands. However they are painful to the touch and quite large. I have psoriasis, mostly on the scalp, but only have mild breakouts every few months. With these lumps I also got a very bad breakout of psoriasis- I don't think it's been this bad since I was a little kid. Also the inside of my ears are aching, I have a bunch of tiny bumps on my forehead, I've been getting lots of headaches, my throat kind of hurts, and I generally feel weak and tired. With psoriasis I also get bumps on my hands, mostly knuckles, and something else I haven't gotten since I was a kid are extremely swollen and tender joints. OUCH! From all the research I've been doing online it sounds like this is a viral thing. Of course I recommend to anyone that if lumps ANYWHERE on your body exist for more than a couple weeks, get it checked out! good luck

hello there i have also been searching for an answer online. i first felt a lump at the right rear side of my neck which was movable but hurt like a bruse then noticed one on my head which over the last week has spread on my head to extremly itchy little bumps on my head.the only thing i have been doing is going to a tanning salon but i never had this problem last year and i wear a light reflective cap. i took some anti histamines today but they did not work! today my forhead has also started to itch with little spots? if you get an answer or anyone who reads this knows anything more please let me know. many thanks mel

Had similar problem. Sore bumps on the back of my head (near crown) that were sore to the touch, with painful points. Went to the Doctor Who diagnosed it as folliculitis. Also caused lymph nodes in the back of the head to swell (with a large lumps under skin on neck). Very uncomfortable.

Doctor prescribed anitbiotics to help stop the infection. May take over a month to fully heal.

I am not a big tanner, but had the blues and went tanning 1 day for 10 minutes since then I have had lumps on my head and a rash that is continuing to grow( over 6 weeks later). I have been tested for lupus and lymphoma....spooky stuff. I found this site while trying to research my possible "issues" and now wonder if my tanning (boost me on a rainy day) efforts have not messed me up some how?????

I have a similar case where I have bumps at the back of my neck. They hurt like a bruise when I touch. My doctor diagnosed this as folliculitis but to be on the safe side I've undergone an ultrasound scan which confirmed the diagnose as these can be an indication for a cancer or tumor.

These lumps take a few weeks to disappear. They can reappear in different areas of the head usually around the ear or neck. The main reason is a virus infection.

Usually these viruses stays dormant in the body and their count is kept under control by the immune system. When your immune system weakens due to other infections or stress, tiredness etc. their count increases causing these lumps to appear.

Be alert if it doesn't disappear or reduce in size after a few weeks go see a doctor!

I wonder if people who experience these bumps have a history of throat infections or sight problems?

Hi, i too suffer from this. Im only 13 and had it for about two weeks, Have any of you started to get alot of headaches aswell, more than usual? And finding them unbareably itchy! This is starting to cause much agrevation for me and leaving me very moody! One of you said do you expierence throat problems and sight?

Iv had tonsilitus about 3 times this year! And sights gradually getting worse, i used to have good sight, but its changing. Anyone got a reason for this?

I'm 13 and i have this big lump on my head and it's like the size of a nickel and it feels like a bruise. it moves when i push on it and im really scared because some of u said it might be a tumor/cancer or lymphoma or folliculitis. im scared. if anyone has some answers please help me. I'm home alone so i can't get help or a doctor.

:Reading your answers scares me. About a year ago I had a lump on the side of my neck, right under my ear pretty much. I was really stressed at the time so I figured that what caused it. I just got over being sick. I asked my friend who is a CNA and she said it was a lymph node and shouldn't be worried. It's still there, just hardly noticeable, really small. It's a little sensative too.

The reason I'm here is my friend noticed bumps on her neck last night. On the back of her neck, right under her hair line. I told her about mine and suggested it was a lymph node. I think I'll make her go to the doctor and see what they say.

ANSWERReading about this worries me aswell, i had a lump under my ear, doctors said it was a cyst that went infected, i went to the doctors 2 days ago and was asked to have blood test which is next week, another lump has appeared today and all feel real bruised when i touch them, i also suffer from mouth ulcers bad, so if any one has any suggestions what it could be and try and stop me worrying i would be grateful thanks I had a similar bump on the back of my head that was tender, then developed one behind my right ear and another small one on my neck, followed a few days later by a small patch of what appeared to be acne. I went to my doctor and was diagnosed with shingles, which is the chickenpox virus that remains dormant in our systems but can come back in the form of shingles. I was prescribed an antiviral and pain meds. I am thankful it wasn't more serious. In general, any abnormal or unexplained growth should be reported and evaluated by a medical professional to look for a possible underlying condition. If the lumps do not go away in two weeks, or if they start to get worse, consult a doctor immediately.

Answer 2

I've searched this for weeks because my 12 year old son has the same thing in the occipital region of his scalp. What I've read is that dandruff or seborrhea, ringworm or a bug bite can cause the lymph nodes in that area to swell. At age 12 ish, the lymph nodes are the largest they'll ever be so any swelling is more noticeable. The lymph nodes on the back of the head almost always swell because of scalp infections, pimples, cysts, infected hairs, bug bites on the scalp and almost never, ever from cancer. Those nodes collect gunk from the lymph system of the scalp and not deep within the body. There are 1 - 3 nodes in the area behind the ear, in the hair area and on both sides of the head. My son has one that has remained swollen for four weeks. Depending on the size, the nodes can take 4 - 12 weeks to go down AFTER the infection / problem has been cleared up.

Answer 3

It could be inflamed lymph nodes which are part of you immune system. Thus, your body may be fighting bacteria and are causing your lymph nodes to overwork and become larger.

There's a large concentration of lymph nodes on the back of ones neck, under the armpits, in the groin area, etc.

Please see your primary care physician to have them checked to rule out any potential problems.

Answer 4

Could be anything from lymphoma(uncurable lymph node tumor),a harmless cyst or a lethal skin tumor on the scalp.Try searhing for websites that show tumor symptoms.God bless you.

Answer 5

moast probaly a heat-spot which will itch like CRAZY but dont itch it cuz it will bleed and still itch the only cure is to hold a ice cube on it or its cancer