Lump under the skin

I'm asking about my mom. She noticed this lump under the skin on her lower back, right above her glutes. Since she can't really see the spot herself, I took a look for her. When you press on it, it feels pretty firm—maybe about an inch in diameter—and we aren't sure if it's getting any bigger. It doesn't actually hurt her, but I can definitely feel it when I touch it. This showed up about a week ago; at first, it looked to me like just a typical large red pimple, maybe even with a little white head, but I can't say for certain that it was just a breakout. It could have been an insect bite or something. Anyway, that redness has mostly cleared up by now, and there's just this tiny speck left in the center that's almost gone too. Her skin looks totally normal now, except for that larger mass underneath. She’s heading to her doctor tomorrow, but I wanted to see if anyone here has any idea what this might be. Personally, I'm wondering if some bug left something behind under the skin or if it's just a lipoma, though a fatty deposit wouldn't usually start out looking like a standard pimple. Or is it possible for a regular pimple to leave behind a larger lump like this?

I suspect it isn't actually anything serious; it’s likely just those damn tiger mosquitoes. They bite you without you even noticing, but by tomorrow, you'll be walking around with something the size of a soccer ball.

Sarah Wood8 said:I'm asking about my mom. She noticed this lump under the skin on her lower back, right above her glutes. Since she can't really see the spot herself, I took a look for her. When you press on it, it feels pretty firm—maybe about an inch in diameter—and we aren't sure if it's getting any bigger. It doesn't actually hurt her, but I can definitely feel it when I touch it. This showed up about a week ago; at first, it looked to me like just a typical large red pimple, maybe even with a little white head, but I can't say for certain that it was just a breakout. It could have been an insect bite or something. Anyway, that redness has mostly cleared up by now, and there's just this tiny speck left in the center that's almost gone too. Her skin looks totally normal now, except for that larger mass underneath. She’s heading to her doctor tomorrow, but I wanted to see if anyone here has any idea what this might be. Personally, I'm wondering if some bug left something behind under the skin or if it's just a lipoma, though a fatty deposit wouldn't usually start out looking like a standard pimple. Or is it possible for a regular pimple to leave behind a larger lump like this?

Get it checked out by a doctor—it’s impossible to call shots without seeing it. Could be an abscess ripening up, or maybe something subcutaneous that needs a quick professional incision to drain (leave that to a pro, don't try any DIY surgery at home!), followed by some antibiotic ointment for a few days. Then you're good.

It might be a lipoma, though that's less likely since those usually stay skin-colored rather than turning red.

An insect bite would typically itch like crazy.

Bottom line: go see a GP. It’s probably nothing serious—unless, of course, your mom just got back from the Amazon.😁

Yeah, right... her doctor mentioned it might be some kind of benign tumor that could be surgically removed, but honestly, I don't think the doctor has any clue what she's talking about since she sounds just as lost as everyone else. It’s probably just some massive subcutaneous cyst that formed under the skin. Maybe it'll just break down on its own, or maybe it'll drain naturally. If not, they'll just have to cut it out.

I really hope it isn't chronic sinusitis.🙄 It’s such a massive, nagging headache that usually requires surgery just to get some relief.

Angela Wright said:I really hope it isn't chronic sinusitis.🙄 It’s such a massive, nagging headache that usually requires surgery just to get some relief.

I’ve got my doubts about this... The doctor told her to just keep applying warm compresses to the area because she's honestly stumped on what it actually is. Personally, I’m leaning towards it being some kind of subcutaneous cyst or a deep pimple. It doesn't really hurt her; there's maybe a little sensitivity if you touch it, but otherwise, no pain at all.

Sarah Wood8 said:Yeah, right... her doctor mentioned it might be some kind of benign tumor that could be surgically removed, but honestly, I don't think the doctor has any clue what she's talking about since she sounds just as lost as everyone else. It’s probably just some massive subcutaneous cyst that formed under the skin. Maybe it'll just break down on its own, or maybe it'll drain naturally. If not, they'll just have to cut it out.

It sounds like she’s dealing with a cyst—the kind that can sit just under the skin or right on the surface. These things are usually filled with fibrous material, fatty tissue, or serous fluid. They can get infected, or they might just rupture spontaneously. She should have her doctor give her a referral to a dermatologist first; then, the dermatologist can refer her to a general surgeon for a minor procedure. They can excise it, and if there's any doubt about what it actually is, they'll send it off for pathology to be safe.

cyst image 1

cyst image 2

I’m running into the exact same issue. Has anyone else dealt with this, and more importantly, how did you actually fix it? It feels like everything is almost identical to the previous case, except for the last bit!