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Bump Is Hard On Top And Soft At The Bottom, Swelling Below Collarbone. What Is It?

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Posted on Sat, 29 Sep 2012
Question: what kind of bump that is hard on the top and soft on the bottom and is swelling below collarbone?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (23 minutes later)
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

Does this bump hurt? Where there any trauma of this area in the past? How long do you have this tumor? Is it movable?

Most common bump, that is movable, does not hurt at all and grows slowly is lipoma, benign tumor of soft tissues. It can be easily diagnosed with ultrasound of this area and if diagnose confirmed may be removed by a surgeon.
It is a possibility that it can be also sebaceous cyst, another benign tumor like cyst filled with semi-solid material. This one can get inflamed and become an abscess.

Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (14 minutes later)
no the bump does not hurt after i was rubbing chinese medicine on it. no there were no trama of this area in the past. I woke up this morning and it was there. It also itches as well. When i was rubbing the chinese medicine on it there were some small white stuff coming out of it.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (2 minutes later)
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

If so, than most likely it is sebaceous cyst, which has been evacuated by itself.
If it wont disappear in 2 days, you should see dermatologist or surgeon to remove it completely. In my opinion there is nothing to worry about. It is self-healing condition.

Hope this will help.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (4 minutes later)
when i am rubbing it with chinese medicine, and the white stuff come out. What is the white stuff? is it a good idea to put ice on it?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (9 hours later)
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

The white stuff is probably the pus with the contents of the cyst. It should be drained. If it does not heal itself in two days, you should visit a surgeon. Ice is not a good idea. You should wash it with water and soap as this is the best and the simplest method of removing skin infection. But again, if it does not get better, you should visit a surgeon.

Hope this will help.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (5 hours later)
do you think the heating pad will work for this?
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (33 minutes later)
I placed a heating pad over it and it has shrunk the bump. However it is itching like hell.
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (5 hours later)
do you preferred an antibacterial soap or a regular soap? and what do you think of using a heating pad on this?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (10 minutes later)
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

I suggest to use just a regular soap. Heating pad will result with vessels dilatation what may cause itching. Cleaning it and leaving alone would be better idea. And again, if not healed after 2 days, you should visit a surgeon or dermatologist as here I cannot tell in 100% what are you dealing with.

Hope this will help.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (46 minutes later)
is it better to wash it with hot or cold water.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (1 hour later)
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

Washing it in warm water will be fine. Just like you wash your hands.

Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (40 minutes later)
Hi

i took your advice on washing it with water and soap while in the shower, and doing all that i noticed that the bump is actually getting smaller and going away. Is it better or not to apply First Aid Antibiotic Ointment after each wash?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (18 minutes later)
Hello!

Antibiotic is not advisable. On every skin there are natural bacterias that are protection skin from disease-causing bacterias. If you apply an antibiotic on your skin, you will eliminate this good bacterias, and let the bad bacterias to grow and cause the infection. So just wash it, and don`t use anything else. If it`s getting better, your immune system will get rid of it without any antibiotics.

Regards

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Grzegorz Stanko

General Surgeon

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 5795 Questions

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Bump Is Hard On Top And Soft At The Bottom, Swelling Below Collarbone. What Is It?

Hello!

Thank you for the query.

Does this bump hurt? Where there any trauma of this area in the past? How long do you have this tumor? Is it movable?

Most common bump, that is movable, does not hurt at all and grows slowly is lipoma, benign tumor of soft tissues. It can be easily diagnosed with ultrasound of this area and if diagnose confirmed may be removed by a surgeon.
It is a possibility that it can be also sebaceous cyst, another benign tumor like cyst filled with semi-solid material. This one can get inflamed and become an abscess.

Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards