A hard, granular growth in the earlobe is considered a sebaceous cyst.
Sebaceous cysts are cystic swellings formed when the glandular ducts that excrete lipids in the skin are blocked and sebum is not excreted and accumulates.
Sebaceous cysts are slow-growing benign lesions with sebaceous gland ducts as the walls of the cysts, and the contents of the cysts are soya bean residue-like retained material, commonly known as chalk tumors. It is most commonly seen on the head, face and back where sebaceous glands are densely distributed.
Due to the obstruction of the sebaceous gland ducts in the skin of the earlobe, sebum can not be normally discharged to the outside of the body, and the sebum gradually swells, forming a retention cyst, which can be felt as a hard, painless granular object inside the earlobe during examination.
This kind of sebaceous cyst usually does not have any uncomfortable symptoms, and it is not recommended that patients squeeze it by themselves, as too much squeezing will cause local infection, which may lead to swelling and pain.
If the cyst is large, it can be surgically removed at the ear, nose and throat department of the hospital.