My 14 year old son showed me that he has a knot under one of his areolas. It is not big enough to see but you can definitly feel it. I guess I would describe it as more flat than round like a ball. He says it is sensitive to touch. He has had other knots in places like his earlobes that were small and one on the side of his neck that was a little larger in the past. The doctor said that they were cists and would eventually go away on their own and they did. These were present when he was about 11 years old. Does anyone have any idea what this may be?
SUPER common condition for boys about the age of puberty. It actually has a name called Gynecomastia (sp?) and here is a link to it:
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/120858-overview
Don't worry....it's super common, rarely lasts longer than puberty and leaves no lasting effects. :)
Try puberty is kicking in, just as it does in females. Hope this helps.
Well if you are concerned, don't hesitate to get a second opinion. I too had cysts as a kid, they would come and go and from time to time be sensitive. I would get them in my wrists and they would hurt. I still have one on my forehead at my hairline. It was sensitive when I was kid but now has not sensation at all. Like your son, it isn't visible but if you touch it, it feels like a hard little knot. Since it in your son's areola,you might want to check into if further for peace of mind. But for me somewhere in my late teens/early twenties the cysts stopped. Best wishes to you and your family!
If your son has a history of cysts, it's more likely than not another cyst. Things like caffiene and salt aggrevate cysts. But to be on the safe side I would go ahead and have a doc check him out.
As my oldest is not yet 14 (she is only 11) I can only assume/hope it is like the one my daughter had when she was 3 in about the same place. Breast cancer runs in my family fairly heavily so, of course, I panicked wheen I discovered it while bathing her one night.
I was sent to a specialist by her pediatrician. I was told that cysts like this often form on again off again over the course of childhood. That generally they are not of a type to be worried about and go away on their own. I was told to watch it and if it seemed to have dramatic growth over a short period of time or the shape (feel) of it changed that I should have her seen again for further testing. As it went away without any changes in a few weeks, I didn't worry about it.
So, I would say watch it for changes that make it different from what your doctor described and then take him in. IF it simply goes away in a few days or weeks, then you know it was okay.
Good Luck!!! ;-)
Just like with girls, sometimes boys have a hormonal reactions when they start going through puberty that causes these knots under the areolas. It doesn't mean he'll grow breasts, it just means that his body is going through the same changes that we all go through in order to become an adult. It's not uncommon for only one breast to have the tenderness sometimes it's both. He'll probably be a little embarrassed about it, so just make sure he knows that's its not "weird" or it doesn't mean he's going to turn into a girl. He's not going to find any of his guy friends talking about it so ensure him he is perfectly healthy and the tenderness will subside after a while. If he acts grossed out by it, then have him talk with his pediatrician to assure him that it's perfectly normal and he's just growing up into a man.
Hi S..
I'm sure this is nothing to worry about, however, you do need to take him to see his Pedi. Chances are it's a hormonal issue but I think you should always have any "knot" or lump checked out.
HTH
My son had the smiliar knot in the same area when he was about that age and now my youngest who just turned 15 has it too. Long story short we took them to the doctor and he advised us that it is something they get when going through puberty. My youngest says his hurt but not as much as it did for the oldest. However please still take him to the doctor to confirm and always get a 2nd opinion. I hope this helped.
Hi S., I'm not sure exactly what it is, but it's normal. I remember having them around puberty and my brother having them too about that age. Has something to do with puberty, maybe a gland, try not to worry.
My son complained for a few years about that. I use to wonder too but because it was in both, i just asumed it was normal. They were sensitive to the touch also. He is now 14 and they have almost gone away.. i think its very normal... L.
Yep, think I know what that is and not to worry. It is a breast bud....very similar to what girls get when they are beginning to develop. My boys got them too, at about age 13 or 14. All 3 of my brothers had them. They are tender...just like girls breasts when there is a big surge of hormones.
One of my boys had them and they lasted about 6 months. My other had them for about a year. One "lump" was a bit larger than the other....he was very self conscious. Wore a shirt even to the pool. I felt bad for him, but the doc assured us it would go away. Our pediatrician said it's a huge increase in hormones and boys have estrogen as well as testosterone. As they mature, the testosterone, of course increases and the buds will go away.
A friend of mine that is now 23 has a lump on his right chest. After wondering for a long time what it was he went to the doctor, and found out that some males during puberity expeirence a large amount of hormones that cause those lumps or bumps. I can't really remeber if he told me what it was called or not I just remember what he said was the reason. The doctor also said that it is harmless and dosen't need to be removed unless cosmetically desired, so I guess it pretty much stays for life. He got his in highschool and still has it. He says its sensitve to the touch but not painful other wise. In some tighter shirts you can notice the difference in the size of his chest. I hope this will atleast give you some info for searching on Google or something to ask your doctor about, but might not be the same thing.
I think it is puberty. Have it checked at the Dr. if it really bothers him.
Sounds to me like it is a boil that come up like on you face, generally around the chin area, ear lobes, etc. They are sensitive to touch. The more you mess with it the larger it will get and the longer it will take to go away. Should be gone within 5-7 days.
