Recurring Painful Ear Lumps

I had this, but it was once behind my ear and once on the forehead. When they got very swollen they started getting red (the one on my forehead even purple) and VERY painful.
The one on the forehead was a lipoma that got infected - it is a bump of fat, never cancerous - and was removed by plastic surgeon covered by insurance because it was on the face.
The one behind the ear was removed on the otolaryngology, and I had to go back 4 times because it was a so called inflamed sebacous cyst. This meant after draining they have to drain it every couple of days again, and finally remove the entire sac of the cyst otherwise it regrows just like in your case. I think this is what you have.
The problem with draining for yourself is that once open it becomes extremely vulnerable to infections and you can get serious trouble. Remember, POSITIVELY NO WATER! If you drained it recently, put tight bandage and just don't wash it at all until it completely heals.
I recommend the doctors however because my relief came quick and absolutely painless - they used aenesthatic injections, 2 from 2 sides in each case.
My bumps have not regrown.