If you or a friend or relative have ear eczema, you are aware that it’s a painful condition that can seem to strike without warning. Doctors refer to it as atopic dermatitis, which is characterized as skin that’s inflamed, flaky, dry and itchy. Eczema is capable of manifesting on any part of the body. This includes both the exterior and interior of the ears.
Ear Eczema Symptoms
If you think you may have eczema or are wondering about whether a loved one has this condition, it’s useful to become more familiar with symptoms of ear eczema. (Ear eczema may also appear at the point where the ear is connected to the head, in the small crease). Be on the lookout for such symptoms as:
- Clear liquid discharge from the ear
- Flaky, dry skin at the ear canal
- Flaky, dry, irritated skin on the ear’s exterior
- Itchy feelings on exterior and/or interior of the ear
- Swelling accompanied by redness around the ear (or just inside)
Causes of Ear Eczema
How can a person get ear eczema? Knowing about the causes can help individuals avoid ear eczema, going forward.
According to Healthline, there are three different kinds of eczema that people experience on or in their ears: Allergic eczema, asteatotic eczema and seborrheic dermatitis.
- Allergic Eczema: This is a common cause of ear eczema. A wide range of irritants are implicated, such as earrings, headphones, makeup, shampoo and other hair products, and smartphones. By eliminating these factors, you may begin to achieve relief.
- Asteatotic Eczema: This type of ear eczema often occurs with older individuals, and it is triggered when the ears are exposed to dramatic weather changes in sensitive people. Patients often find that their ear eczema is more profound when they have asteatotic eczema that’s been exacerbated by harsh winds, central heating and scrubbing their ears too hard when washing up.
- Seborrheic Dermatitis: Eczema that primarily occurs in oily sections of the body is called seborrheic dermatitis. You may see it on a person’s scalp, but it can also be found on skin right behind the ears.
Diagnosing Ear Eczema
Patients who are experiencing ear discomfort often visit their family doctor to figure out what the problem is. A doctor diagnoses ear eczema after making a careful examination of the ears, looking for evidence of inflammation, irritation and reddening.
Since it may be an inherited disorder, your doctor will want to know about family members who had ear eczema, while getting your medical history. If multiple people in your family tree have suffered from eczema in ears, that can explain why you have the condition too.
Ear Eczema Treatment
Fortunately for people who are afflicted with ear eczema, there is no longer any need to suffer in silence, since safe and gentle treatments are so readily available.
For patients with seborrheic eczema, a doctor may prescribe an antifungal ointment for you to spread on your ear. When inflammation is profound (such as reddened skin just behind the ear), the doctor has an option to prescribe a steroid cream. For eczema that’s affecting the ear canal, a physician may prescribe ear drops infused with steroids.
Keep in mind that “it’s important to keep the area moisturized, regardless of the type of eczema you have,” per Healthline. It added that patients with ear eczema should “avoid using harsh soaps and cleansers around your ears, which can dry out your skin and make your symptoms worse.”
The team at Eczema Honey agrees, which is why we have created our line of gentle products designed to soothe and support people with eczema. Our Facial Cleanser is a good starting point. We also recommend our Skin Soothing Cream to patients who want relief for ear eczema. For all-around relief, our Body Lotion would make a wonderful addition to your regimen for treating for ear eczema.
While immediate eczema relief is your chief goal today, you’ll also want to learn what you might do to minimize the occurrence of outbreaks.
For example, if your healthcare provider determines that you have allergic eczema, it will be time to start phasing out different potential allergens, such as a hair care product, to see if eliminating one keeps eczema from striking again.
Or, it might be that your jewelry is causing your skin to react, meaning you might need to keep certain earrings on display in your home but not on your head.
But in the meantime, it’s wise to use time-tested, natural products like those carried by Eczema Honey to alleviate the discomfort and pain of ear eczema.
Restoring Your Ears to Their Earlier, Healthy Condition
It’s not an ideal situation if you are just putting up with ear eczema, hoping the painful symptoms will subside soon and not bother you much, going into the future. Using natural, gentle products as part of your regimen for treatment of ear eczema should bring you a measure of relief. Many individuals find that taking advantage of Eczema Honey products such as our line of facial cleanser, soothing cream and body lotion products reduces discomfort, letting them get back to focusing on their duties at work, school, or home.
Sources
- Healthline: Ear Eczema
- https://www.healthline.com/health/ear-eczema
- Facial Cleanser
- https://eczemahoneyco.com/collections/face-body-care
- Skin Soothing Cream
- https://eczemahoneyco.com/products/eczema-honey
- Body Lotion
- https://eczemahoneyco.com/products/eczema-honey-body-lotion
