What Is Outer Ear Eczema?

What Is Outer Ear

Eczema?

Outer ear eczema is a skin condition that involves local inflammation. It may be caused by allergies and occurs in people of all ages and genders. The auricle and the external auditory canal are covered with sensitive skin, making them especially likely to develop it. It’s important to watch out for symptoms and care for it properly, because eczema can cause a number of complications.

Watch Out for These Symptoms

Eczema is characterized by redness and scaling (drying and cracking) of the affected area. There are often crusts as well, which can start oozing. The inflammation can cause itching and burning, usually accompanied by pain in the ear. Some people even feel like they have hearing loss, because the inflammation causes the auditory canal to narrow. Possible Causes

It’s important to know what’s causing the eczema so you can apply the right treatment and heal the irritation. As mentioned earlier, ear eczema can be caused by a contact allergy. If so, it’s important to identify what’s causing the irritation so you can stop it from touching your skin. Beyond allergies, eczema can also be caused by softening of the skin if the auditory canal regularly gets wet. Frequent swimming or bathing and failure to dry off properly is often responsible for this excess moisture. In other words, make sure to dry your skin with a towel after you’ve been in the water. You can also clean the ears with shampoo or a mild soap. The backs of the ears and the junction between the earlobe and the cheek tend to be moister, making them prime areas for eczema to develop. However, over-cleaning or using harsh implements to clean the ears can also cause skin irritation. Ears need earwax to provide lubrication and create a barrier to harmful bacteria. The external ear canal usually empties itself from excess earwax on its own.

Treatment Options

Hydrocortisone cream helps relieve itching and skin inflammation. Antibiotic drops or corticosteroids may also be prescribed to cure eczema in the external auditory canal. In addition to using prescribed treatments, people with eczema need to take precautions to avoid worsening the problem. For example, it’s important to avoid scratching because it can cause bleeding and slow the healing and scarring process.

Talk to an ENT specialist or a health professional to learn more about ear eczema.

Isabelle Deschênes

Nurse at Infirmia

References - Eczéma de l’oreille externe : causes, symptômes et traitement. (n.d.). Concilio. https:// www.concilio.com/orl-pathologies-interventions-oreille-eczema-du-conduit-auditif-externe-cae - Types of Eczema. (n.d.). Eczema Society of Canada. https://www.eczemahelp.ca/ about-eczema/types-of-eczema/ - Ear eczema - National Eczema Society. (n.d.). National Eczema Society. https://eczema. org/information-and-advice/types-of-eczema/ear-eczema/