Ear piercings, psoriasis, ear dermatitis, ear cancer… are conditions that can cause scabs and infections in the ears.
Scalds in the ear are usually not serious and can heal on their own, sometimes requiring treatment with over-the-counter medications. In rare cases, scabs in the ear are a sign of skin cancer. Here are 9 causes of scaly ears.
Ear piercing
An infected piercing can cause the ear to crust over. A piercing on the infected cartilage takes a long time to heal because the area has no blood vessels or nerve cells. In this case, you need to see a doctor for treatment. Some ways to treat a piercing infection include: taking antibiotics, applying antibiotic ointment, washing with sterile saline, warm compresses.
Acne
Pimples in the ear are usually harmless. However, people do not poke their own pimples because the discharge can get into the ear causing irritation and infection. Usually, acne will heal on its own, placing a warm compress on the ear can help. In case of itchy and painful ear acne, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers and see a specialist.
Dry ears
Dry ear skin also causes scabs, and severe dryness can cause bleeding or cracking, itching, stretch marks, and redness. Dry ear skin can be caused by climate, disease, allergies, genetics, age, or other skin conditions. Treatments such as: applying moisturizers, ointments, essential oils, steroids.
Ear dermatitis
This is a skin rash and irritation caused by an overactive immune system, genetics, infections, allergies. Common symptoms are rash, dry and itchy skin, and scabs inside the ears and on the face. Common treatments include: applying moisturizers, corticosteroid creams and ointments, antibiotics, etc. When skin inflammation is present, it is recommended to regularly use moisturizers for the skin, reduce stress, use mild soaps and take a warm bath.
Psoriasis
Usually, the skin grows and peels off within a month. However, with psoriasis, due to an overactive immune system, scabs develop over 3-4 days, new skin is constantly forming and the old skin does not have a chance to peel off properly. As a result, skin cells form at a rapid rate and pile up on the surface, leaving dry and scaly patches, stinging and itching. This condition is not contagious and forms in many places on the body such as the ears, knees, elbows, eyelids, and scalp.
Reducing stress, consuming low-inflammatory foods, and sunbathing and using a humidifier can improve psoriasis. Applying vitamin D3 ointment, vitamin A or retinol cream, moisturizing cream, using special shampoo, laser… are common treatments.
Psoriasis can cause scabs on the ears, elbows, and scalp. Image: Freepik
Indigo
It often causes dry, scaly skin on the ears or in the ear canal due to an overactive immune system, stress, allergies to perfumes and fabrics, or infections. Symptoms include itching around or in the ear, red, swollen, and gaseous release in the ear. This condition can affect the eardrum, causing pain and infection.
Treatment usually uses medical ointments, steroid drops. Patients should avoid wearing allergenic fabrics, reduce exposure to dust and pet dander, avoid processed and highly inflammatory foods, limit lotions, metals from jewelry, etc. to avoid aggravating the disease. .
Heat rash
The disease, also known as heat rash or millet acne, is a skin irritation that causes pain, tingling, and small pimples. Heat rash occurs when blocked pores and sweat glands cause sweat and secretions to get trapped under the skin causing pimples, scabs on the ears and other parts.
The disease is common in infants and young children. Treat the disease by cooling down and drying, applying ointment when irritation and swelling or scabs appear. If the rash does not go away in 3-4 days, the patient needs to be hospitalized for treatment.
Cholesteatoma
This is a type of skin cyst, usually located in the middle ear and mastoid bone in the skull. Congenital disease or chronic ear infection. A cyst that grows or becomes infected can affect the structure of the ear, hearing, and facial muscles.
Symptoms of this skin cyst may include: hearing loss in one ear, ear discharge, dizziness, feeling of fullness and pressure in the ear.
Skin cancer
Although rare, scales in the ear can be a sign of skin cancer (basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma). Excessive sun and radiation exposure, advanced age, and smoking can increase the risk of skin cancer.
Other symptoms of ear skin cancer may include: slow-growing pearly white bumps in the ear, painful or bleeding ear ulcers, hearing loss, dizziness or facial paralysis. If a person has crusting in the ear that does not improve in 4 weeks, a doctor should be checked.
Regularly clean the scaly areas in the ears with soap and warm water and pat dry. People should avoid excessive rubbing or scratching, avoid poking anything in their ears, and rinse with warm water, and always keep their hands clean when applying the medication.
Mai Cat (Follow Very well health)
