Ear eczema: Symptoms, causes, and treatment

People with ear eczema may notice dry, flaky skin in or around their ears. This symptom may develop after contact with specific triggers, such as beauty products or metal jewelry.

Ear eczema may lead to infection and inflammation of the ear canal, called acute otitis externa. Using a range of treatment and prevention methods, people can often reduce ear eczema symptoms and flares.

What is ear eczema?

Ear eczema is a red, itchy rash that develops on the outside of the ear or inside the ear canal.

Ear eczema can sometimes arise without any triggers, in which case it is called aural eczematoid dermatitis. People who are prone to seborrheic dermatitis or psoriasis are more likely than others to have aural eczematoid dermatitis.

Contact with certain irritants can also cause ear eczema. This type of eczema is called contact dermatitis. Soaps, hair dyes, and metal jewelry can all trigger contact dermatitis in and around the ears.

Babies and children commonly get areas of eczema on the face, including the ears. This inflammatory skin condition is not contagious.

Symptoms

Ear eczema causes symptoms that are similar to those of eczema on other parts of the body. People with ear eczema may experience:

• dry, scaly skin around the ear
• dry, scaly skin inside the ear canal
• redness and swelling
• itchiness in or around the ear canal
• clear discharge from the ear

The symptoms of ear eczema can also affect the area behind the ear and the crease where the ear attaches to the head.

For most people, the symptoms of eczema will be mild to moderate. However, in some cases, the itching can become intense and lead to the following:

• red, swollen, or dark skin
• areas of very dry, sensitive skin
• scaly patches that may be rough or leathery
• oozing, bleeding, or crusting areas of inflamed skin
• infected skin in the ear canal

People should avoid scratching eczema, as this can lead to very inflamed areas of skin that may bleed and make eczema symptoms worse.

For some people with ear eczema, home remedies and lifestyle changes are insufficient to manage the condition.

It may take some trial and error to find an effective treatment for ear eczema. However, a doctor can recommend different treatment options or combinations of treatments.

The treatment for ear eczema may include a combination of the following:

• ear drops, if the eczema is in the ear canal
• prescription creams for the skin, such as antifungal creams, steroids, or barrier creams
• systemic medications that reduce the immune system’s response to triggers
• biologics, which are medications that target the immune system reaction
• phototherapy, which uses a machine to shine UVB light onto affected areas of skin

What else could it be?

People may mistake ear eczema for other skin conditions with similar symptoms, including:

• psoriasis
• skin allergies
• fungal infections
• dandruff

In most cases, a doctor can identify eczema and recommend suitable treatments.

Outlook

Ear eczema is not usually severe. However, the itchiness and dry skin can be frustrating, and these symptoms can get worse if people scratch the affected area. Eczema inside the ear can also make people prone to ear canal infections.

However, with proper treatment, eczema generally clears up with no long-term effects. Most people with ear eczema can successfully manage their condition with the help of a doctor and some home remedies and lifestyle changes.

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