Ear eczema

Ear eczema can be an extremely irritating and, at times, painful condition. On this page, you can find out about all of the different types of eczema that affect the ears along with advice around treatments.

Symptoms

Eczema across any part of the ear, including the ear folds, backs of the ears and the area where the ears meet the face
Slight dryness to extensive skin loss and soreness
Internal or external ear infections

Types of ear eczema

There are 5 different types of eczema that can affect the ears.

atopic eczema
seborrhoeic dermatitis
asteatotic eczema
contact dermatitis
otitis externa

Treatments

Treatment of ear eczema will depend on the cause and type of eczema, which will need to be diagnosed by your GP.
Emollients – these are often prescribed for atopic, seborrhoeic or asteatotic eczema
Topical steroid – this may be prescribed for sore areas behind the ears or in their folds
Topical steroid and antifungal – this may be prescribed if you have seborrhoeic dermatitis
Topical calcineurin inhibitors – such as Protopic and Elidel, may be prescribed for ear eczema
Steroid drops – If you have eczema inside the ear canal, you will need steroid drops, which will be prescribed by your GP or other healthcare professional.
Patch testing - If allergic contact dermatitis is suspected, you may be referred to a dermatology department to help find out what you are allergic to so that you can avoid it in the future.
Antibiotic ear drops – usually prescribed for otitis externa, which may also contain a steroid the reduce inflammation, itch and swelling
Aural toilet - Manual cleaning of the ear by a healthcare professional is called ‘aural toilet’ and is often recommended to remove debris in the ear canal which can easily get infected.

FAQs

Ear piercing does not cause ear eczema, but problems can occur later on as a consequence of wearing earrings or studs. Nickel allergy is very common and the chance of this developing is greatly increased if you have your ears pierced and if anything made even partly from nickel is worn in or on the ear.

If you definitely have a nickel allergy, wear only ‘hypo-allergenic’ jewellery or jewellery made from 18- carat gold, pure sterling silver, platinum or good-quality stainless steel. Foreign silver, rolled gold, white gold and gold plating should be avoided.

Pierced ears can become infected, particularly just after piercing. Make sure you go to a reputable ear-piercing technician to get your ears pierced, and wash the piercings frequently afterwards with the saline solution you were given by the ear-piercing technician.

Apply your topical treatments by using a cotton bud to gently paint your cream or ointment on the affected area. Do not push the cotton bud into your ear.

Also known as ‘swimmer’s ear’, this is an inflammatory condition of the ear canal. It can be caused by a primary skin problem, such as eczema, or by a bacterial or fungal infection. Having ear eczema increases your risk of getting otitis externa too. Other risk factors include swimming, sweating, high humidity and local trauma to the ear canal (for example, by using cotton buds or scratching the inside of the ear).

Symptoms include earache, skin becoming red or darker than your usual skin colour, depending on skin tone, swelling, itching and discharge from inside the ear. In severe cases, it can reduce people’s hearing due to swelling of the ear canal.

In suspected cases, dermatologists may seek help from the ear, nose and throat (ENT) medical team. To avoid getting otitis externa:

Keep the ear clean
Avoid trauma, irritants and allergens
Keep the outside of the ear dry – particularly after bathing and swimming
Make sure any underlying contributing skin condition is well-controlled

Useful resources 

Our booklets and factsheets are based on the latest research and clinical guidelines, and are regularly reviewed by doctors and nurses. 

Related Downloads ⁽¹⁾

PDF

3.14 MB

Living with eczema (for adults) booklet

Supportive, practical information for adults managing eczema, based on the latest research and regularly reviewed by doctors and nurses. 