What to Know About Ear Eczema

Medically Reviewed by Poonam Sachdev on July 31, 2024
Written by WebMD Editorial Contributor
7 min read

Ear eczema is a skin condition that causes inflammation, itchiness, and dryness around, on, or inside of your ear. It can range from slightly noticeable to very uncomfortable.

Ezema can affect all parts of your ear, including:

  • Your earlobes
  • The hollow area just outside your ear hole, called the conchal bowl
  • The opening of your ear
  • Your ear canal
  • Behind your ear
  • Your ear folds
  • Where your ears meet your face

The ears are just one part of the body where you can get eczema. Children tend to get eczema more often than adults, usually before they reach age 1. While eczema tends to be long-lasting, it can get better over time.

Several kinds of eczema can affect the ear area, including:

Atopic ear eczema. This is the most common type of eczema. You might also hear it called atopic dermatitis. With atopic eczema, your skin is extra sensitive to things in the environment. This leads to inflammation that causes discoloration and itching.

Asteatotic ear eczema. This type of ear eczema usually affects older people. It happens when changes in weather, such as cold temperatures, wind, or low humidity irritate the skin of your ears. It can also happen in reaction to wool, strong soaps, or shampoos.

Ear canal eczema. A type of eczema called seborrheic dermatitis often affects the ear canal, though it can also form behind your ear. Seborrheic dermatitis affects areas of the body that have sebaceous glands (which produce oil). It's thought to be triggered when your immune system overreacts to a yeast that lives on your skin.

Contact dermatitis. Also called contact eczema or allergic eczema, this happens when the skin in your ear area comes into contact with something that causes an allergic reaction. You could suddenly have a reaction even to something you use every day. Some common allergens include:

  • Shampoos and other hair products
  • Cosmetics
  • Skin products
  • Jewelry
  • Hearing aids
  • Headphones and earbuds
  • Cellphones
  • Ear drops

Swimmer’s ear

While this isn't a type of eczema, ear eczema can cause swimmer's ear (also called otitis externa). At the same time, ear eczema raises your risk of getting swimmer's ear. Swimmer's ear is inflammation that may happen when water, shampoo, or soap gets trapped in your ear canal, causing bacteria to grow. It can also be triggered by skin damage from scratching or using cotton swabs inside your ear.

Symptoms of ear eczema differ from person to person, but they almost always include itching. Other possible symptoms include:

  • Dry skin
  • Cracked skin
  • Rash
  • Discolored areas that may look red on light skin and grey, brown, or purple on dark skin
  • Bumpy skin
  • Thick, leathery, or crusty patches
  • Swelling
  • Hearing loss or ringing of the ears (tinnitus)

Cracked skin can lead to an infection. Infected ear eczema can be painful. Your skin might leak fluid or you may notice a discharge coming from your ear.

Experts aren't sure just what causes eczema. It's thought to involve both your genes and your environment. When your skin overreacts to irritants or allergens, it causes inflammation. This in turn damages the skin's protective barrier, making your skin even more sensitive.

You may be more likely to get ear eczema if:

  • You've had allergies, asthma, or eczema before, or have a family history of these conditions
  • Your ear area is exposed to potentially irritating substances such as hair dye or perm solution
  • You use items such as shower caps, hearing aids, or earbuds
  • You have pierced ears and wear earrings that contain nickel
  • You have an infection such as swimmer's ear
  • Your ears are exposed to extreme weather or big changes in the weather

How common is it?

Eczema is very common, affecting up to30% of children and 10% of adults. But the ears aren't the most common location for eczema. In babies and young children, it most often affects the face, knees, and outsides of the elbows. In adults and older kids, it's most commonly found on the hands, feet, arms, and back of the knees.

Is ear eczema contagious?

No matter where on your body you have eczema, you can't spread it to other people.

If your doctor thinks you may have ear eczema, they'll examine your ears to look for possible symptoms such as a rash or dryness. They'll ask you about your health history and your symptoms.

They may also do tests such as:

  • Blood tests to look for other possible causes of your symptoms
  • A skin test for allergies
  • A biopsy to tell what type of skin problem you have

Ear eczema vs. psoriasis

You can also get the skin condition psoriasis in and around your ears. Some of its symptoms, such as itching and discoloration, are similar to those of ear eczema. But unlike eczema, psoriasis can cause thick patches of skin that are covered with pale or silver scales. Eczema also tends to be itchier than psoriasis. It's possible to have both eczema and psoriasis.

Treatment for ear eczema depends on what caused it. Your doctor can tell you what type of eczema you have and what treatment is right for you.

Ear eczema home treatment

To ease itching, you can apply hydrocortisone cream or ointment to areas where you have eczema. A medical-grade moisturizer can help ease dryness, itching, and inflammation. Antihistamines may help if your itching is serious.

You may be able to treat contact dermatitis by removing the item that’s causing the allergic reaction. But it can take some time to find what's causing the reaction, whether it's your jewelry, cosmetics, shampoo, or something else. Your doctor may refer you to a dermatologist to help you figure it out.

Ear eczema prescription treatments

Your doctor can also prescribe medications, including:

  • Prescription-strength steroid cream or ointment to use behind the ears or in their folds
  • Antifungal medication to use along with steroid creams to treat seborrheic dermatitis
  • Steroid drops for eczema inside your ear canal
  • Steroid pills or shots
  • Calcineurin inhibitors (Protopic, Elidel), nonsteroid ointments, and creams that block a protein involved in inflammation

Your doctor might also suggest phototherapy (light therapy), which uses ultraviolet light to ease skin inflammation.

The main complication of ear eczema is infection. This may happen when your ears stay wet for a long time, such as if you swim regularly. Hearing aids or other earpieces that press on your ears may also raise your risk for infection.

Infected ear eczema can result in a buildup of wax, dead skin, and hair inside your ear. This can block your ear canal and cause temporary hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing in the ears).

Symptoms of infected ear eczema include:

  • Pain
  • Itching
  • Discolored skin
  • Weeping
  • A yellow or green discharge
  • Swelling
  • A bad smell

See your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms. They can prescribe an antifungal or antibiotic to use along with a topical steroid.

To avoid outbreaks of ear eczema, follow these steps:

  • Try not to rub or scratch the skin in and around your ears. Avoid cleaning them with cotton swabs.
  • Choose soaps and skin and hair care products without alcohol, fragrances, and dye. They're often labeled "hypoallergenic."
  • Bathe in warm, not hot water.
  • Don't take showers or baths that last over 15 minutes.
  • Use a humidifier when the air is dry.
  • When you go outside in cold weather, wear a hat that covers your ears. But avoid hats made of wool, which can dry your skin.
  • Keep the skin around and behind your ears moisturized by applying cream or ointment several times a day. Look for moisturizers that contain an ingredient called ceramide, which protects your skin barrier.
  • Avoid earrings that contain nickel.
  • Don't leave earbuds, headphones, or earplugs in your ears for long periods.

There's no cure for ear eczema. For some people, it's a lifelong condition. It tends to flare up from time to time, then go away for a while (go into remission).

Treatment can help you have fewer flare-ups and ease symptoms. It's important to:

  • Avoid things that can trigger your ear eczema
  • Resist the urge to scratch your eczema
  • Follow your doctor's instructions for treatment and self-care

Ear eczema is a skin condition that can cause itching, dryness, and other uncomfortable symptoms in and around your ears. See a doctor if you have symptoms of ear eczema. Depending on what caused it and how serious it is, it can be treated with skin creams or ointments, prescription medications, or light therapy.

How to treat ear eczema

Treatment for ear eczema depends on what's causing it. It may involve:

  • Avoiding allergens
  • Applying medical-grade moisturizers and/or hydrocortisone cream or ointment
  • Using prescription medication
  • Phototherapy

Your doctor can determine what type of eczema you have and the best way to treat it.

Is ear eczema harmful?

Ear eczema can be unpleasant, but it usually doesn't cause permanent damage. The main complication is infection, which could cause pain, discharge, and sometimes hearing loss.

What will happen if eczema on the ears is untreated?

Symptoms of ear eczema can vary a lot, from barely noticeable to extremely uncomfortable. In some cases, untreated ear eczema could lead to worsening symptoms, painful cracks in the skin, and possibly infection.

Can eczema be cured?

There's no cure for eczema, but treatment can ease symptoms and reduce flare-ups.