Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypes of Ear SwellingSwollen Outer EarSwollen Ear CanalAdditional CausesWhen to See a Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types of Ear Swelling
Swollen Outer Ear
Swollen Ear Canal
Additional Causes
When to See a Healthcare Provider
A swollen ear is the result of fluid building up in the tissues in or around your ear. Swollen ears can be red, painful on the outside or inside, and sometimes itchy.
The location of the swelling can be:
This article discusses the causes of ear swelling along with potential treatment options.
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Swelling can happen in different areas of theear:
The earlobe and cartilage are two parts of the outer ear that can get swollen.
Earlobe
Some common causes of earlobe swelling include:
How to Treat Earlobe Swelling
Treatment will depend on what’s causing the swelling.
Home remedies:
Oral or topical antibiotics may also be prescribed to get rid of a bacterial infection.
Cartilage
The cartilage of the ear is the tissue that creates the shape of the outer ear. There is a thin layer of tissue around the cartilage that helps give nutrients to the cartilage called theperichondrium.
Other factors that may increase the risk of infection include surgery, acupuncture, frostbite, and burns.
Symptoms include a swollen,red earthat is painful.
How to Treat Outer Ear Swelling
The specific treatment depends on the swelling and the severity.
Home remedies:For minor swelling, a healthcare provider may suggest warm or cold compresses.
With more severe swelling, they might recommend OTC or prescription medications, such as medicated ointments or antibiotics.
Perichondritis may be treated with antibiotics for 10 days or more. Surgery is also an option to remove dead skin and drain the trapped fluid or pus out of the ear.
Because the canal of the ear is warm and dark, it is easy for bacterial growth to happen. The ear canal is known to be easily impacted due to the difficulty of bacteria or foreign bodies exiting the canal. If a person has a lot of hair in the ear, this can make it more difficult. Some of the causes of otitis externa include:
Some of the symptoms of otitis externa include:
How to Treat a Swollen Ear Canal
Ifotitis externais diagnosed, a healthcare professional will examine the ear and clear it of any drainage.
Treatment may include:
If the ear canal is blocked, gauze is placed inside the ear to help the drops move through the blockage and reach the infection. This is called an ear wick.
Oral antibiotics are rarely prescribed unless the infection spreads beyond the ear.
Additional Causes of a Swollen Ear
Other causes of swollen ears may include an allergic reaction, bruising, hematoma, or cellulitis.
Bruising:The ear has a rich blood supply and even a mild trauma can cause bruising that leads to swelling and redness. Using cold and warm compresses and pain-relieving medication if needed should relieve symptoms within a couple of days.
A swollen ear with mild pain and no other symptoms may clear up on its own in a couple of days using home remedies. You should contact a healthcare provider if:
Is a Swollen Ear Serious?While a swollen ear usually isn’t serious, if there is an infection, it needs to be treated right away.
Is a Swollen Ear Serious?
While a swollen ear usually isn’t serious, if there is an infection, it needs to be treated right away.
Summary
There are several reasons why a swollen ear can occur, such as infection, trauma, swimmer’s ear, and allergies, to name a few. If swelling, pain, and redness don’t get better within a few days or symptoms get worse, talk to a healthcare provider. They can determine the right treatment and perhaps help you prevent the condition in the future.
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhen there is an infection, the piercing can be sore, warm, itchy, tender, or red. The infection is also known to ooze pus that is yellow, white, or green.Reducing swelling from abugbite on ear cartilage depends on the type of bug that gave the bite.You can rinse it with warm, soapy water and apply a warm cloth to the bite. Before using any ointments, medication, or over-the-counter options, contact your healthcare provider.Yes, ear cartilage can break or tear due to trauma. This can be very painful and leave the ear deformed.If you suspect broken ear cartilage, see your doctor. Left untreated it can lead to a recurring condition known as cauliflower ear.A surgical procedure known as otoplasty may be needed to repair a damaged ear.
Frequently Asked Questions
When there is an infection, the piercing can be sore, warm, itchy, tender, or red. The infection is also known to ooze pus that is yellow, white, or green.
Reducing swelling from abugbite on ear cartilage depends on the type of bug that gave the bite.You can rinse it with warm, soapy water and apply a warm cloth to the bite. Before using any ointments, medication, or over-the-counter options, contact your healthcare provider.
Reducing swelling from abugbite on ear cartilage depends on the type of bug that gave the bite.
You can rinse it with warm, soapy water and apply a warm cloth to the bite. Before using any ointments, medication, or over-the-counter options, contact your healthcare provider.
Yes, ear cartilage can break or tear due to trauma. This can be very painful and leave the ear deformed.If you suspect broken ear cartilage, see your doctor. Left untreated it can lead to a recurring condition known as cauliflower ear.A surgical procedure known as otoplasty may be needed to repair a damaged ear.
Yes, ear cartilage can break or tear due to trauma. This can be very painful and leave the ear deformed.
If you suspect broken ear cartilage, see your doctor. Left untreated it can lead to a recurring condition known as cauliflower ear.
A surgical procedure known as otoplasty may be needed to repair a damaged ear.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Stanford Children’s Health.Anatomy and physiology of the ear.MedlinePlus.Perichondritis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa).Merck Manual.How to drain an auricular hematoma.National Health Service.Cellulitis.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Stanford Children’s Health.Anatomy and physiology of the ear.MedlinePlus.Perichondritis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa).Merck Manual.How to drain an auricular hematoma.National Health Service.Cellulitis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Stanford Children’s Health.Anatomy and physiology of the ear.MedlinePlus.Perichondritis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa).Merck Manual.How to drain an auricular hematoma.National Health Service.Cellulitis.
Stanford Children’s Health.Anatomy and physiology of the ear.
MedlinePlus.Perichondritis.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa).
Merck Manual.How to drain an auricular hematoma.
National Health Service.Cellulitis.
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