Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesTreatmentsPreventionWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderFAQ
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Treatments
Prevention
When to See a Healthcare Provider
FAQ
Red earsare usually harmless, and they happen for lots of reasons, including emotional responses, allergic reactions, and simple infections.
Your red ears may occur alone or with a pattern of symptoms, like itching or the sensation of burning. The diagnosis also will depend on factors like whether one or both ears are affected.
This article presents information about different conditions that cause red ears and how they are treated. It will help you to know when to contact a healthcare provider about your symptoms.
Vonschonertagen / Getty Images
What Causes Red Ears?
Several conditions can lead to red ears. The symptom is known to occur due to something as simple as tiredness and the need for sleep, especially in children.It also can be a sign of a more serious or chronic disorder.
A Word From Verywell
—WILLIAM TRUSWELL, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Red Ear Syndrome
Red ear syndromeis an incredibly rare disorder. It causes burning and redness in the ear that can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few hours. For people with the condition, flare-ups can occur several times a day to a handful of times per year.
The main symptoms associated with red ear syndrome are pain and burning of the ears. Although having red ear syndrome can be uncomfortable, the condition itself is not serious.
Red ear syndrome can be painful with episodes lasting from a few seconds to several hours.Giorgio Lambru, Sarah Miller and Manjit S Matharu/Wikimedia Commons
Flushing
Flushingis a temporary physiological reaction that can cause redness over your face, ears, and other parts of your body. Your skin becomes red because blood flow to the area increases and blood vessels under your skin become dilated.
Other causes of flushing can include:
Carcinoid syndromeis a disease that occurs when a carcinoid tumor—a slow-growing tumor that appears all over your body—releases chemicals into the bloodstream that can cause flushing.
Additional causes of flushing can include:
Since flushing can be both harmless and serious, it’s important to address it with your healthcare provider if it occurs frequently, doesn’t go away, or is associated with other symptoms.
Sunburn
In some cases of sunburn, your skin may start to peel away to rid the body of the damaged skin cells. In severe cases, you may develop blisters on your skin.
Sunburns are incredibly common, and it’s estimated that more than 30% of the population experiences at least one sunburn every year. Fifty percent of young adults get a sunburn at least once a year.
Sunburns affect people in different ways, and people who are at the highest risk include those who:
Sunburns can be dangerous, and research suggests that frequent sunburns during childhood or adolescence can significantly increase the risk of skin cancer later in life.
When Should I Worry About Red Ear?
13 Home Remedies for Sunburn Relief
Seborrheic Eczema
Seborrheic eczemais a skin condition that causes red ears, scaly patches of skin, and dandruff. It typically affects the scalp, but it can also occur on other parts of the body, such as your face, ears, chest, and upper back.
The condition typically occurs in the first three months of an infant’s life, during puberty, and in adulthood between the ages of 40 and 60. It is estimated that roughly 1% to 3% of people have seborrheic eczema.
Research has found seborrheic eczema to be associated with conditions including:
It is generally a harmless condition that can be managed with OTC or prescription medications.
Relapsing Polychondritis
Relapsing polychondritisis a rare disease and affects only three to four people per million. It causes cartilage and other tissues of the body to become swollen and inflamed.
The main symptoms of the disease include swelling and inflammation of the ear, nose, and jointcartilage. It can also affect the airways, ribs, and eyes. In rare cases, it can cause problems in the heart, veins, skin, kidneys, and nervous system. Symptoms can include:
The cause of relapsing polychondritis isn’t clear, but experts believe that it is an autoimmune disease that could be genetic. It has also been associated with diseases such asHodgkin’s lymphoma,Crohn’s disease, andtype 1 diabetes.
Erythromelalgia
The condition can spread to other parts of the body, including the face and ears.It causes flare-ups and can present with other symptoms such as tingling.
The cause of this disease is thought to be genetic, specifically because of mutations in the SCN9A gene. It can be passed down through generations as well.
Are Red Ears Genetic?Some conditions associated with red ears may have a genetic component, such as flushing and erythromelalgia.
Are Red Ears Genetic?
Some conditions associated with red ears may have a genetic component, such as flushing and erythromelalgia.
Infection
Infection can also cause red ears, typically a skin infection such as cellulitis orerysipelas. However, red ears can also be a symptom of an outer ear infection such as swimmer’s ear.
The main symptoms of perichondritis are pain and a red and swollen ear, but in some cases, fever and fluid draining from the affected area will also be present.
How to Prevent Ear Infections and Fluid in the Ears
The treatment for red ears depends on what causes it.
Pain-relieving medications are typically used to treat red ear syndrome. Other types of medications that can be used include:
If there are certain triggers such as spicy food or anxiety-inducing situations, avoiding the trigger can help.
If the cause is a health condition, your healthcare provider will treat it, which will eventually remedy the flushing. If it’s related to an emotional condition, like anger orsocial anxiety, there may not be a remedy, but consider talking with a mental health professional about your symptoms.
Treatment of sunburn should begin as soon as you realize you have one. Although sunburns will heal on their own, there are things you can do to soothe the pain:
Mild cases of seborrheic eczema are typically treated using OTC and prescription medications such as adandruff shampoowith selenium, zinc pyrithione, or coal tar. Your healthcare provider may also prescribe an antifungal shampoo with ciclopirox.
For more severe cases, shampoos withbetamethasone valerate,clobetasol, orfluocinolonemay be prescribed. To help with symptoms on the face, including the ears, topical antifungals, corticosteroids, andcalcineurin inhibitorswill be used.
The 8 Best Seborrheic Dermatitis Shampoos Recommend By Experts
The standard treatment for relapsing polychondritis includes corticosteroid medications such as prednisone, aspirin, NSAIDs, dapsone, or colchicine. Immunosuppressants may also be used in more serious cases. For the most extreme cases,heart valve replacementor surgical implantation of a breathing tube may be needed.
There is no single treatment for erythromelalgia because not all types of therapies will work for everyone with the condition. It may go away on its own, but healthcare providers typically advise people to avoid triggers that could induce a flare-up.
Treatments that may be effective include:
Home remedies for red ears will work only if they target the cause. Before trying any home remedies, see your healthcare provider for a proper diagnosis.
How Are Red Ears Prevented?
It’s important to protect yourself from sun exposure, and not just your ears.Ultraviolet (UV) radiationfrom the sun or a tanning bed is the most common cause of skin cancer.It affects the scalp, face, ears, and any other sun-exposed area. Wear a hat and apply sunscreen.
There’s no way to avoid red ear syndrome, and other conditions like eczema that require you to keep up with your treatment plan. Take any medications as directed, as this can help to limit symptoms.
But another condition may be at work for which you require treatment. An infection such as cellulitis or swimmer’s ear may require a prescription for antibiotics. A rare condition like erythromelalgia will require nerve blocks or other procedures. In some cases, your red ear may be a symptom of thyroid cancer or another serious disease.
Summary
Red ears are a common occurrence, and they are not usually a cause for concern. You can get them if you are simply embarrassed or have a sunburn.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common and harmless cause of red and hot ears is flushing. When flushing occurs, it causes blood vessels in the ears to dilate, turning them red and causing them to feel hot to the touch. An emotional reaction often drives it.Learn More12 Causes of Skin Redness and Burning
The most common and harmless cause of red and hot ears is flushing. When flushing occurs, it causes blood vessels in the ears to dilate, turning them red and causing them to feel hot to the touch. An emotional reaction often drives it.
Learn More12 Causes of Skin Redness and Burning
Learn MoreCradle Cap vs. Eczema: What Are the Differences?
22 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.Schinkelshoek MS, Fronczek R, de Boer AFJ, de Wit K, Tannemaat MR, Lammers GJ.Warm ears, a red flag for sleepiness?J Sleep Res. 2023;32(2):e13707. doi:10.1111/jsr.13707Sigdel B, Pokhrel A.Idiopathic red ear syndrome: a rare case report.Clin Case Rep. 2022;10(3):e05564. doi:10.1002/ccr3.5564Ferriere A, Tabarin A.Cushing’s syndrome: Treatment and new therapeutic approaches.Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2020 Mar;34(2):101381. doi:10.1016/j.beem.2020.101381İkizoğlu G.Red face revisited: flushing.Clin Dermatol. 2014;32(6):800-8. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2014.02.019Gade AK, Olariu E, Douthit NT.Carcinoid syndrome: a review.Cureus. 2020;12(3):e7186. doi:10.7759/cureus.7186Skin Cancer Foundation.Sunburn and your skin.Holman DM, Ding H, Guy GP Jr, Watson M, Hartman AM, Perna FM.Prevalence of sun protection use and sunburn and association of demographic and behaviorial characteristics with sunburn among US adults.JAMA Dermatol.2018;154(5):561-568. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2018.0028Wu S, Cho E, Li WQ, Weinstock MA, Han J, Qureshi AA.History of severe sunburn and risk of skin cancer among women and men in 2 prospective cohort studies.Am J Epidemiol. 2016;183(9):824-833. doi:10.1093/aje/kwv282Borda LJ, Wikramanayake TC.Seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff: a comprehensive review.J Clin Investig Dermatol.2015;3(2). doi:10.13188/2373-1044.1000019Victoire A, Magin P, Coughlan J, van Driel ML.Interventions for infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis (including cradle cap).Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;3(3):CD011380. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD011380.pub2Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Relapsing polychrondritis.Orphanet.Relapsing polychondritis.Chen MC, Xu QF, Luo DQ, Li X, He DY.Erythema associated with pain and warmth on face and ears: a variant of erythermalgia or red ear syndrome?J Headache Pain.2014;15(1):18. doi:10.1186/1129-2377-15-18National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Erythromelagia.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About cellulitis.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Erysipelas.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Perichondritis.Lambru G, Miller S, Matharu MS.The red ear syndrome.J Headache Pain.2013;14(1):83. doi:10.1186/1129-2377-14-83American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat sunburn.National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Erythromelalgia.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Skin cancer risk factors.
22 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.Schinkelshoek MS, Fronczek R, de Boer AFJ, de Wit K, Tannemaat MR, Lammers GJ.Warm ears, a red flag for sleepiness?J Sleep Res. 2023;32(2):e13707. doi:10.1111/jsr.13707Sigdel B, Pokhrel A.Idiopathic red ear syndrome: a rare case report.Clin Case Rep. 2022;10(3):e05564. doi:10.1002/ccr3.5564Ferriere A, Tabarin A.Cushing’s syndrome: Treatment and new therapeutic approaches.Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2020 Mar;34(2):101381. doi:10.1016/j.beem.2020.101381İkizoğlu G.Red face revisited: flushing.Clin Dermatol. 2014;32(6):800-8. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2014.02.019Gade AK, Olariu E, Douthit NT.Carcinoid syndrome: a review.Cureus. 2020;12(3):e7186. doi:10.7759/cureus.7186Skin Cancer Foundation.Sunburn and your skin.Holman DM, Ding H, Guy GP Jr, Watson M, Hartman AM, Perna FM.Prevalence of sun protection use and sunburn and association of demographic and behaviorial characteristics with sunburn among US adults.JAMA Dermatol.2018;154(5):561-568. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2018.0028Wu S, Cho E, Li WQ, Weinstock MA, Han J, Qureshi AA.History of severe sunburn and risk of skin cancer among women and men in 2 prospective cohort studies.Am J Epidemiol. 2016;183(9):824-833. doi:10.1093/aje/kwv282Borda LJ, Wikramanayake TC.Seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff: a comprehensive review.J Clin Investig Dermatol.2015;3(2). doi:10.13188/2373-1044.1000019Victoire A, Magin P, Coughlan J, van Driel ML.Interventions for infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis (including cradle cap).Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;3(3):CD011380. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD011380.pub2Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Relapsing polychrondritis.Orphanet.Relapsing polychondritis.Chen MC, Xu QF, Luo DQ, Li X, He DY.Erythema associated with pain and warmth on face and ears: a variant of erythermalgia or red ear syndrome?J Headache Pain.2014;15(1):18. doi:10.1186/1129-2377-15-18National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Erythromelagia.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About cellulitis.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Erysipelas.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Perichondritis.Lambru G, Miller S, Matharu MS.The red ear syndrome.J Headache Pain.2013;14(1):83. doi:10.1186/1129-2377-14-83American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat sunburn.National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Erythromelalgia.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Skin cancer risk factors.
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.
Schinkelshoek MS, Fronczek R, de Boer AFJ, de Wit K, Tannemaat MR, Lammers GJ.Warm ears, a red flag for sleepiness?J Sleep Res. 2023;32(2):e13707. doi:10.1111/jsr.13707Sigdel B, Pokhrel A.Idiopathic red ear syndrome: a rare case report.Clin Case Rep. 2022;10(3):e05564. doi:10.1002/ccr3.5564Ferriere A, Tabarin A.Cushing’s syndrome: Treatment and new therapeutic approaches.Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2020 Mar;34(2):101381. doi:10.1016/j.beem.2020.101381İkizoğlu G.Red face revisited: flushing.Clin Dermatol. 2014;32(6):800-8. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2014.02.019Gade AK, Olariu E, Douthit NT.Carcinoid syndrome: a review.Cureus. 2020;12(3):e7186. doi:10.7759/cureus.7186Skin Cancer Foundation.Sunburn and your skin.Holman DM, Ding H, Guy GP Jr, Watson M, Hartman AM, Perna FM.Prevalence of sun protection use and sunburn and association of demographic and behaviorial characteristics with sunburn among US adults.JAMA Dermatol.2018;154(5):561-568. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2018.0028Wu S, Cho E, Li WQ, Weinstock MA, Han J, Qureshi AA.History of severe sunburn and risk of skin cancer among women and men in 2 prospective cohort studies.Am J Epidemiol. 2016;183(9):824-833. doi:10.1093/aje/kwv282Borda LJ, Wikramanayake TC.Seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff: a comprehensive review.J Clin Investig Dermatol.2015;3(2). doi:10.13188/2373-1044.1000019Victoire A, Magin P, Coughlan J, van Driel ML.Interventions for infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis (including cradle cap).Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;3(3):CD011380. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD011380.pub2Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Relapsing polychrondritis.Orphanet.Relapsing polychondritis.Chen MC, Xu QF, Luo DQ, Li X, He DY.Erythema associated with pain and warmth on face and ears: a variant of erythermalgia or red ear syndrome?J Headache Pain.2014;15(1):18. doi:10.1186/1129-2377-15-18National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Erythromelagia.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About cellulitis.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Erysipelas.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Perichondritis.Lambru G, Miller S, Matharu MS.The red ear syndrome.J Headache Pain.2013;14(1):83. doi:10.1186/1129-2377-14-83American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat sunburn.National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Erythromelalgia.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Skin cancer risk factors.
Schinkelshoek MS, Fronczek R, de Boer AFJ, de Wit K, Tannemaat MR, Lammers GJ.Warm ears, a red flag for sleepiness?J Sleep Res. 2023;32(2):e13707. doi:10.1111/jsr.13707
Sigdel B, Pokhrel A.Idiopathic red ear syndrome: a rare case report.Clin Case Rep. 2022;10(3):e05564. doi:10.1002/ccr3.5564
Ferriere A, Tabarin A.Cushing’s syndrome: Treatment and new therapeutic approaches.Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2020 Mar;34(2):101381. doi:10.1016/j.beem.2020.101381
İkizoğlu G.Red face revisited: flushing.Clin Dermatol. 2014;32(6):800-8. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2014.02.019
Gade AK, Olariu E, Douthit NT.Carcinoid syndrome: a review.Cureus. 2020;12(3):e7186. doi:10.7759/cureus.7186
Skin Cancer Foundation.Sunburn and your skin.
Holman DM, Ding H, Guy GP Jr, Watson M, Hartman AM, Perna FM.Prevalence of sun protection use and sunburn and association of demographic and behaviorial characteristics with sunburn among US adults.JAMA Dermatol.2018;154(5):561-568. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2018.0028
Wu S, Cho E, Li WQ, Weinstock MA, Han J, Qureshi AA.History of severe sunburn and risk of skin cancer among women and men in 2 prospective cohort studies.Am J Epidemiol. 2016;183(9):824-833. doi:10.1093/aje/kwv282
Borda LJ, Wikramanayake TC.Seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff: a comprehensive review.J Clin Investig Dermatol.2015;3(2). doi:10.13188/2373-1044.1000019
Victoire A, Magin P, Coughlan J, van Driel ML.Interventions for infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis (including cradle cap).Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;3(3):CD011380. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD011380.pub2
Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Relapsing polychrondritis.
Orphanet.Relapsing polychondritis.
Chen MC, Xu QF, Luo DQ, Li X, He DY.Erythema associated with pain and warmth on face and ears: a variant of erythermalgia or red ear syndrome?J Headache Pain.2014;15(1):18. doi:10.1186/1129-2377-15-18
National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Erythromelagia.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About cellulitis.
National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Erysipelas.
National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Perichondritis.
Lambru G, Miller S, Matharu MS.The red ear syndrome.J Headache Pain.2013;14(1):83. doi:10.1186/1129-2377-14-83
American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat sunburn.
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Erythromelalgia.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Skin cancer risk factors.
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