Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesOther SymptomsEar AnatomyTreatmentWhen to See a ProviderFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Other Symptoms
Ear Anatomy
Treatment
When to See a Provider
Frequently Asked Questions
This article will go over the causes of ear bleeding and when you need to see a provider for treatment.
Zave Smith / Getty Images
What Causes Ear Bleeding?
Ear bleeding can have several causes. Sometimes, more than one condition is causing the problem. A small scratch or pimple on the ear usually bleeds only a few drops and stops quickly, while significant bleeding from the ear can happen from a ruptured eardrum or head trauma.
The blood may come from outside your ear or from the ear canal. Generally, bleeding on the outside is less severe than bleeding from inside your ear. If you take a blood thinner or have a blood disorder, you could have unusual ear bleeding even from a small cut or wound.
Some possible causes of ear bleeding include:
Ruptured or Perforated Eardrum
The eardrum is the membrane that separates the ear canal from the middle part of the ear.It vibrates in response to sound and helps you hear.
A ruptured eardrum is a tear (perforation) in the membrane that separates the middle ear and ear canal. This can occur as a complication of different health conditions that affect the ears. A ruptured eardrum may cause bleeding and hearing issues.
Some of thecauses of a ruptured or perforated eardruminclude:
A ruptured eardrum can put you at a high risk of an ear infection because it can make it easier for bacteria to get into the inner ear.
Skin Injury
Skin injuries are common causes of bleeding ears.
Trauma
Traumatic injuries to the ear can range from mild to severe. Trauma can cause ear bleeding, a ruptured eardrum, a skull fracture, and bleeding in the brain. Types of traumas to the ear that can cause bleeding include:
Cancer
Cancers of the ear canal or middle ear are not common but can be a cause of bleeding.Ear canal cancer, middle ear cancer, or skull base cancers can cause ear bleeding and other symptoms, such as dizziness, headaches, and hearing loss.
Tumors in the ear can start in the ear (primary) or spread there from another part of the body (metastatic). These tumors can cause hearing loss depending on their size and location in the ear.
Type of Hearing Loss
Accompanying Symptoms
Depending on the cause of ear bleeding, you might have other symptoms like:
Anatomy of the Ear
Ear Bleeding Treatment
Treatment for ear bleeding depends on the cause. If you know that you scratched your ear or had an ear pimple, and the bleeding has stopped after a few minutes, you can just let it heal on its own.
If there is any chance that the bleeding is coming from inside your ear, you need to see a healthcare provider. If the blood inside the ear is not carefully cleaned, it can dry up and cause symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, or hearing loss.
Do not try to take care of severe ear bleeding or bleeding that comes with other symptoms (like dizziness or hearing loss) on your own at home. Your provider may refer you to an otolaryngologist, a surgeon specializing in treating ear, nose, and throat disorders (ENT).
Some potential treatments for ear bleeding include:
If you have bleeding in your ear and don’t know what’s causing it, it’s not going away, or it’s getting worse, call your healthcare provider.
If you were hit in the head or got a bump on the head and your ear is bleeding, don’t wait to call your provider. Go to the nearest ER.
You also need immediate medical attention if you have a bleeding ear along with symptoms like:
Summary
If you have a bleeding ear after an injury (for example, when you hit your head or were in an accident), you need immediate medical care. Other causes, like an ear infection, are things your regular provider can handle. If not, they might refer you to a specialist for treatment.
Learn MoreAntibiotics for Ear Infections
You may be hearing blood pumping in the ear because of pulsatile tinnitus. This rhythmic sound, heard in one or both ears, is due to turbulent flow in blood vessels in the head or neck. It can result from high blood pressure, a blood vessel disorder, certain vascular tumors, or conductive hearing loss.Learn MoreUnderstanding the Two Types of Tinnitus
You may be hearing blood pumping in the ear because of pulsatile tinnitus. This rhythmic sound, heard in one or both ears, is due to turbulent flow in blood vessels in the head or neck. It can result from high blood pressure, a blood vessel disorder, certain vascular tumors, or conductive hearing loss.
Learn MoreUnderstanding the Two Types of Tinnitus
If ear bleeding comes from within the ear, gently apply clean cotton to keep blood from seeping. If the blood is from the outer ear, apply pressure to stop the bleeding.Dress the wound with a clean bandage that fits the ear’s shape but is not taped too tightly. A cold pack can help to reduce pain and swelling. Contacting medical help when ear bleeding occurs is always a good idea.
If ear bleeding comes from within the ear, gently apply clean cotton to keep blood from seeping. If the blood is from the outer ear, apply pressure to stop the bleeding.
Dress the wound with a clean bandage that fits the ear’s shape but is not taped too tightly. A cold pack can help to reduce pain and swelling. Contacting medical help when ear bleeding occurs is always a good idea.
Ear piercings are known to cause light bleeding. If the bleeding continues, the ear could be infected. You can contact a healthcare provider for more information and treatment.Learn MoreTreating an Infected Ear Piercing
Ear piercings are known to cause light bleeding. If the bleeding continues, the ear could be infected. You can contact a healthcare provider for more information and treatment.
Learn MoreTreating an Infected Ear Piercing
11 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.Cedars-Sinai.Impacted earwax.Cedars-Sinai.Ear barotrauma.Cancer Research UK.What is ear cancer?Harvard Health.Perforated eardrum.Nemours KidsHealth.Ear injuries.Mount Sinai.Ruptured eardrum.MedlinePlus.Ofloxacin otic.Lou Z, Tang Y, Xiao J.The effect of ofloxacin otic drops on the regeneration of human traumatic tympanic membrane perforations. 2016;41(5):564-570. doi:10.1111/coa.12564National Health Service (NHS).Perforated Eardrum.Penn Medicine.Pulsatile tinnitus.MedlinePlus.Ear Emergencies.
11 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.Cedars-Sinai.Impacted earwax.Cedars-Sinai.Ear barotrauma.Cancer Research UK.What is ear cancer?Harvard Health.Perforated eardrum.Nemours KidsHealth.Ear injuries.Mount Sinai.Ruptured eardrum.MedlinePlus.Ofloxacin otic.Lou Z, Tang Y, Xiao J.The effect of ofloxacin otic drops on the regeneration of human traumatic tympanic membrane perforations. 2016;41(5):564-570. doi:10.1111/coa.12564National Health Service (NHS).Perforated Eardrum.Penn Medicine.Pulsatile tinnitus.MedlinePlus.Ear Emergencies.
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.
Cedars-Sinai.Impacted earwax.Cedars-Sinai.Ear barotrauma.Cancer Research UK.What is ear cancer?Harvard Health.Perforated eardrum.Nemours KidsHealth.Ear injuries.Mount Sinai.Ruptured eardrum.MedlinePlus.Ofloxacin otic.Lou Z, Tang Y, Xiao J.The effect of ofloxacin otic drops on the regeneration of human traumatic tympanic membrane perforations. 2016;41(5):564-570. doi:10.1111/coa.12564National Health Service (NHS).Perforated Eardrum.Penn Medicine.Pulsatile tinnitus.MedlinePlus.Ear Emergencies.
Cedars-Sinai.Impacted earwax.
Cedars-Sinai.Ear barotrauma.
Cancer Research UK.What is ear cancer?
Harvard Health.Perforated eardrum.
Nemours KidsHealth.Ear injuries.
Mount Sinai.Ruptured eardrum.
MedlinePlus.Ofloxacin otic.
Lou Z, Tang Y, Xiao J.The effect of ofloxacin otic drops on the regeneration of human traumatic tympanic membrane perforations. 2016;41(5):564-570. doi:10.1111/coa.12564
National Health Service (NHS).Perforated Eardrum.
Penn Medicine.Pulsatile tinnitus.
MedlinePlus.Ear Emergencies.
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