When you have dry skin in your ears, it can be uncomfortable, itchy, and even painful.
The skin may appear red and flaky.
In severe cases, the skin around the ears can even become infected.
Verywell / Laura Porter
Certain other medical conditions, deficiencies, or medications can also put you at risk for having dry skin.
Irritants
Dryness of the outer ears may be brought on by allergens or environmental irritants.
Once the skin is irritated, it may become dry, red, and itchy.
If you have sensitive skin, you may be more at risk of experiencing irritation.
Ears that have recently been pierced may be irritated.
Many people find that they cannot tolerate earrings made from nickel due to a nickel allergy.
Age
Dry skin can also be related to age.
By the age of 60, nearly everyone has dry skin somewhere on their body.
Signs of eczema usually include patches of red, inflamed skin that feels dry and itchy.
The dry patches may bleed when scratched.
When the skin becomes cracked, an infection can occur.
Psoriasis
This is an autoimmune condition that causes skin cells to grow too quickly.
The patches usually start out pink or red, then progress to a silvery-white plaque.
Its common for the plaques to itch and feel uncomfortable.
Psoriasis may occur on the outer ears or the skin surrounding the ears.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitisis an inflammatory skin condition that causes flaky,dry patches of skin.
It usually appears on the scalp, face, or inner ears.
The patches may flake off in white or yellow scales.
The skin may itch, especially if it becomes infected.
Seborrheic dermatitis often occurs on an infants scalp and is also known ascradle cap.
In infants, the condition is because of overactive oil glands.
If at-home treatments do not provide any relief, check in with yourdermatologist.
See your healthcare provider right away if the skin in your ears seems to be infected.
An infection may occur when the dry skin is scratched or cracks, which allows bacteria to enter.
Symptoms of a skin infection include pain, swelling, weeping, discharge, or a foul smell.
Have you recently switched to a new shampoo?
If you recently had your ears pierced or changed earrings, your ears may be reacting.
Try switching to earrings that have been labeled hypoallergenic to see if you notice relief from skin dryness.
Moisturizing
after you snag found the cause, treat your dry skin with a quality emollient.
An emollient is a skin softener found in moisturizers.
Look for a gentle moisturizer without artificial fragrances or colors.
Medication
If at-home care does not seem to make a difference, see your dermatologist.
Medications can be used to soothe the pain of dry skin and treat the underlying causes.
give a shot to keep your ears clean and dry by washing them every day.
Limit showers to 10 minutes and avoid scalding water.
Thoroughly dry your ears after a shower.
Once your ears are dry, apply a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer to prevent cracking.
Chronic skin conditions like psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis cannot be prevented but can be managed with treatment.
Summary
Dry skin in the ears and around the ears can have a number of causes.
Your skin may also become drier as you age.
If this doesn’t help, see your healthcare provider.
They will be able to determine the cause of your dry skin and prescribe medication to help treat it.
A Word From Verywell
Dry ears can become problematic if ignored.
Rubbing and scratching the ears can easily cause irritations and skin breaks, which can lead to infection.
A pharmacist can recommend over-the-counter remedies.
If these are unhelpful after a few days, it’s time to see your healthcare provider or dermatologist.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dry skin: who gets and causes.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Eczema resource center.
National Eczema Society.Ear eczema.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Psoriasis resource center.
