Zave Smith / Getty Images
What Causes Ear Bleeding?
Ear bleeding can have several causes.
Sometimes, more than one condition is causing the problem.
Zave Smith / Getty Images
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.
This can occur as a complication of different health conditions that affect the ears.
A ruptured eardrum may cause bleeding and hearing issues.
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.
These tumors can cause hearing loss depending on their size and location in the ear.
Ear Bleeding Treatment
Treatment for ear bleeding depends on the cause.
Go to the nearest ER.
Other causes, like an ear infection, are things your regular provider can handle.
If not, they might refer you to a specialist for treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
In many cases, a perforated eardrum will heal by itself.
Surgery may be needed if a perforated eardrum takes longer than three weeks to heal.
If you suspect a perforated eardrum, contact your healthcare provider.
Avoid getting water in the ear.
When blowing your nose, do so lightly to prevent further damage.
You may be hearing blood pumping in the ear because of pulsatile 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.
Ear piercings are known to cause light bleeding.
If the bleeding continues, the ear could be infected.
you could contact a healthcare provider for more information and treatment.
Cancer Research UK.What is ear cancer?
2016;41(5):564-570. doi:10.1111/coa.12564
National Health Service (NHS).Perforated eardrum.
