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Home > Skin & Beauty > Acne > Pimples in Ears: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Pimples in Ears: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment

September 30, 2021
5 min read
By Akanksha Shah Sanghvi, MD, Clinical Dermatology

In this article:

  • Causes of Ear Pimples
  • Treatment for Ear Pimples
  • Diagnosing Ear Pimples
  • When to See a Doctor
  • Final Word

Pimples are a common skin problem that can form on any part of the body, including the ear.

pimples in ear causes

A pimple forms due to the accumulation of dead skin cells, oil, and debris in the pores. This blockage increases oil production and gives way to bacterial growth, therefore causing pain and inflammation. (1) This process can also occur inside the ear, giving rise to a pimple.

Pimples in the ear are comparatively more discomforting and painful than those on other body parts due to a lack of fat in the ear. Moreover, the ear is a delicate, sensitive body organ that contains several sensory nerve endings.

Causes of Ear Pimples

Pimples generally form as a result of clogging of pores with dead skin cells and sebum. (1) Specifically, the following factors can trigger pimple formation in the ears:

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  • Excessive stress (2)
  • Hormonal changes associated with puberty (3)
  • Inflamed hair follicles
  • Use of oily gels or pomades
  • Increased sebum production
  • Occlusion
  • Bacterial infection
  • Use of tight headbands or hats
  • Sharing earbuds
  • Allergy
  • Piercings (4)
  • Keloid bump
  • Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa) (5)

Treatment for Ear Pimples

treatment for pimples in ear

The treatment for pimples in the ear is similar to acne treatment. You can use over-the-counter creams and medications. However, if these fail to work, consult your doctor for prescription treatment. If the pimple is extremely painful, you may ask your dermatologist for an extraction.

The different treatment options include:

1. Antibiotic creams

You can try Neosporin or Polysporin antibiotic ointments that control the growth of acne-causing bacteria. (6)

2. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

These medications curb the pimple-associated inflammation, therefore reducing the pain and sensitivity. Commonly used NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve). (7)

3. Benzoyl peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide in 2.5%–5% concentration prevents the growth of acne-causing bacteria and is commonly used for the treatment of acne. (8) It can be found in many products including creams, serums, and face washes.

4. Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid is another popular anti-acne ingredient that is highly effective, owing to its anti-inflammatory, keratolytic, and antibacterial properties. It dissolves the dead skin cells and exfoliates the skin, thus preventing clogging of pores.

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You can use salicylic acid in low concentrations directly on the pimple. (9)

5. Retinoid creams

Retinoid is a form of vitamin A that can prevent and treat pimples. It is a keratolytic agent, which loosens the bonds between skin cells and dissolves dead skin cells.

It is suggested to apply retinoid cream on the skin after 20 minutes of washing it. Make sure to protect your skin from the sun after use. (10)

6. Steroids

Your dermatologist may recommend a corticosteroid injection for the treatment of a keloid or hypertrophic scar. Steroids are injected directly into the scar tissue to decrease the itching, redness, and burning sensations that these scars may produce.

7. Professional extraction

The doctor will analyze the ear and ear canal and use a sterile comedone extractor to remove the comedone or acne content. (11) It is best to consult your dermatologist for this procedure rather than popping the pimple on your own.

Diagnosing Ear Pimples

diagnosis of pimples in ear

While pimples are a common problem that is often self-diagnosed, they can be confused with similar symptoms of other skin problems. Therefore, consulting a dermatologist for a correct diagnosis is recommended.

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The dermatologist may conduct a physical examination of your skin. They may order a sample culture to check for bacterial and fungal infections.

The dermatologist will also assess the bump on your ear to rule out conditions that resemble pimples, such as:

  • Sebaceous cysts
  • Seborrheic keratosis
  • Boils
  • Keloid scars
  • Acanthoma fissuratum
  • Basal cell carcinoma

When to See a Doctor

It is advised to consult your doctor if you have a frequent problem of pimples in the ear, the pimple is oozing pus, or multiple black dots have formed on the ear. Moreover, treatment is warranted if the pimple doesn’t improve in a week and causes extreme pain.

What you may ask your doctor
  • How long does it take for a pimple to clear?
  • Can the pimple affect my hearing?
  • What can I do to control the pain and inflammation?
What your doctor may ask you
  • When did the pimple first appear?
  • Do you also have ear pain, tenderness, or headache?
  • Are you running a fever?

Final Word

You may develop a pimple on your ear if dead skin cells, sebum, and bacteria accumulate in your skin pore and block it. The pimples in your ear can be quite discomforting and painful.

The good thing is there are treatments and self-care measures that can help treat the pimple. Make sure to consult your doctor if the pimple causes extreme pain or doesn’t improve in a week. The doctor may give you prescription-strength ointments or perform a pimple extraction.

Continue Reading Continue Reading10 Tips to Prevent and Treat Pimples in the Ear
References
  1. Acne: Overview. InformedHealth.org [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279211/. Published September 26, 2019.
  2. Zari S, Alrahmani D. The association between stress and acne among female medical students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5722010/. Published December 5, 2017.
  3. Elsaie ML. Hormonal treatment of acne vulgaris: An update. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5015761/. Published September 2, 2016.
  4. Manca DP, Levy M, Tariq K. Case report: Infected ear cartilage piercing. Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1781501/. Published August 2006.
  5. Outer ear infection: Overview. InformedHealth.org [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279353/. Published February 13, 2020.
  6. Williamson DA, Carter GP, Howden BP. Current and emerging topical antibacterials and antiseptics: Agents, action, and Resistance Patterns. Clinical microbiology reviews. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5475228/. Published July 2017.
  7. Gunaydin C, Bilge SS. Effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs at the molecular level. The Eurasian journal of medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6039135/. Published June 2018.
  8. Tan AU, Schlosser BJ, Paller AS. A review of diagnosis and treatment of acne in adult female patients. International journal of women’s dermatology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5986265/. Published December 23, 2017.
  9. S; ZEW. Treatment of acne vulgaris with salicylic acid pads. Clinical therapeutics. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1535287/.
  10. Latter G, Grice JE, Mohammed Y, Roberts MS, Benson HAE. Targeted topical delivery of retinoids in the management of acne vulgaris: Current formulations and novel Delivery Systems. Pharmaceutics. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6835300/. Published September 24, 2019.
  11. Wise EM, Graber EM. Clinical pearl: Comedone extraction for persistent macrocomedones while on isotretinoin therapy. The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3225139/. Published November 2011.
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