Peeling of the skin of the auricles from the inside and outside can be observed in any person, including a completely healthy one. Sloughing off dead epithelial cells is a constant process necessary for skin renewal, and the auricle epithelium is no exception.
But if peeling causes discomfort - accompanied by itching, redness, cracking of the skin, etc. - this is no longer normal. There are clear signs of impaired metabolism of the skin of the ear. This can be the result of infection, mechanical damage, allergies, and sometimes poor ear care. It is necessary to find out what caused the disease and initiate appropriate treatment.
We will tell you why the auricles peel off in normal and pathological conditions, and also talk about the treatment and prevention of this condition.
Causes
Why is the skin in the ears peeling? There can be many reasons. For example, excessive flaking in summer can be caused by sunburn (since the ear skin is thin, it burns very quickly in the sun). People swimming in chlorinated water can dry out the skin on their ears, which can also lead to flakes and crusts.
Improper hygienic care is another cause of peeling. People who regularly use cotton swabs to clean their ears often complain of crusting in the ear canal. They are formed as a result of damage to the epidermis during active mechanical cleaning. You should abandon cotton swabs, and clean the ear canal with a gauze swab and warm water no more than 1 time per week.
On the other hand, insufficient care can also cause flaking. If a person washes his ears regularly, the dead epidermis gradually and imperceptibly sloughs off. Try washing your ears by rubbing them with a washcloth or damp gauze pad. If the peeling has stopped, there is definitely nothing to worry about.
At the same time, it should be borne in mind that peeling of the auricles is a symptom of some dermatological diseases. Let's consider the most common ones.
Mycoses of the auricle
Mycoses are fungal infections. The skin of the ear canal and auricle is prone to mycosis if a person abuses the cleaning of the ear canal from sulfur. Patients with diabetes mellitus are also susceptible to otomycosis.
In some cases, otomycosis develops during otitis media treatment. Why? The fact is that alcohol drops for the ears (boric and furacilin alcohol), as well as drops with antibiotics, destroy bacteria in the ear canal. This helps to cure otitis media, but it can lead to uncontrolled growth of fungal microflora. Bacteria and fungi of microflora are eternal competitors: when we kill some, endless possibilities open up for others to colonize the surface of the skin.
It is very important to adhere to the dosage and duration of treatment when using antibacterial ear drops. Otherwise, during treatment, otomycosis may develop.
With otomycosis, the patient is worried about annoying itching, plaque or discharge of yellow or black color and peeling in the ears. Treatment for this condition includes ear drops or ointments with antifungal effects, such as Miconazole, Clotrimazole. Sometimes they resort to general antifungal drugs - they significantly accelerate recovery. Thus, Fluconazole or Ketoconazole tablets may be prescribed.
Psoriasis
Peeling of the auricles outside and inside may be the first manifestation of a disease such as psoriasis. It is a chronic skin disease, the main symptom of which is a pink rash covered with a layer of epidermal scales.
The cause of the disease is an abnormal acceleration of the process of dividing skin cells. It is as a result of the layering of epithelial cells that plaques and keratinized scales are formed. Patients may experience pain or itching in the affected area. People who are genetically predisposed to this disorder suffer from psoriasis.
Psoriatic plaques often form behind the ears, along the hairline, on the earlobes, and in the ear canal.
Patients with psoriasis should pay special attention to ear hygiene. All bends of the auricle, lobes and the visible part of the ear canal should be wiped with a cotton swab dipped in warm salted water. After that, the psoriasis cream prescribed by the attending physician is applied.
With psoriasis in the ear canal, scales of keratinized skin can partially or completely block its lumen. In this case, you need to see a doctor to prevent the formation of sulfur plug.
Allergic dermatitis
Allergic contact dermatitis is a hypersensitivity reaction to certain substances that interact with the skin. Quite often, this disease affects the delicate skin of the ears.
Allergy to metal is a common cause of peeling earlobes.
This primarily applies to women and men wearing earrings.
Microdoses of metal, penetrating through the epithelium, change a person's own proteins so that the immune system reacts to them as foreign. This is what causes intolerance.
The manifestations of contact dermatitis are observed in areas of the skin in contact with the irritant. Symptoms of contact dermatitis of the ears:
- peeling of the skin;
- swelling and redness of the lobes, ear canal;
- itching, less often pain when touched;
- rash in the form of bubbles.
An allergic reaction can be caused by both precious jewelry and bijouterie. The most common causes of contact dermatitis are:
- Nickel. It ranks first among the contact metal allergens. This metal is often found in jewelry, buttons, zippers, and various gadgets, including headphones and hearing aids. Nickel is normally tolerated by most people, but individuals with individual sensitivities may experience significant discomfort in contact with nickel. It should be noted that nickel allergy is not always congenital - it can develop as a result of frequent prolonged contact with this metal.
- Chromium is found in many paints. Sometimes jewelry is coated with this metal in order to give shine and protect against corrosion. People who are hypersensitive to chromium may be allergic to hair coloring products.
- Gold and silver are precious metals. By themselves, they do not cause allergies, since they practically do not interact with surrounding substances. Dermatitis can be caused by impurities that make up jewelry.
- Cobalt is used in hair dyes. May cause contact dermatitis of the scalp, ears and neck.
- Zinc can be found in jewelry. It is also part of some dental fillings, which should be borne in mind by people suffering from intolerance to this metal.
- Copper is often used in jewelry making, to give strength to gold jewelry.
To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe a provocative test. Treatment of an allergic reaction to metal includes taking local and general antihistamines. With a pronounced reaction, local glucocorticosteroids can be used - they quickly relieve the symptoms of inflammation. The patient must limit skin contact with the irritating metal, otherwise the disease will manifest itself again and again.
