EARS ARE ITCHING DEEP INSIDE SKIN

People who have this type of eczema often have dandruff on the scalp and itchy, flaky skin with a yellowish, greasy scale in typical seborrhoeic dermatitis areas, which include the face (along the smile lines and eyebrows), centre of the chest and sometimes the eyelids and ears.Īround the ears, seborrhoeic dermatitis often takes the form of inflammation of the ear canal and along the hairline behind the ear (the post-auricular area), which can lead to painful fissures or cracks. Seborrhoeic dermatitis is a form of eczema triggered by an over-reaction of the skin’s immune system to an overgrowth of a harmless yeast called malassezia that lives on the skin.

Sometimes eczema can affect the whole of the pinna and track down the ear canal. Eczema in this area can cause painful cracks (fissures) in the skin, which can then easily become infected. A common site of ear eczema in people with atopic eczema is the junction between the earlobe and the face. It can easily become infected, especially if the skin is scratched and breaks. As with other areas of the body, the eczematous skin here is dry, itchy and red or darker than a person’s usual skin colour, depending on skin tone. The ears and skin behind the ears are frequently affected in people with atopic eczema. Several different types of eczema may affect the ear. There are a number of causes of ear eczema and it is always best to consult your doctor if you think you may have it, in order to get effective treatment and prevent flare-ups. The ear folds, backs of the ears and the area where the ears meet the face are also common areas for eczema. Eczema can affect the entire ear including the earlobes, conchal bowl (the area outside the ear hole), the ear opening (meatus), ear canal (also known as the external auditory canal – the part of the ear that leads to the ear drum) and the ear drum itself (also known as the tympanic membrane). It can range from slight dryness of the pinna (the visible, projecting part of the ear) to extensive skin loss and soreness, as well as infection of the external and internal parts of the ear.

Your Feedback – Compliments and ComplaintsĮar eczema can be an extremely irritating and, at times, painful condition.

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Ears are itching deep inside