Auricles are one of the places where fairly large sebaceous glands are located. If the work of the latter is impaired, this leads to profuse secretion of sebum and entails dandruff in the ears. This phenomenon does not pose a threat to health, but at the same time a person loses a neat appearance and looks groomed. If dandruff is the result of seborrhea, itching and discomfort in the ear area can disturb.
How to determine?
Dandruff in the auricles and in the area behind them appears with the active work of the sebaceous glands. Often, when unpleasant symptoms appear, they are confused with ordinary peeling. Dandruff itself can also be different: dry, oily. So what is the difference between peeling and seborrhea, how do you know if this is really dandruff in the ears? Photos of such manifestations can also be used to make a diagnosis before going to the doctor.
Dandruff is a disease that occurs due to malfunctioning of the ear glands or the development of fungus. Peeling is dead skin cells. It always has a dry appearance. Dandruff can occur in large quantities. Against the background of seborrhea, itching also occurs, which is uncharacteristic for peeling.
If there are signs of dandruff in the ears, you should definitely consult with an otorhinolaryngologist or trichologist. The disease itself is not dangerous, but it can develop against the background of any disease, so you need to find out the cause and begin to eliminate it.
Causes
Dandruff in the ears can cause fungus, which affects the skin. The causes of dandruff include:
- neglect of hygiene rules;
- disruption of the digestive tract;
- weakened immunity;
- hormonal imbalance;
- nerve stress, stress;
- bad habits;
- genetic predisposition;
- endocrine diseases;
- avitaminosis;
- infectious diseases;
- skin diseases.
Symptoms of dandruff in the auricles
Dandruff in the ears is accompanied by discomfort. Against the background of such a disease, other symptoms may also occur:
- the appearance of a crust;
- stuffy ear;
- redness of the skin;
- accumulation of large clumps of dandruff.
Diagnostics
In order to get rid of dandruff in the ears, the reasons for which it is not always possible to determine independently, it is advisable to contact specialists. Before making an accurate diagnosis, the doctor will examine the patient, prescribe a series of tests that will clarify the situation and find out why dandruff has developed in the ear area. In addition, you will have to pass smears for the presence of bacteria that could provoke the disease. When all these procedures are completed, the doctor will be able to make a final diagnosis and prescribe a course of therapy.
Treatment
To get rid of dandruff in the ears, you need to undergo a course of treatment, which was compiled by a doctor. Therapy may include medication, vitamins, and diet. If dandruff occurs against a background of a disease, it is treated first. To get rid of unpleasant sensations, processing of problem areas will be required.
Removing Dandruff from the Ear
If dandruff in the ears is removed, it can injure the skin, so the keratinized particles need to be softened first. To do this, an oil swab can be inserted into the ear canal. The procedure can be performed using any oil: olive, burdock, corn. After this, the skin should be well wet with a dry cloth. Such manipulations should be carried out three times a day for a week. During this period, you should stop washing your ears with soap, shampoo and products that contain alcohol, as they dry the skin and aggravate the situation.
A doctor should deal with the treatment of dandruff in the ears. It is extremely undesirable to carry out various manipulations with the ear and independently choose drugs, since this can lead to damage to the eardrum, and in severe cases, hearing loss.
Treatment of affected areas
Places where there is an accumulation of dandruff can be treated with various drugs. When it became clear why dandruff in the ears, you can start therapy.
As a rule, the doctor prescribes:
- Treatment of the auricle with salicylic ointment. The tool fights against microbes, does not allow dandruff to infect other places.
- Application of Clotrimazole. The drug has an antifungal effect.
- Cleansing the ears with tar soap. It kills the infection, has an antiseptic effect, relieves itching.
Using the means of local action, it must be borne in mind that they can only eliminate the manifestations of the ailment. Often, dermatologists prescribe for patients a drug such as Cyclopirox. The drug perfectly fights dandruff and neutralizes the cause of its occurrence. Another effective way that allows you to remove dandruff involves applying lotions from vitamins A, E, C, B6, which are presented in liquid form. To enhance the effect, they can be mixed with aloe juice.
In some cases, antibiotics may be prescribed. As a rule, the doctor includes them in the treatment regimen for inflammatory processes in the ears. Their use may also be local. A comprehensive treatment for dandruff in the ears may also involve taking antihistamines that relieve itching and irritation. You need to resort to local therapy regularly. If you do this rarely, the disease can progress and spread to other areas of the skin. Getting rid of the disease at the initial stage is much easier than treating the advanced disease later.
Diet and lifestyle correction
If we are talking about human health, then a huge role should be given to nutrition. As for dandruff in the ears, then, as mentioned above, it appears in connection with increased production of sebum. Fatty and sweet foods can affect the functioning of the sebaceous glands. To alleviate the condition, it is necessary to include in the menu fresh vegetables, fruits, low-fat varieties of meat and fish, dried fruits, cereals, dairy products.
It is also important not to forget about the drinking regimen. About 2 liters of water should be drunk per day. It is also worth considering that bad habits lead to a weakening of the immune system, as a result of which various ailments can occur.
A low-level lifestyle is also harmful to health. If it is not possible to visit the gym, you need to try to walk as much as possible, to conduct training at home or at the stadium. Proper nutrition, physical activity will help improve skin condition and forget about dandruff in the ears.
Vitamin therapy
To combat dandruff, you can also connect vitamin complexes. It is advisable that they be prescribed by a doctor. In addition to vitamins that you can scoop from food, you need to take additional substances. In this case, those that are responsible for a healthy skin condition are suitable.
Traditional medicine at home
If it turned out why dandruff forms in the ears and the reasons were not too serious, folk remedies will help improve the situation with the skin:
- To soften the dry crust in the auricle, you can insert a tampon with burdock oil. It must be left in the ears for 20 minutes.
- Mix in equal proportions tar with butter. Apply the composition to the affected area for 10-15 minutes, then rinse with water.
- A decoction of celandine, chamomile and coltsfoot will help relieve itching. This infusion can rinse the hair after washing, treat it with the ear and the area behind it.
- A good effect gives a mask based on garlic. To prepare it, you need to knead one garlic tooth, mix the gruel with olive oil and soda. Allow the composition to infuse for about 15 minutes, then apply to the skin of the ears and rinse with warm water after a few minutes.
- To eliminate dryness, rosehip oil, calendula, rose and sea buckthorn are excellent. Apply them to problem areas in exactly the same way as burdock oil - with cotton swabs.
Precautions
Treatment of dandruff in the ears, the causes of which have been identified, is usually effective if all the doctor’s prescriptions have been strictly observed. After getting rid of the crust, it is important to adhere to preventive measures:
- Observe hygiene rules (regularly clean your ears).
- Do not use other people's accessories (earphones, ear plugs).
- Do not clean the ears with cotton buds, as they destroy the cells of the epithelium, remove the layer of protective lubricant that forms in the ear canal.
- As much as possible to spend time in the fresh air.
- Take proper time to sleep.
- Make sure that the ears do not get too cold and protect them from getting water (if you have to swim in the pool, always wear a special hat).
- Engage in the timely treatment of otitis media and boils.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Avoid stressful situations.
- Make a diet so that it is dominated by wholesome food.
- Use shampoo with gentle components to wash your hair.
Conclusion
When the first symptoms of dandruff in the ears appear, you should immediately contact specialists who will find out the cause of this phenomenon and draw up an effective treatment regimen. By itself, dandruff in the auricles is not terrible, but it can signal pathological processes in the body. In order to prevent further health problems, you need to contact a doctor in a timely manner. If you resort to treatment on time, you can achieve a positive result much faster.