Methods for the treatment of dermatitis in the ear. What is ear dermatitis: etiology of the disease, provoking factors, treatment Dermatitis of the auricle treatment

The disease develops in the ear canal and auricle, accompanied by severe itching, changes in the state of the epidermis. Dermatitis is divided into atopic, contact and seborrheic by the type of manifestation.

Ear dermatitis can be successfully treated. For this, it is important for a specialist to correctly diagnose, depending on the symptoms and causes.

Symptoms and causes of the development of the disease

The first sign of dermatitis in the ears is severe itching. It appears in the ear canal, behind the ears, and affects the auditory concha.

In this case, the following symptoms can be noted in sick people:

Taking into account all the symptoms, the specialist determines the type of ear dermatitis, the severity of the disease and prescribes an effective treatment.

The causes of the development of the disease depend on many factors, the patient's internal state or external stimuli.

There are common prerequisites for all types of dermatitis in the ears:

With contact dermatitis of the ear, the disease develops in the form of a reaction to an external stimulus:

If a patient is diagnosed with seborrheic dermatitis, ear dermatosis may develop.

The disease is caused by an overgrowth of the fungus Malasseziafurfur on the scalp, which feeds on sebum.

The fungus infects the upper layers of the epidermis with its waste products (fungal toxins). In adult patients, seborrheic dermatosis often affects the auricles.

For the development of atopic dermatitis of the ear, a combination of several adverse factors is possible:

Treatment is carried out in a comprehensive manner, when the selection of medicines, the causes of the development of the disease, the main symptoms and the degree of damage are taken into account.

Treatment

First of all, in children and adults, treatment begins with wiping the foci of inflammation with hydrogen peroxide, a concentrated soda solution or a solution of laundry soap.

Bubbles, foci of oozing, are wiped with a solution of picric or boric acid, zinc ointment is suitable for drying the skin.

To relieve unpleasant symptoms in the form of itching, it is necessary to take antihistamines by mouth. For children, Parlazin, Cetirizine drops are suitable. Adult patients can use Zodak, Suprastin, Loratadin.

With atopic dermatitis, treatment is carried out with a complex of funds.

For treatment to be successful in case of contact dermatitis, it is necessary to eliminate the irritant causing the allergic reaction.

If ear diseases are associated with seborrheic dermatitis, then, in addition to using drops and ointments, special hygiene procedures must also be performed.

If seborrheic dermatitis is treated in time, it is possible to avoid damage to the skin of the ears.

Itchy ears, as a symptom of dermatitis:

Diagnostics

Initially, the patient is obliged to visit a doctor. So, a dermatologist conducts an external examination of the patient, takes anamnesis, specifying the details of the appearance and course of the disease. Usually, one dose is enough to detect an ailment.

However, in some cases it may be necessary to take a scraping from the affected area of the skin. This will allow you to determine the presence of a certain type of flora - pathological or infectious.

The photo shows signs of ear dermatitis

Treatment

Treatment of ear dermatitis should be comprehensive and only under the strict guidance of a doctor. The main basis is based on the use of various ointments and creams. In difficult cases, and are provided.

The patient also needs to remember that dietary adjustments are recommended for treatment. involves the exclusion of possible allergenic and heavy foods, as well as sweets and flavorings. Such nutrition additionally allows you to normalize the digestive tract.

Medication

Medication is prescribed only by the attending dermatologist. Having familiarized himself with the available diagnosis and its form, he makes the necessary appointments. In the standard version, the patient receives the following list:

to combat ear dermatitis;
antibiotics;
intake of medicinal mineral water;
physiotherapy, consisting of X-ray, UHF and UV.

Dermatitis treatment should be carried out according to a strictly prescribed scheme. Departure from the doctor's recommendations can provoke an increase, which will reduce all the expended forces to zero.

Folk remedies

Natural substances are great for helping to cope with ear dermatitis. They have excellent antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects. The main problem is to choose exactly the tool that will be useful specifically in your case.

So, for help, you can turn to the same doctor with whom you are being treated, or use special medical literature.

Folk remedies help great in such cases:

lack of quick results through drug treatment;
chronic dermatitis;
acute dermatitis or an ailment in an advanced form.

A properly made product allows you to achieve good results in a short period of time. After the first use, the patient feels significant relief, itching goes away, redness and swelling go away.

Herbal medicine cannot be taken as a basis in the treatment of dermatitis. In more advanced cases, it will not bring results, but will only worsen the situation.

For simple forms of ear dermatitis, it is most optimal to use:

strawberry leaves;
juniper;
anise;
elder;
centaury;
smokehouse;
beans;
celery;
tartar;
chamomile;
Oak bark;
sorrel;
bedstraw.

It is best to use medicinal herbs as a tea. They will strengthen the immune system, improve metabolism and help the rapid healing of dermatitis. In some cases, lotions are indicated for treatment. But it is better to deliberately discuss their use with a doctor.

Possible complications

Complications with ear dermatitis are rare enough, but they also have a place to be. The thing is that in the absence of treatment, dermatitis spreads extremely quickly, affecting healthy areas of the epidermis. This brings many unpleasant symptoms, ranging from itching, ending with severe inflammation, swelling of the affected areas.

Brushing is likely to cause an infection to enter the ear. This, in turn, is fraught with the appearance of an inflammatory process directly inside the ear canal. This greatly complicates the treatment process.

Dermatitis of the inner ear is incredibly difficult to tolerate as it causes severe itching, redness and unpleasant pain.

How to recognize dermatitis in children, see our video:

Forecast and prevention

With a properly selected treatment regimen and with timely access to a doctor, ear dermatitis is quickly eliminated. It may take some time for complete healing of tissues and restoration of the natural color of the skin.

With chronic dermatitis, it is necessary to approach the treatment more carefully, following all the instructions and recommendations of the dermatologist. You should choose the best acceptable food for yourself, refuse unsuitable jewelry made of gold, plastics, low-quality metal.

Preventive measures for the usual form of dermatitis are to be more careful with your body. So, you need to protect yourself from low-quality jewelry, cosmetics, accessories. Food should not include excessive amounts of potentially allergenic foods.

To avoid any skin disease and dermatitis including, you should protect yourself from stress. Avoid contact with chemicals that can cause burns and irritate the skin.

Combing behind the ears may indicate the development of a fungal disease. The disease often affects the skin, especially where the sebaceous glands are most concentrated. Ear dermatitis can occur in both adults and young children. In any case, the fungus behind the ears is a reason for an immediate visit to a doctor - a dermatologist. Most likely, it will not do without testing!

The appearance of discomfort in the area of the auricle is a sign of diseases, most often of a fungal nature. During the examination, the doctor will easily give you one of the diagnoses:

Seborrheic dermatitis. With a lesion of the skin behind the ears, this disease is diagnosed most often. It is associated with the active growth of fungal microflora of the genus Malassezia. This fungus does not get on the skin from the outside - it is constantly present on it (even in healthy people). The ailment is accompanied not only by itching: the skin is peeling, profuse dandruff appears. In this case, the risk of joining another infection (for example, bacterial) increases significantly.
Allergies. It manifests itself as a reaction of the body to the composition of cosmetics and cleaning chemicals, as well as to dust mites. In addition, it may be intolerance to certain foods, jewelry, etc. especially dangerous at an early age.
Psoriasis. It is expressed in rashes with keratinized skin scales in the scalp. Similar rashes can be behind the ears.
Otomycosis. covering the entire ear, including the external auditory canal. In this case, the main inconvenience of the patient is the persistent itching both inside the ear and behind it.
Atopic dermatitis. It is characterized by particularly severe itching; the skin behind the ears turns red and wet, becomes dry, thin.

Causes of the appearance of a fungal infection behind the ears

The fungus behind the ears can be provoked by:

puberty in adolescents (increased production of sebum from the sebaceous glands due to hormone imbalance);
hereditary manifestations to excessive work of the sebaceous glands;
hormonal disorders and gynecological diseases in women, in men with testicular tumors, obesity;
with the abuse of spicy, salty or fried foods;
bad habits (smoking, alcohol);
weakness of the immune system;
acute, infectious and chronic diseases;
overwork, psychosis, stress;
disturbances in the work of the gastrointestinal tract of non-infectious etiology, disorders of the endocrine glands.

Fungus behind the ears in children

Behind the ears of young children, among other diseases of a fungal nature, seborrheic dermatitis is often detected. This can happen even in the first six months of life. A significant cause of seborrheic dermatitis in babies is an increased content of hormones in the mother's milk (with hormonal disorders).

Clinically, the fungus of the skin behind the ears in children manifests itself in the form of:

red spots with clear boundaries;
crusted scales behind the ears and on the scalp;
diffuse damage to natural folds.

The erythematous vesicular rash is flaky but not itchy, so the baby sleeps normally.

If the child does not receive breast milk or breastfeeding does not occur regularly, then the symptoms of the disease gradually fade away.

However, bottle-fed babies are also at risk of getting sick. True, the prognosis of treatment for them is more favorable: if the diet is balanced, the disease recedes after a few months.

Diagnostics

To diagnose a skin fungus behind the ears, your doctor will need:

blood biochemistry;
a blood test for hormones (with the determination of the concentration of thyroid hormones, cortisol and testosterone);
for a separate category of patients - to do an ultrasound of the thyroid gland;
analysis for the determination of immunoglobulins E, that is, for markers of allergic tests.

In this case, it is considered mandatory to interview the patient for complaints, study heredity, and assess the order of manifestation of symptoms.

Treatment of the fungus behind the ears

Should be comprehensive. The goal of treatment is not only to eliminate the activity of fungi, but also to eliminate inflammation (pronounced beauty and itching).

There is no single remedy, the use of which could save you from problems in a short time. But, there are drugs that can significantly improve the patient's well-being, regardless of the cause of the disease.

The pharmacy network offers creams and ointments, which include cooling and moisturizing ingredients. Doctors try to apply ointments and creams with zinc-salicylic acid, sodium hyaluronate, zinc pyrithione, and pro-vitamin B5. With their help, you can remove unpleasant sensations.

If itching behind the ears does not allow sleep, causes increased irritability, then the doctor will prescribe soothing and anti-allergic drugs for oral administration.

It is imperative for the patient to stop contact with allergens.

With seborrheic dermatitis in the acute period, antifungal drugs are required. They are usually prescribed both internally and externally. The course of treatment is usually seven to fourteen days.

To achieve the best effect and depending on the severity of the disease, some patients are offered drugs with hormones.

Medicines help to remove the symptoms, but they do not cure the ailment itself!

Physiotherapy procedures will help to cure the fungus behind the ears:

cryotherapy;
massage;
darsonvalization;
laser and magnetic therapy;
inductothermy of the adrenal glands (according to indications).

Preventing a fungal infection behind the ears

In the stage of remission, as well as in order to prevent itching and flaking, continue treatment with natural ingredients.

A healthy lifestyle and hygiene are essential! In nutrition, give priority to fresh vegetables, dairy products, lean meat, cereals, clean water. Give up sugary carbonated drinks, flour. Alcohol is strictly prohibited!

Dermatitis of the ear canal and auricle (codes according to ICD-10 - H60.5, H60.8 or H60.1) is characterized by severe itching, inflammation and pathological changes in the skin. The disease can have a different nature of occurrence: both infectious and allergic or neurogenic.

Causes of occurrence

The factors that provoke the appearance of non-infectious dermatitis of the auricles are most often various irritating mechanical and chemical influences:

wearing headphones, eyeglass frames, or hearing aids made of poor quality material;
in a child, dermatitis can be caused by overheating due to excessive wrapping;
irritation of the external ear canal with cosmetic products, mainly styling and hair coloring products;
a local allergic reaction to nickel, which is found in cheap jewelry.

The disease does not have a single etiology. For the most part, the underlying causes of non-infectious dermatitis are serious disruptions in the body:

dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract and biliary tract;
general intoxication;
metabolic pathology;
dysbiosis;
decreased immune defense;
intolerance to certain foods.

Prolonged use of certain medications, exposure to food and local allergens, severe mental trauma, or inadequate skin care contribute to dermatitis.

In addition, constant scratching and microtrauma contribute to the irritation of the skin of the auricle.

Symptoms

Depending on the form of the disease, the surface and deep layers of the skin are involved in the pathological process. Narrowing of the ear canal and cracks may occur. In children, it is more common not to scaly, but to an oozing form of dermatitis..

Among the characteristic signs of the disease:

The lesions are covered with blisters and dried crusts. Often, dermatitis is complicated by the formation of weeping wound surfaces on the auricles with the release of pus and exudate. As a result of secondary infection, boils can form, which cause a narrowing of the ear canal and lead to hearing loss.

Atopic dermatitis therapy

With this disease, proper hygiene of the affected area is very important. Treatment of lesions of the external auditory canal begins with treatment with a solution of soda or hydrogen peroxide. To dry wet areas and blisters, it is recommended to use solutions of boric or picric acid, apply a thin layer of zinc ointment to the skin.

To eliminate itching, it is necessary to take antihistamines.... Adult patients are prescribed Loratadin, Fenkarol, Suprastin in tablets, children - drops of Cetirizin, Parlazin.

Therapy for atopic dermatitis consists of treating the affected areas in two stages:

First, drops, which include an antibiotic and a corticosteroid hormone, are injected inside to relieve itching, relieve inflammation and swelling of the ear canal. You can use Sofradex drops, which have worked well. The drug Polydex is also suitable. This product is suitable for adult patients and contains a steroid component and an antibiotic.
The second stage of treatment is the application of a corticosteroid ointment, gel or cream (Lorinden, Ftorocort) to the inflamed areas of the epidermis. For the treatment of children's skin, it is recommended to use Geokorton aerosol. It is easy to use and contains an antibiotic. The tool relieves inflammation, soothes the skin, prevents re-infection.

If the dermatitis is caused by wearing an accessory, device or jewelry, then the treatment will not work until the irritant that caused the sensitization is eliminated.

Seborrheic dermatitis therapy

In case of ear inflammation caused by seborrheic dermatitis, additional hygiene measures should be included in the treatment. Since the disease is fungal in nature, it is necessary to use medical and cosmetic products with an antimycotic component to wash your hair. This will inhibit the growth of pathogenic fungi. For these purposes, Nizoral shampoos with ketoconazole in the composition and Skin-cap with zinc pyrithione are suitable. Both products have strong anti-fungal, anti-anxiety and anti-inflammatory effects. In doing so, they affect the entire scalp, including the auricles and areas behind them.

To lubricate the affected area in the case of seborrheic dermatitis, it is necessary to use an ointment with an antimycotic component, for example, Bifisam, Mikospor, Lamisil. Before applying, the area behind the ears, the ear canal and the shell is carefully wiped with an antiseptic and cleaned of crusts and purulent exudate. To avoid secondary infection, the manipulation must be carried out carefully, trying not to injure the skin. Seborrheic dermatitis should be treated in a timely manner, this is the prevention of damage to the ear canals and concha.

Home remedies

As an auxiliary treatment, folk remedies are used (compresses, baths, cold lotions).

They use infusions of plants that soothe itching (strawberry leaf, black elderberry, juniper, celery or rhubarb root). For preparation, take 1 teaspoon of dry crushed raw materials for 250 ml of boiling water. Insist in a closed container for half an hour and then use as a lotion several times a day until the condition improves.
Homemade ointment made from powder of elecampane roots in pork fat relieves well the symptoms of the disease. The plant has a pronounced anti-inflammatory and antipruritic effect. For 100 g of fat, you need to take 2 g of root powder, warm it up in a water bath. Store the mixture in the refrigerator at all times. Apply to affected areas 3 times a day until complete recovery.
You can cure exudative ear dermatitis with lotions from herbal infusions. Lingonberry and walnut leaves, oak bark, sage are suitable. They have antimicrobial, drying and soothing properties. The preparation method is similar to the first recipe.

Nutrition

For the successful treatment of dermatitis, a person needs to adjust their diet, this is especially important for patients with atopic form of the disease. You need to follow a hypoallergenic diet:

Citrus fruits, coffee, chocolate, foods high in gluten are prohibited.
With seborrheic dermatitis, muffins, confectionery and cookies should be excluded from the diet - products that contribute to the growth of the fungus.

It is important to additionally take vitamins of group B, A and E, as well as calcium supplements. They accelerate the process of skin regeneration, enhance immunity and overall health.

Treatment of the disease should begin with the identification of the factors that led to its occurrence. This will allow you to completely overcome the skin disease, and not temporarily relieve the symptoms.

Therapy requires complex measures of influence. According to the indications, physiotherapy (UV, UHF) is prescribed. As additional means, it is permissible to use folk recipes.

Not all skin conditions are immediately detectable. For example, people often do not notice ear dermatitis in the initial stages, since an independent visual examination of this area of the body is difficult. Skin lesions in the ear canal and behind the ears must be treated. If you start dermatitis in the ears, then this disease can provoke inflammation of the inner ear.

Skin ailments can affect any part of the human body, including the skin of the ear. The degree of damage can vary, from slight dryness to the appearance of painful erosions. Ear dermatitis occurs in people of all ages; both a child and an adult can get sick. Let's figure out what causes this ailment and how it should be treated.

Causes

The outer ear consists of the concha and the auditory canal. The shell is a cartilaginous tissue covered with skin. The ears are prone to the same dermatological diseases as the rest of the body, including inflammatory ones.

The development of ear dermatitis is provoked by various reasons. Most often, these are chronic diseases, infectious processes, allergies. Common factors that provoke the development of ear dermatitis:

failure of immunity;
hormonal surges;
chronic ear diseases, in which there is a discharge of pus through the external auditory canal;
avitaminosis;
frequent stress;

fungal and viral infections;
predisposition to allergies;
injuries, including burns;
autoimmune disorders.

Depending on the reasons, several types of ear dermatitis are distinguished. It:

Seborrheic

Seborrheic dermatitis of the ear is quite common. This disease is caused by the uncontrolled reproduction of opportunistic fungal flora. Seborrhea develops on areas of the skin rich in sebaceous glands.

Most often, the first manifestations of seborrhea are noted on the scalp, and then the inflammatory process can spread to the skin behind the ear and the auricle itself. There are two types of seborrhea:

Dry. The course of this disease is characterized by a decrease in sebum production.
Bold. With this type of seborrheic dermatitis, the sebaceous glands produce excess secretions.

Mixed. With this type, dry seborrhea may occur in some areas, and oily in others.

Advice! Often, seborrheic ear dermatitis manifests itself with hormonal surges, so adolescents, pregnant women and women during menopause often suffer from this disease.

Typical symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis:

the skin begins to shine (with a greasy type) or resemble parchment paper (with dry);
peeling with the formation of flaking crusts;

severe itching;
the appearance of acne (with oily type).

Advice! With seborrhea, a secondary infection often joins. Most often, fungal, less often bacterial.

Treatment

It is necessary to treat seborrhea under the guidance of a dermatologist. In addition, you may need to consult an otolaryngologist if the inflammatory process deeply affects the ear canal. Comprehensive treatment includes the following activities:

correction of hormonal levels (if necessary);
treatment of affected areas with ointments or creams containing anti-inflammatory components;
if necessary, the use of antifungal or antibacterial agents.

Atopic

Atopic dermatitis of the ear is a systemic disease, that is, its causes are associated with non-standard reactions of the immune system. The disease, most often, debuts in infancy. The hereditary factor plays an important role in its development.

The disease is manifested by the formation of redness and flaking. The skin begins to flake off with small scales. The formation of bubbles is possible - vesicles filled with liquid. Painful cracks often appear on the auricle and behind it.

The disease is accompanied by severe itching. And scratching leads to an increased risk of infection. It can be a bacterial infection (most often staphylococcal), but it can also be infected with herpes simplex virus or yeast. With atopic atopic dermatitis, only the ear is rarely affected, most often, the inflammatory process spreads to the skin of the neck and face.

Treatment

In case of atopic atopic dermatitis, treatment is carried out systematically. Patients are recommended:

thorough hygienic care using mild detergents that do not dry the skin;
the use of creams to moisturize the skin;
the use of ointments containing synthetic corticosteroids to relieve inflammation;

Advice! Apply hormonal ointment to treat atopic dermatitis in the ear in short courses. With prolonged use, negative side reactions may develop.

using antihistamines to relieve itching;
when secondary infections are detected, specific therapy is used, lubrication of the affected areas with antibacterial, antifungal or viral ointment;
in the most severe cases, systemic corticosteroids are used for treatment.

Allergic contact

This type of disease is a consequence of individual hypersensitivity to certain stimuli. Inflammation occurs only after contact with an irritant.

The reaction can occur immediately or after several hours. The skin becomes red, swollen, painful. The formation of papules or vesicles is possible, after opening which a weeping surface is formed, covered with crusts.

Damaged skin becomes defenseless for secondary infections, so festering formations may appear. Contact dermatitis can manifest itself in the following cases:

when wearing earrings and clips;
when using glasses with frames made of low-quality material;
when using headphones or hearing aids;
when using hair styling products, shampoos and other cosmetics.

Treatment

It is necessary to exclude contact with a substance that causes irritation on the skin. This is the main condition for recovery. If contact is not excluded, then the treatment measures will be ineffective.

Antihistamines and saline lotions may be prescribed to relieve symptoms. If necessary, use ointments with corticosteroids, and with the addition of secondary infections, antibiotics or antimycotics.

Solar

Prolonged exposure to the open sun without the use of protective equipment can lead to the development of solar dermatosis. Often people, protecting their face and body from excess solar radiation with the help of creams and clothing, forget about their ears. Meanwhile, sunburn of the auricle is not such a rare occurrence.

Most often, light-skinned blondes and redheads suffer from solar dermatitis. Depending on the degree of radiation, a burn may appear with slight redness and slight burning sensation, the formation of blisters and even ulcers.

Treatment

You can treat mild sunburn yourself. If ulcerations appear on the surface of the skin, then you need to consult a doctor. Please note that having received a sunburn of your ears, it is categorically impossible:

lubricate the skin with alcohol-containing solutions;
lubricate the skin with petroleum jelly or animal fat, these substances close the pores, which prevents the skin from breathing;
you cannot pierce the bubbles yourself, this greatly increases the risk of infection.

Correct actions:

leave the open sun immediately;
make lotions from pieces of clean gauze dipped in cool, but not ice-cold water;
drink more clean water to reduce dehydration;
lubricate the skin with D-Panthenol or;
if severe pain is present, Ibuprofen or Paracetamol can be taken.

So, human ear dermatitis is a lesion of the skin of the auricle. The disease can be caused by different reasons, therefore, the treatment tactics are used differently. If signs of illness appear, you should consult a dermatologist or otolaryngologist.