Many MyEczemaTeam members report experiencing eczema symptoms in, on, or around their ears. Dry, scaly, and itchy ears that weep or crack can be very uncomfortable and frustrating. Fortunately, there are ways of treating ear eczema, including both medical treatments and ear eczema treatments at home. If you develop eczema on your ears, be sure to talk to your doctor about the best way to manage it.

One MyEczemaTeam member wrote, “I was wondering if anyone has any advice for ‘oozing eczema.’ The inside of my ears gets very wet and itchy. Then it dries up and flakes. If I scratch it or pick it out, it will ooze again.”

Eczema in the ears causes discolored, inflamed, and itchy patches of skin, similar to eczema on other parts of the body. In severe cases, in addition to dryness and irritation, you may also experience ear eczema weeping (oozing), cracking, or scabbing.

Understanding Ear Eczema and Its Symptoms

Eczema is an inflammatory skin condition that leads to dry, rough skin with intense itchiness and pain. Skin may also swell, thicken, and develop scales, cracks, crusting, or pustules that can weep or ooze fluid.

Eczema can appear anywhere on the body, including in different parts of the ear:

• Pinna — The outer ear, including the lobe and cartilage
• Meatus — The opening of the ear
• External auditory canal — The ear canal, which is made up of bone and skin and leads to the eardrum
• Tympanic membrane — The eardrum

Eczema can affect areas around the ear, including the back of the ear, the folds of the ears, and where the face meets the ear. Eczema behind the ears is also common. One MyEczemaTeam member shared, “I get eczema inside my nose, in my ears, and behind my ears.”

Cracking and Weeping in Severe Ear Eczema

The area where the earlobe and face meet is a common place for ear eczema to cause cracking, or small tears in the skin (fissures). These cracks can lead to infection. Severely affected skin that weeps (leaks or oozes) may produce pus, a thick white or yellow fluid.

Some people diagnosed with eczema experience it on their ears from the beginning. Others find that it shows up on the ears later. As one member shared, “I’ve had eczema since I was 6. It finally cleared up in my late 20s. Now, in my 50s, I have it in my ears and on my scalp. My ears are bad and itch like mad.”

Inflammation in the ear canal may also cause hearing problems such as ringing in the ears (tinnitus) or hearing loss.

What Causes Ear Eczema?

Dermatology experts aren’t entirely sure what causes ear eczema — or eczema in general. But medical experts believe it’s a combination of environmental factors like irritants and changing temperatures, genetic factors, and abnormal immune system reactions. An eczema flare or flare-up occurs when symptoms become active or worsen.

There are several types of eczema that may cause symptoms to appear in, on, or around the ears.

Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis — more commonly known as atopic eczema or just eczema — is the most common form of eczema. Atopic dermatitis causes dry, flaky skin. When scratched, this skin can become irritated or injured, which can lead to open or cracked areas prone to infection.

Atopic dermatitis in the ears frequently develops in the area where the earlobe meets the face.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis

Allergic contact dermatitis, a form of contact dermatitis, is a type of eczema triggered by skin contact with an allergen, leading to an allergic reaction. The ear may develop allergic eczema due to irritants like:

• Metal in earrings
• Irritants in soaps, detergents, or solvents
• Makeup
• Hair products
• Substances you had on your hands before touching your ears

Asteatotic Eczema

Asteatotic eczema appears as extremely dry, scaly skin and usually affects older people. Factors that can worsen symptoms include:

• Washing your ears too often
• Spending a lot of time outdoors in windy or dry weather
• Living in an area with extremely low humidity
• Using central heating or air conditioning without a humidifier

Seborrheic Dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis, or seborrheic eczema, can show up on any area of the body where sebaceous glands (oil glands) are found — mostly the scalp, face, and in the folds of skin such as the ears. Seborrheic dermatitis can cause crusty skin, cracks, and oozing in and around the ears. The main cause of seborrheic dermatitis in the ears is an overgrowth of Malassezia yeast, a type of fungus that is naturally present on the skin.

Managing Ear Eczema

You can take steps to manage your ear eczema with home remedies and skin care routines that can help control symptoms such as cracking, weeping, and itching.

Avoid Your Triggers

Try to identify triggers for your ear eczema and avoid them. Triggers for ear eczema can include allergens or jewelry made with copper, nickel, or cobalt.

Triggers can differ from person to person. One MyEczemaTeam member wrote, “I can’t wear glasses because it triggers my eczema behind my ears.”

Another member shared, “Steroid cream and lotions seem to irritate my ear eczema.”

Use Nonirritating Cleansing Products

Hair and skin care products can easily end up on or in your ears and trigger your ear eczema. Irritating ingredients like fragrances, dyes, and alcohol are common culprits.

Some products such as shampoos, conditioners, and hair sprays are designed to be gentle on sensitive skin. The National Eczema Association has a list of safe products for those prone to eczema. If you think you might be allergic to an ingredient in your hair products, talk to your dermatologist about getting allergy tests. Always test new products on a small affected area of skin to see if you have an unwanted reaction.

Look for hair and skin products with ceramides, which can help repair the skin barrier.

Be sure to use a mild laundry detergent and rinse clothing thoroughly.

Protect Skin From Extreme Temperatures

Covering your ears whenever you go outside in cold weather can help prevent symptoms of ear eczema from worsening. Likewise, a humidifier can help prevent irritation from dry air inside.

One MyEczemaTeam member has found that cool — but not cold — water helps with ear eczema. As they explained, “Cool water helps, and Benadryl at night.”

Moisturize Your Ears

Petroleum jelly (Vaseline) and other ointments, such as Aquaphor, can be effective moisturizers for ear eczema. They can help avoid dry skin that may crack and ooze. These ointments can help protect the skin barrier and have antifungal and antibacterial properties. You can use a cotton swab to apply ointments to the ear after washing the ear with a mild soap.

Antifungal creams can be an effective treatment for seborrheic dermatitis in the ears, as the condition is often linked to the overgrowth of Malassezia yeast. Look for antifungal creams with ingredients like ketoconazole, clotrimazole, or miconazole, which target the yeast. These can help reduce symptoms such as itching, flaking, and redness.

Avoid Scratching Your Ears

It’s important to avoid scratching or rubbing your ears, as this can worsen eczema. Always be gentle when washing your ears, and wear cotton clothing to minimize irritation.

Talk to Your Doctor

Let your doctor know if your ear eczema symptoms are hard to control and ask for medical advice. You may have another condition, such as psoriasis, along with ear eczema.

Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medication treatment options for your ear eczema. Oral or topical steroids (corticosteroids), such as hydrocortisone ointment, or ear drops (for ear canal eczema treatment) may help reduce itching and allow cracked or weeping skin to heal by reducing skin inflammation.

One MyEczemaTeam member wrote, “I have an outbreak in and around my ears. This comes and goes frequently. I manage it with topical meds.”

If you have severe ear eczema or more widespread eczema, treatments like phototherapy, systemic medications (taken orally or by injection), or prescription topical drugs may help suppress overactive immune system activity. These can include:

• Immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, and methotrexate
• Topical calcineurin inhibitors such as tacrolimus (Protopic)
• The biologic drug dupilumab (Dupixent)
• Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor upadacitinib (Rinvoq)
• Oral or topical antibiotics in cases of bacterial infection

If you need a referral to a dermatologist to manage your ear eczema, talk to your doctor. Always follow up with your doctor or dermatologist if your symptoms change or worsen. Your doctor may recommend switching your eczema treatment to find what works best for you.

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Have you developed eczema on your ears? How have you managed it? Share your experience and tips in the comments below or by posting on your Activities page.