Dry Skin in the Ears: Causes, Treatment, Prevention

6 min readApr 10, 2022

Dry skin in the ears can be caused by a variety of reasons such as due to changes in the weather, new jewelry, harsh skin or hair care products, or by chronic skin conditions. However most of the cases can be managed by at-home care, over-the-counter medication and by resolving the underly

Dry, scaly skin in the ears can be very troublesome especially when it is associated with itching. There are several causes of dry skin in the ears including environmental factors, irritation from skin products and chronic skin conditions.

Keep reading while we provide some insight on what might be causing dry skin in your ears, what to do about it and how to prevent it.

Why do I have dry skin in my ears?

Dry skin in the ears can be due to various causes that we will discuss in this section.

Environmental causes

Changes in weather can cause dry skin in the ears such as too hot, too cold or very dry weather with low humidity. Prolonged sun exposure and dehydration can also impact the skin.

Use of soaps or cleansers, especially the ones that are designed to control oil secretion, can also lead to dryness. Other products that may lead to dryness can be shampoo, conditioner, perfume, and hair care products.

To make it easier for you to put your finger on the cause, try to remember any new product that you may have switched to in the past few days. That new product could be causing dry skin in your ears.

Another possibility is an allergic reaction to jewelry. If you have recently gotten your ear pierced and are wearing nickel jewelry, then the dry skin could just be due to an allergic reaction to nickel. You should take it out and replace it with another metal that suits your skin.

Wearing a hearing aid can also lead to dry and irritated skin, either from the hearing aid rubbing against the skin or due to allergy to the material it is made from.

Skin conditions

Skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis can also lead to dry, scaly and itchy skin in and around the ears.

Eczema: Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is an inflammatory skin condition that leads to red, inflamed, bumpy and itchy skin. Eczema can affect any part of your skin, including your ears. It usually presents in childhood and very often, it is a life-long condition. It may bleed on scratching and result in sores or infection.

Psoriasis: Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin condition in which the skin cells multiply very quickly leaving no time for the old, dead skin cells to slough off. As a result, these dead skin cells form dry, scaly patches on the skin which can also be itchy.

Seborrheic dermatitis: Seborrheic dermatitis is an inflammatory skin condition which leads to flaky and scaly skin usually on areas which are oily or greasy such as the scalp, eyelids, behind the ears and in the outer part of ears. The skin scales are usually white or yellow in color and are greasy.

Treatment

Treatment of dry skin in the ears depends upon the underlying cause. Mild cases of dry skin caused by environmental factors can be treated at home while severe cases caused by chronic skin conditions may need prescribed medication from your healthcare provider. In both cases, it can be treated with over-the-counter medications and good skin care regime.

At-home management

If you have dry skin in your ears, then try to recall if you have switched any of your old skin care or hair care products with a different one. The new product may be the culprit behind the dry skin and if so, discontinue using it.

Use mild soaps, cleansers and shampoos that would not rip your skin off the natural oils leaving it dry.

If you have recently gotten your ears pierced and you suspect that it is the new earrings that are causing irritation, then remove them. Let your ears heal and once fully healed, switch to jewelry made from a different kind of material such as silver or gold.

Invest in a good moisturizer and keep your skin moisturized at all times. You can buy moisturizers in the form of ointments, creams or lotions. It is best to apply them on damp skin after taking a shower and towel drying the skin.

Gently clean your ears and do not over-clean as it can lead to removal of natural oils and wax, both of which are required to keep the ear skin healthy.

Medication

Medication is required to combat any pain, itchiness and infection associated with dry and inflamed skin in the ears.

Topical steroids: Topical steroids can be used to reduce inflammation and itchiness. You can use over-the-counter hydrocortisone ointment or cream but do not apply it inside your ear canal. Do not use it for longer periods of time as steroids can lead to thinning of the skin.

Antibiotics: Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic in case the dry skin in your ears gets infected. Dry skin can lead to a lot of cracks in the skin through which bacteria can enter and cause infection. Scratching the ears due to itchiness can also lead to bleeding and the bacteria can make its way into the skin causing an infection. So, try not to scratch and use cold compresses to soothe the itchy skin or use an over-the-counter topical steroid cream.

Medicated shampoo: In case of seborrheic dermatitis, your doctor may prescribe a medicated shampoo for you to wash your scalp with.

When to see a doctor

Call your doctor and make an appointment if at-home management and over-the-counter treatments are not working and the dry skin is getting worse.

People with chronic skin conditions such as psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis usually need prescribed medication.

In addition, go see your doctor at once if you think the dry skin in your ears may be infected. The symptoms of an infection in the ear skin are pain, inflammation, and foul-smelling discharge.

How to prevent dry skin in the ears?

You can prevent dry skin in the ears by making a few lifestyle changes and opting for healthy skin care habits.

If the air or environment in your house is too dry, then consider getting a humidifier.
Avoid taking showers with hot water. You should take a shower with warm water.
Do not be aggressive while drying your skin with a towel, gently pat dry it.
Use a moisturizer on damp skin after a shower and keep your skin moisturized at all times.
Avoid prolonged sun exposure and always wear sun screen on your skin when going out during the day.
Use mild soaps, shampoos and cleansers instead of harsh ones.
Do not use jewelry that causes irritation and dryness.

People who suffer from chronic skin condition cannot prevent it; however they can manage their symptoms. They should also know their triggers and avoid them.