Red And Hot Ears: Causes And Treatments | News - Amplifon

Anyone can experience red, hot ears, that are swollen and painful to the touch. The causes of this disorder can vary:

• Sudden increase in blood flow: caused by abrupt transitions from a hot to a cold environment, overconsumption of alcohol or spicy foods, hormonal changes (such as hot flashes), and some medications.
• Bacterial skin infections: scabs, scratches, insect bites, or cuts can allow microbes to enter and trigger an inflammatory reaction. In such cases, the ear can become very tender, and systemic symptoms like fever, chills, exhaustion, and enlarged lymph nodes may also appear.
• Eczema and dermatitis: for instance, seborrheic dermatitis can cause red, itchy, flaky skin with white spots that may extend to the middle ear. This common skin disease can also manifest in areas rich in sebaceous glands, such as the scalp, groin, and armpits.
• Rarely, hot and red ears can be symptoms of conditions such as:
• Relapsing polychondritis: a rare autoimmune rheumatic disease affecting the ear cartilage.
• Perichondritis of the ear: an inflammation of the pinna, not always infectious, occurring after trauma (including piercings), insect bites, or various systemic diseases.

However, it is much more common for ears to become hot and red due to other reasons:

• Strong emotions: stress, anxiety, shyness, anger, and other intense emotions can trigger vasodilation and cause sudden, intense redness of the face, neck, and ears that lasts a few minutes.
• Sunburn: can also be the cause of this discomfort.