The appearance of a ball in the earlobe usually does not pose any danger, but it can cause discomfort. To avoid surgical intervention, you need to take timely measures; for this you need to know the reason for the appearance of the ball. The ball may be present constantly, but becomes noticeable during inflammation. Depending on the type of ball, you can determine the disease that caused it. You can get rid of the seal surgically and with folk remedies.
Your doctor will tell you which method to choose. The main rule of prevention is timely treatment of chronic diseases.
Ball in earlobe
Usually, the appearance of a ball in the ear area is not something terrible from a medical point of view, however, like any formation, it should not be ignored. There may be several reasons for this condition.
A person may have this ball constantly, however, it becomes noticeable only during the inflammatory process.
Typically this ball is located near the cartilage on the back of the earlobe. At first it resembles an ordinary pimple, such as acne, however, in fact it is a slightly different formation.
Herpes on the ear
Herpes on the ear is a disease that not every person has suffered from in their life. Typically, this disease is associated with the appearance of a rash and water blisters on the lips. But this insidious disease can manifest itself in the most unexpected places. This is a viral disease that can affect almost any organ. Herpes in the ear is one such manifestation. Each disease is caused by the appearance of a specific virus in the body. The appearance of herpes on the auricle is preceded by human infection with the Herpes zoster virus. The essence of this disease is damage to the nervous system, in particular the facial nerve, which is responsible for the activity of the part of the head where the hearing organs are located.
The appearance of herpes on the auricle is preceded by human infection with the Herpes zoster virus.
Next we will talk about the causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention of this disease.
Reasons for the appearance of a ball in the earlobe
The exact cause can only be determined by taking into account several factors at once: appearance, pain, color, general condition of the body, etc. However, the following diseases are more common than others.
Atheroma
To better understand what it is, we can call it clogging of the sebaceous glands or wen. Atheroma of the earlobe is the most common cause of swelling; it is a mixture of dead cells, layers of skin and fat mass. Its appearance is due to blockage of the sebaceous duct and deviation in the functioning of the sebaceous glands.
Such deviations most often appear in people with impaired metabolism, poor lifestyle, skin diseases or poor diet. Also, prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation (sun rays) and constant wearing of earrings can provoke a wen on the earlobe.
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Sakania Luiza Ruslanovna
Dermatovenerologist, cosmetologist, trichologist
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At the initial stage, atheroma does not bring much discomfort to the owner: pain is not felt, and the general condition of the body remains the same.
Externally, a wen can be distinguished by the following characteristics:
- dense structure;
- mobility; no differences in color from neighboring areas;
- normal temperature in the ball area;
- painlessness.
However, if atheroma is not treated, sebum, having no outlet due to blockage, can accumulate inside the gland and cause inflammation of the earlobe.
In this case, the symptoms worsen:
- increase in tumor size;
- redness of the skin area;
- increased temperature of the affected earlobe;
- painful sensations when touched.
Such signs should be a reason to consult a doctor as soon as possible. Otherwise, the wen can turn into an open purulent ulcer.
Consequences of injury
If your earlobe is swollen and painful after injury, this is a normal reaction of the ear to injury. Injury may include a cut, an insect or animal bite, or a puncture in the ear. The seal in the earlobe in this case may be painless, but if discomfort is still present, this is due to the production of histamine.
If the skin is not constantly treated with an antiseptic, an infection can easily get into the damaged area, which will cause inflammation, manifested by redness, pain, fever, or even the discharge of pus.
Epidermoid cyst
Caused by an increase in the volume of multiplying epidermal cells. Externally, a cyst is difficult to distinguish from atheroma; the symptoms of the initial stage are identical. If a cyst is left untreated, it can become enlarged, painful, fester, or even malignant.
Inflammation of the hair follicle
If a ball has formed on your earlobe and it hurts, this may be due to the fact that the skin glands are clogged and pus has begun to accumulate in them. Externally, this formation looks like a red pimple raised on the skin, sometimes with pus inside.
As long as the ball does not cause any particular discomfort, it should be treated like a pimple or herpes, depending on its appearance. But if a pimple on your earlobe begins to feel noticeably painful, you should contact a medical facility to prevent widespread inflammation, suppuration and the spread of infection.
How to prevent lipomas behind the ear
It is impossible to prevent the initial appearance of a lipoma behind the ear, so its appearance is always a surprise. Of course, you need to lead a healthy lifestyle, do not abuse alcohol, do not smoke, and do not overeat. But let’s be realistic - we can only influence the fact that after tumor removal there are no relapses.
Before the operation, it is necessary to ensure that the contents of the wen are sent for histological examination to exclude the possibility of oncology. Check this point with your doctor.
The postoperative period must be carried out strictly in accordance with the recommendations of the surgeon who operated on you, avoiding infection of the ear wound with pathogens. The rest of the time, you must follow the rules of ear hygiene and consult a doctor at the first signs of relapse.
Symptoms and etiology
Wen appears due to blockage of the sebaceous glands and accumulation of fat in them.
This is a consequence of metabolic disorders and increased secretion of sebum. Atheroma can appear at any age. It is no different in color from other areas of the skin. Usually, wen does not cause any particular inconvenience, other than cosmetic ones. Expert opinion
Sakania Luiza Ruslanovna
Dermatovenerologist, cosmetologist, trichologist
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But sometimes they can become inflamed and fester. The inflammatory process is accompanied by redness and heating of the skin on the bump. When squeezed, the inflamed atheroma hurts.
The reasons for the appearance of wen are:
- hereditary predisposition;
- changes in hormonal levels;
- poor nutrition;
- constantly wearing heavy earrings;
- prolonged exposure to the sun;
- general weakening of the body.
Symptoms of the formation of a wen under the skin of the ear are:
- compaction in the form of a ball at an early stage;
- as it enlarges, the ball acquires a yellow tint and clearly defined round boundaries;
- with large growth of atheroma, infection may occur.
Signs of wen infection are:
- redness and swelling in the area of infection;
- severe pain;
- the appearance of ichor and blood on the surface of the tubercle;
- removal of lipid contents;
- temperature increase.
In order not to aggravate the situation, you cannot open the wen yourself. This may lead to re-infection.
Drug therapy as a way to eliminate lipoma on the ear
If a lump appears on the back or front of your earlobe and it hurts, you should contact a medical facility for qualified help. There are several ways to treat ear lipomas:
- If a ball has formed on the earlobe, then one of the treatment options in this case may be to place the patient in an outpatient clinic. Therapy involves anti-inflammatory and antihistamines.
- Inflamed lipomas with a purulent core on the inside of the ear are opened with a scalpel. The contents of the neoplasm are squeezed out, and the doctor treats the affected area with an antiseptic. It is possible to get rid of the ball when the earlobe is swollen through surgery only in a hospital setting. Often there is a need for sutures at the incision site, which dissolve over time without causing cosmetic discomfort to the patient. Removal is carried out under local anesthetic. At the discretion of the doctor, antibiotics and antipyretics may be prescribed after such a medical procedure.
- Injection into the lipoma of a special drug that stimulates the squeezing of the contents out. After the medical procedure, the tumor stops increasing in size and gradually resolves on its own.
- Laser therapy. The procedure involves cauterizing the lipoma on the ear with a laser beam. Most often, this method is used when the tumor is just beginning to appear. Whereas in more advanced cases and in the presence of a purulent core, laser therapy is ineffective.
- Radio wave therapy. Cauterization of lipoma formation on the ear using radio waves. The procedure has a number of advantages: painlessness, high efficiency, absence of skin defects in the form of scars, cicatrices and sutures.
Diagnosis of the disease
If a ball appears on your earlobe or a lump has popped up and hurts, then depending on the type of lump, location of occurrence and specific features (mobility, pain, change in color and temperature of nearby skin areas), it may be:
- Traumatic tumor. If pain and inflammation appear after the piercing, this means that an infection has joined the mechanical damage. The lump turns red and becomes painful, the temperature rises, and pus appears. Treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs is required. Insect bites can also cause such a tumor.
- A simple pimple or inflammatory infiltrate. The seal at the tip or on the auricle is provoked by suppuration of the hair follicles and skin glands. It can be a simple pimple or a boil with a pronounced necrotic core.
- Epidermoid cyst. The result of an abundant proliferation of epidermal cells that gather into a compacted ball in the earlobe, which only a physician can accurately determine. It can fester, hurt and increase in size. The symptoms are similar to the most common disease, which is discussed below.
- Atheroma (wen, sebaceous gland cyst). The most common disease, externally and to the touch, characterized as lumps, bumps, balls in the earlobes. It is worth dwelling on it in more detail.
Isn't this dangerous?
Almost all neoplasms that appear on the head pose a real or potential danger. Wen behind the ears is no exception in this regard.
It is impossible to prevent the initial appearance of a lipoma behind the ear, so its appearance is always a surprise.
In the early stages of their development, they are painless and safe. But, gradually increasing in size, they can pose a certain threat in the following cases:
- the wen in the ear became inflamed and suppuration appeared;
- the lipoma grows in size too quickly, adding a centimeter per month;
- the wen in the auricle enlarges, closing the ear canal, which leads to partial hearing loss;
- if in an adult or child the wen becomes inflamed and painful.
If you have these symptoms, you need to go to the doctor and undergo diagnostics, after which it will be clear what to do. Most likely, the tumor will have to be removed. It makes no sense to delay any longer, because there is a high probability that the lipoma will develop into liposarcoma, a malignant tumor that forms in fatty tissue.
Traditional treatment of the disease
There is only one method of treating neoplasms of this kind (fat, epidermoid cysts) - surgical removal.
The reasons for the intervention are prevention of suppuration and cosmetic factors.
Removal of a tumor is possible using several methods:
- High-frequency radio waves, under the influence of which the contents of the wen and epithelial cells evaporate, while the surrounding tissues do not heat up. Local anesthesia is used and no stitches are required.
- Laser cauterization. Like radio waves, it can only be used in the early stages of the disease, with a compaction no more than 5 mm in diameter.
- Surgical removal using a traditional metal scalpel.
These types of operations are now carried out in clinics under local anesthesia. A thin incision is made with a scalpel and the contents of the cyst are removed. In a successful case, the surgeon is able to remove the entire capsule, but if the capsule is torn, then he has to remove it in pieces. After the procedure is completed, stitches are applied for several days.
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Sakania Luiza Ruslanovna
Dermatovenerologist, cosmetologist, trichologist
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With timely intervention, there are practically no traces of the operation left; a scar will remind you of the delay in going to the hospital. Sometimes, with severe suppuration, it is necessary to resort to surgery twice.
First, the wen is opened and the contents are removed, which are sent for histological examination to confirm the benignity of the neoplasm. After the inflammation is relieved with medications, a second operation is performed, during which the capsule itself is removed. If this is not done, then relapses are possible.
How to get rid of it - traditional medicine methods
Traditional medicine uses only 1 method of treatment to treat wen. This is the removal of lipid tissue along with the growth capsule.
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When an inflammatory process occurs, a short-term course of anti-inflammatory therapy is carried out. After stopping the acute stage, the neoplasm is removed.
How to remove a wen in the ear:
- surgical removal of the cyst using a scalpel;
- using radio waves;
- using a laser;
- electrical destruction.
When otitis develops, a course of antibiotic therapy is also preliminarily administered to relieve inflammatory processes on and behind the eardrum. Removal of the tumor is carried out after treatment of otitis media.
Traditional methods of treatment
You can get rid of a seal in the ear using traditional methods. But when using such methods, we must not forget about the danger of infection of the cyst, as well as the possibility of spreading the infection, therefore, in no case should you squeeze out the pus or contents of the cyst yourself, at home, or try to “crush” the ball on your earlobe.
Aloe
The most popular remedy among people is aloe leaves. It effectively acts on the ball, drawing its contents out. Fresh aloe leaves should be applied to the painful earlobe several times a day.
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Sakania Luiza Ruslanovna
Dermatovenerologist, cosmetologist, trichologist
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The course can last up to three weeks.
At the end, the ball will “open up” and if pus is visible in it, it must be squeezed out and the wound should be thoroughly treated with hydrogen peroxide.
Star"
This ointment has been used for more than one generation, and when the ball in the earlobe hurts, it again turns out to be an invaluable assistant.
Apply the Asterisk onto the ball, this product may cause the skin to redden a little, which, according to “people’s doctors,” is a positive effect on the path to recovery.
Essential oil
Buy tea tree oil and live tree sap at the pharmacy, mix them in a 1:3 ratio and apply to the swelling in the earlobe in small quantities. Repeat the procedure three times a day until the ball disappears completely.
Folk remedies against wen
In the fight against tumors, one must be careful when using traditional and non-traditional methods of treatment. They will give results only in the beginning. You shouldn’t count on a complete recovery, but traditional medicine will come in handy as a deterrent.
To the question of how to get rid of wen, healers answer differently: they recommend making compresses from aloe juice, rubbing heated lamb fat, cauterizing the tumor with celandine juice, applying chopped garlic, making lotions from pepper tincture.
However, before starting treatment with folk remedies, you must consult your doctor. Without laboratory tests, it is extremely undesirable to manipulate subcutaneous formations: there is a high probability of causing infection or causing degeneration. In addition, squeezing out the wen at home will not allow you to remove the capsule. And this will lead to the formation of a new tumor in the old place.
Manifestations in children
Most often, a ball on the earlobe appears in people aged 25-50 years, but the possibility of its formation in children cannot be ruled out. Children encounter this problem before the onset of puberty; from a medical point of view, we are talking about atheroma of the auricle. If you notice such a formation in a child, you should immediately consult a doctor, since in a child’s body such lumps can reach large sizes.
If a ball has formed near the girl’s earlobe and it hurts, the reason may be related to ear piercing. In this case, it is recommended to wear silver earrings rather than gold ones for some time.
From a medical point of view, the appearance of atheroma does not pose any danger, however, this phenomenon may indicate infection with AIDS. In some cases, a wen appears after unprotected sexual intercourse and is accompanied by deterioration of health, the appearance of acne and herpes. In such cases, atheroma is localized not only in the ear area, but spreads throughout the body, in the locations of the sebaceous glands. In addition to consulting with an infectious disease doctor, it is necessary to undergo appropriate tests.
According to doctors, the appearance of atheroma may be associated with:
- Hypothermia;
- Prolonged exposure to the sun;
- Improper hygiene;
- Injuries to the earlobes;
- Unsuccessful ear piercing;
- Acne;
- Hereditary predisposition;
- Hormonal imbalance caused by disruption of the endocrine system;
- Seborrhea;
- Wearing jewelry that is made from low-quality materials;
- Long stay in a hot, dusty room.
Factors contributing to lipoma formation
Experts say that the formation of lipomas is provoked by a violation of metabolic (or hormonal) processes. There are a number of factors that can provoke the formation of a ball on the earlobe:
- Non-compliance (insufficiently thorough) with personal hygiene rules,
- Incorrect earlobe piercing
- Hypothermia,
- Excessive exposure to sunlight,
- Diabetes,
- Dermatological diseases of the ear,
- Injuries in the ear area,
- Increased sweating
- Use of low-quality cosmetics,
- The presence of pimples and acne on the skin.
Which doctor should I contact for treatment?
If a lump appears in your earlobe, you can consult:
- To the therapist.
- To a dermatologist.
- Otolaryngologist.
Each of these specialists will be able to assess the situation and draw conclusions about the need for further more detailed diagnosis and/or targeted treatment. But if we are talking about a targeted consultation, then a dermatologist is more likely to come to the rescue.
A patient with such a problem may be prescribed conservative treatment, recommended to monitor the lump, or referred to see a surgeon.
Causes of ear herpes
The human body is a single balanced system. In case of weakening of the body as a whole or damage to its individual organs, the risk of pathogenic viruses entering the circulatory system increases.
The causes of herpes may be:
- Pregnancy. During pregnancy, a woman’s body is weakened due to the processes occurring in it. Weakened immunity opens the way for many pathogens.
- Prolonged hypothermia. This factor is the cause of many diseases, including herpes.
- Overheating in a bath or in the sun. Extreme temperatures disrupt the nervous and immune systems, which weakens the body.
- Nervous overload. Stress speeds up the heart rate and leads to improper metabolism.
- Menstruation, during which internal processes in the reproductive system change.
- Sexual contacts during which contraception is not used.
- Communication with a sick person.
- A previous viral disease that has weakened the immune system.
- Consumption of alcohol or drugs that interfere with the normal functioning of internal organs.
Through the skin or mucous membrane, the virus enters the circulatory system and spreads throughout the body. As soon as it hits the nerve endings, the first symptoms begin to appear.
