Red ears are a common reaction of our body, although it is not always due to a feeling like shame or anger, but there may be other more important causes that we have to pay attention to. Red ears appear in childhood, in adolescence, and also in adulthood, let's say that they accompany us at all times, although not all of us are prone to having red ears.
That some part of our body changes color is quite normal and habitual, either due to exposure to the Sun, a blow or a feeling. There are various causes, some remain an anecdote, such as the embarrassment that makes us blush, and other causes are serious and require medical assistance, such as infections.
Causes of having red (and hot) ears
Sometimes we notice that our ears are red, and they are even hot and we are not able to relate it to a specific reason, so today we are going to clear all doubts, by learning what are the main causes of having red ears, and we will also tell some quick fixes.
intense feelings
Internalizing what we feel often causes our body to react and speak for us, which is why our ears turn red and even change their temperature if they are embarrassed, angry, humiliated, etc.
The solution that exists in these cases is none, because if we decide to externalize what we feel, we don't make sure we stop looking like tomatoes with legs. What we recommend is to take a deep breath, relax and try to have a dialogue with the person causing this discomfort, or even shelve the situation and ignore all the bad things that toxic people and circumstances cause us.
red ears due to stress
El stress and anxiety They can cause our ears to turn red and their temperature to rise significantly. It is common that in situations of great stress and when suffering an anxiety attack, the face turns red, and with it the ears too.
The solution in these cases is to regain calm, that we don't care about red ears and everything, we just have to focus on breathing deeply and taking our minds off the problem that overwhelms us. Only in this way will we be able to return to a state of calm and, after a few minutes, our ears will be in their usual tone.
Allergic reaction
When you suffer from some type of allergic reaction, one of the most common symptoms is a red face and ears, which is why, if you have never had red ears and have just eaten something, or have put on a face cream new, a perfume, a medicine, some earrings, etc. it is quite probable that we have reacted. If that feeling of allergy increases, we should go to the doctor, before feeling suffocated, for example.
It may also be that we have scratched ourselves with a metal object or that we have gotten close to our ears and they have reacted by turning red. Also that the earrings we wear are very heavy and that sore and itchy sensation has turned our ears red.
The solution is to fully understand our allergies and not expose ourselves to reactions that can be easily avoided. In case of something unforeseen, see a doctor to confirm the allergy.
Pharmaceutical products
Medications usually have side effects, in fact, as an anecdote, Viagra was invented for headaches, and given its secondary effect, that's how it stayed. The same can happen with another medication, either as a side effect or because our body reacts like this after administration.
If we are sensitive to any specific medication, we must notify the doctor quickly to avoid greater ills, since allergic reactions to medications can be very serious.
In this case, the only solution is through prevention, so if it is a medication that we have already taken and it did not work for us, it is better not to repeat it, and always let us know if we are sensitive or allergic to any medicine.
Temperature changes
For example, if we are in winter and we set the heating very high, it is likely that the ears turn red, as well as in the middle of summer with high temperatures the body turns red easily, especially the extremities of the body such as the ears and hands. . If we are close to a heat source, such as a barbecue, it is also quite likely that our ears will be red and even increase their temperature.
Solution, avoid exposure to very sudden temperature changes, for the good of our health, and also to minimize the appearance of red ears that can cause discomfort and embarrassment.
Bumps in the outer ear
How hurt the blows in the ear! A trauma in that area and automatically the ear turns a reddish color. What's more, depending on the intensity, the material with which we crashed and the outside temperature, the red ears will hurt more or less and will also cause a kind of internal itching. Also when we wear clothes or headphones that are very tight, the ears tend to suffer a lot and turn red.
We recommend do not put any object in the ear to relieve itching and pain. If we see that the pain is very great, we should see a doctor.
The solution offered in this case is to avoid blows, it seems easy, but a mistake and we can hit our ears. Above all, be very careful if we are sitting on the floor and there are people around, since the bags and hands are at the height of our ears. Also avoid tight clothing and wearing headband headphones for many hours.
Sun exposure
I eat? Why don't we put sunscreen in our ears? Let's see… let's not go crazy either. The ears, like the nose, should be covered with sun protection. Something very important is that this protection does NOT enter the ear, but stays on the outside, right on the ear. It is recommended not to spray on the ears, but to spray on the hands and massage the ears so that the sunscreen is applied and absorbed properly without penetrating the ear canal.
The solution is to reduce exposure to the sun as much as possible, wear hats that cover the ears, caps usually do not and visors much less. In addition to use high sun protection and stay in the shade, cool off often and drink plenty of fluids.
Ear infections
Having red and hot ears is a sure sign that something is not right and that can mean an ear infection. Ear infections can arise from a cold, from picking with dirty hands, from a foreign body inside the ear, from lack of hygiene, from some anomaly, from not using earplugs to avoid excess water, etc.
In this case, one of the few solutions we have is the use of plugs for the bathroom, never poking around, see a specialist when we notice itching, pricking, tinnitus and the like, and wash our ears every few weeks using saline solution and no cotton swabs.
Hormonal changes (especially in women)
When we talk about hormonal changes, we refer to very specific moments such as adolescence, childbirth, postpartum, menopause, etc. It is in those moments when we can notice that our ears are red and one of the causes may be a hormonal change. It is nothing serious, but if we feel that it is accompanied by others such as itching, dry skin, and so on, then it is time to consult a specialist.
The solution that exists on these occasions is to control the symptoms and if we see that it is getting worse or that the red ears do not disappear, consult a specialist doctor who can help us.
Treatments against red ears
The doctor who should examine us is an otolaryngologist or a neurologist and it will be the specialists who determine the diagnosis and the best treatment for our specific case. As a general rule, you usually go to a dermatologist, and it is true that they can also help us in the diagnosis, since it can be a skin infection and there the treatment would be antibiotics.
Currently there is no general treatment for this ailment, but each case is different and will be examined personally, due to the large number of causes that may have caused the ears to be red and hot.
There is a disease called red ear syndrome that precisely causes our ears to be red, apart from making us suffer a kind of dull pain, a lot of burning, discomfort, shame, irritability, etc.
Today there is a hopeful treatment after a diagnosis where the disease is confirmed. The most common treatment for this condition are physical measures such as local cold, dental splints, as well as medication to treat neuropathic pain, such as gabapentin and amitriptyline, among other pain.
How to prevent this condition
To prevent red ears, all that remains is to avoid what causes them, for example, always sleep on the same side of the face, avoid exposure to the sun and use sun protection, avoid blows, if we have an infection treat it quickly, if we notice strange hormonal changes consult a doctor, be very careful with temperature changes, avoid excessive use of headphones and anything that involves inserting objects into the ear canal, etc.
If we have a tendency to have reddened ears, the best option is to protect them from the cold and heat by wearing hats, for example. Moisturizing the skin of the ears is also a good method to prevent their health from being neglected and turning red.
Washing your hands with soap and avoiding rubbing your ears can prevent infections or irritability that results in red, hot, and sore ears.