Ear eczema
{{Infobox medical condition (new)
| name =
| synonym =
| image = Eczema ear2.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| pronounce =
| specialty = Dermatology
| symptoms =
| complications =
| onset =
| duration =
| types =
| causes =
| risks =
| diagnosis =
| differential =
| prevention =
| treatment =
| medication =
| prognosis =
| frequency =
| deaths =
}}
Auricular eczema is an eczema of the ear that may involve the helix, postauricular fold, and external auditory canal, with the most frequently affected site being the external canal, where it is often a manifestation of seborrheic dermatitis or allergic contact dermatitis.{{cite book | vauthors = James WD, Berger T, Elston D |title=Andrews' diseases of the skin : clinical dermatology. |date=2006 |publisher=Saunders Elsevier |location=Philadelphia |isbn=978-0-7216-2921-6 |edition=10th}} This is an neuroallergic inflammation of skin with evident itch.
Signs and symptoms
Management
The management of ear eczema will depend on the type of eczema diagnosed upon presentation.
Generally, ear toileting and care are advised to help relieve symptoms. Washing the ears with an emollient and drying them is one way to achieve this.{{Cite web |last=blue_admin |date=2020-02-10 |title=Ear eczema |url=https://eczema.org/information-and-advice/types-of-eczema/ear-eczema/ |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=National Eczema Society |language=en}} Patients are advised against putting anything in the ears or scratching them. Ear candles are not recommended as there is no research proof to support their efficacy.
Medical management will include topical steroids, antifungals, antibiotics, and calcineurin inhibitors such as cyclosporine and tacrolimus.{{Cite journal |last1=Kapur |first1=Sandeep |last2=Watson |first2=Wade |last3=Carr |first3=Stuart |date=2018-09-12 |title=Atopic dermatitis |journal=Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology |volume=14 |issue=2 |pages=52 |doi=10.1186/s13223-018-0281-6 |issn=1710-1492 |pmc=6157251 |pmid=30275844 |doi-access=free }} Tacrolimus has been shown to be an effective and well-tolerated option in treating chronic dermatitis of the ear.{{Cite journal |last1=Harth |first1=Wolfgang |last2=Caffier |first2=Philipp P. |last3=Mayelzadeh |first3=Babak |last4=Haupt |first4=Heidemarie |last5=Sedlmaier |first5=Benedikt |last6=Richard |first6=Gabriele |date=2007 |title=Topical tacrolimus treatment for chronic dermatitis of the ear |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17673384 |journal=European Journal of Dermatology |volume=17 |issue=5 |pages=405–411 |doi=10.1684/ejd.2007.0238 |doi-broken-date=1 November 2024 |issn=1167-1122 |pmid=17673384}}
Other management strategies include limiting water exposure and using earplugs while swimming. Using objects such as matchsticks to scratch the outer ear canal should also be avoided.{{clear}}