How to Overcome Boils in the Ear

Ulcers in the ear can be very painful and annoying, especially if they develop in the ear canal. Although most boils can heal without special treatment, it's better to treat them immediately so that they don't break and cause complications. Ulcers in the ear are pus-filled lumps that form under the skin of your ear. Similar to boils that grow in other parts of the body, boils in the ear especially the outer ear can appear as small red bumps which then contain pus and are painful, before finally rupture. Ulcers that grow in the ear will feel very painful, even though they are small. Boils in the ear can also cause itching, irritation and sometimes accompanied by temporary hearing loss.

Causes of Ulcers in the Ear

Boils in the ear can occur suddenly for no apparent reason. But in general, ulcers in the ear occur due to infection due to wounds on the surface of the skin, for example pimples on the ear which are broken and infected. The pimples that appear on the ear, on the outside or inside, occur because the oil glands in the ear produce too much oil. It could also be due to bacteria that grow in clogged pores. The buildup of bacteria itself can be caused by several things, such as the use of cotton buds, the use of headphones that are rarely cleaned, or because they often put your finger in the ear. Soap, shampoo, cosmetics, or hair spray that goes into the ear can also cause irritation and itching. This itching usually pushes you to scratch the ear with a finger or a cotton bud. This action can damage the skin in the ear canal and cause inflammation and infection in the ear.

Here's How to Overcome It

Ulcers in the ear can actually heal without special treatment. The immune system can generally clean the germs or bacteria that cause these ulcers. However, the pain caused when inflamed ulcers can cause discomfort when on the move. Therefore, this pain needs to be treated in several ways, including:

• Taking medication

You can take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to reduce pain. Antibiotics are also needed if the infection gets worse and ulcers get bigger. Use antibiotics as prescribed and recommended by your doctor.

• Topical medication

You can apply drugs that contain vitamin A or tretinoin, and use products that contain benzoyl peroxide if there are pimples on the ear. Both are available with or without a doctor's prescription.

• Warm water compress

Compress boils in the ear using warm water can help relieve the pain that arises. Take a cloth or small towel, soak it in warm water. Stick the towel over the surface of the boil. Let stand for several minutes and do it several times a day. Don't forget, wash your hands before and after applying boils.

• Don't break the boils on the ears

Although there is always a desire to hold it, avoid pressing down on ulcers. Therefore, the pressure applied to ulcers will make the infection more serious. Don't forget to clean the area of ​​the boil in the ear and surrounding area by using a cotton ball that has been soaked in an antiseptic solution and dried. You can also cover it with tape so it won't be tempted to scratch it.

Ulcers in the ear that are getting bigger and more painful, or that do not also go flat after treatment, should be checked by an ENT specialist to get further treatment.