Dry, flaky or itchy skin around the ears is easy to ignore until it starts to crack, sting or catch on a hairbrush. It also isn't always obvious what's behind it. The same red, scaly patch behind the ear could be eczema, a reaction to a new pair of earrings or your shampoo, or something happening inside the ear canal itself, and what helps one doesn't necessarily help another. Here's what can cause dry, flaky skin in and around the ears, what tends to help, and when it's worth getting it looked at.
Why the Skin Around the Ears Gets Irritated So Easily
Ear skin has a lot going on. Eczema UK lists the earlobes, the ear opening, the ear canal, the folds of the ear, the backs of the ears and the place where the ears meet the face as areas that eczema can affect. They also sit right next to your hairline, so shampoo, hair colour and styling products regularly end up on them, and they're in contact with earrings, glasses, earbuds and hearing aids for hours at a time. That mix of exposure to irritants and constant contact is why ear skin so often gets dry, flaky and sore.
Eczema on and Behind the Ears
Atopic eczema often affects the ears and the skin behind them, and a common spot is the crease between the earlobe and the face. The skin can become dry, itchy, red or discoloured and, in a flare, sore or cracked. If you already have eczema elsewhere on your body, the ears are worth keeping an eye on, because the signs there are easy to miss until they become uncomfortable.
Seborrhoeic Dermatitis Behind and Inside the Ears
Seborrhoeic dermatitis is linked to an overgrowth of a harmless yeast called Malassezia, and around the ears Eczema UK says it often affects the ear canal and the hairline behind the ear. The British Association of Dermatologists adds that it can affect the cup of the ear and the area behind the ears, and that it can become infected and blocked. If your scalp is flaky as well, our guide to scalp eczema, seborrhoeic dermatitis and dandruff explains how the pieces fit together.
Reactions to Earrings, Hair Products and Ear Devices
Contact dermatitis is a reaction to something touching the skin, and the outer ear is commonly affected. The NHS explains that irritant contact dermatitis is caused by things that damage the outer layer of skin, such as soaps, detergents and regular contact with water, while allergic contact dermatitis happens when the immune system reacts to something like a cosmetic ingredient or a metal such as nickel. Eczema UK lists the usual suspects for ears: shampoo, hair gel, hairspray, perm solution, hair colour and hairpins, earrings and studs (especially ones containing nickel), and devices such as hearing aids, glasses, earphones, earbuds and earplugs.
Dry Ear Skin Later in Life
Eczema UK also describes asteatotic eczema, which mainly affects older people and shows up as dry, scaly, itchy skin on the exposed ear. As skin tends to become drier with age, ears that never gave any trouble in earlier decades can start to flake and itch, which is one reason it's easy to put it down to ordinary dryness. Our guide on eczema and ageing skin covers the wider picture.
When the Problem Is Inside the Ear Canal
Inflammation of the ear canal is called otitis externa, sometimes known as swimmer's ear, and Eczema UK notes that it can be caused by eczema or by infection. The NHS lists earache, itching and scaly skin in and around the ear, discharge and a feeling of pressure among the signs of an outer ear problem, and says causes can include eczema, water, earplugs and fungal or bacterial infections. Anything inside the ear canal, or involving pain or discharge, is a job for a pharmacist or GP and not for home remedies.
Dry, Flaky Ears: What Might Be Behind It
| Cause | Where on the ear | What you notice | Common clue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atopic eczema | Ears and the skin behind them, often the crease between earlobe and face | Dry, itchy, red or discoloured skin | Flares and settles in the same places |
| Seborrhoeic dermatitis | Ear canal, cup of the ear, hairline behind the ear | Flaky, scaly skin that can look red or discoloured | Flaky scalp or eyebrows too |
| Contact dermatitis | Earlobes and wherever jewellery, products or devices touch | Itchy, dry, cracked or sometimes blistered skin | Started after a new earring, hair product, earbud or hearing aid |
| Asteatotic eczema | The exposed outer ear | Dry, scaly, itchy skin | Mostly affects older people |
| Outer ear problem (otitis externa) | Inside the ear canal | Earache, redness, swelling, itching, discharge | Pain or discharge: see a pharmacist or GP |
What Tends to Help Day to Day
The published guidance for ear skin is consistent. These are the habits it keeps coming back to:
- Gently wash the outer ear with water or an emollient wash, and don't wash further into the ear, as Eczema UK advises
- Dry the ears thoroughly afterwards, using a warm (not hot) hairdryer if you use one
- Use ear plugs when swimming or washing your hair
- Don't put cotton buds or fingers into the ear, and avoid scratching, which can damage the ear canal; the NHS gives the same advice for earwax
- Avoid ear candles, which Eczema UK says aren't supported by evidence, and olive oil, which it says can damage the skin barrier
- Check what touches your ears: switch to nickel-free earrings and fragrance-free hair products if you suspect a reaction, and notice whether symptoms started after a new earbud, hearing aid or pair of glasses
- Ask your pharmacist or GP about a medical emollient for the outer ear, as Eczema UK notes these are applied frequently
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the skin behind my ears so dry, red and cracked?
The skin behind the ears is a common site for eczema, particularly the crease where the earlobe meets the face. Seborrhoeic dermatitis along the hairline behind the ear, and reactions to shampoo, hair colour or hairpins, can look very similar, so it can take a pharmacist or GP to tell them apart.
Can earrings cause an itchy, flaky rash on my earlobes?
Yes. Eczema UK lists earrings and studs, especially ones containing nickel, as a common trigger of contact dermatitis on the ears, and the NHS names nickel as a metal that can trigger an allergic reaction. If symptoms started after a new pair, it's worth stopping them and speaking to a pharmacist or GP.
Can hearing aids, glasses or earbuds make ear skin worse?
They can. Eczema UK lists hearing aids, spectacles, earphones, earbuds and earplugs among the common triggers for ear skin problems, either through pressure and friction or a reaction to the material. If you rely on a hearing aid, mention any soreness to your audiologist or GP rather than stopping use on your own.
Is it safe to clean eczema-prone ears with cotton buds?
No. The NHS advises not putting anything into the ear to remove earwax, including cotton buds or your finger, and Eczema UK warns that cotton buds and scratching inside the ear can damage the ear canal. Wash only the outer ear gently, and ask a GP about safe options if wax is a problem.
Should I use olive oil or ear candles on dry, flaky ears?
Eczema UK advises against both. It says ear candles are not supported by evidence and that olive oil can damage the skin barrier. If you want to soften wax or moisturise the outer ear, check with a healthcare professional first.
How can I tell if my ear eczema has become infected?
Pain, swelling, weeping, an unpleasant smell or yellow or green discharge are signs of infection, according to Eczema UK. Clear fluid can be normal with active, weepy eczema, but if you are unsure, or you have pain or hearing changes, see a GP promptly.
The Bottom Line
Dry, flaky skin around the ears is common, and it's usually down to eczema, seborrhoeic dermatitis or something touching the skin, such as an earring, a hair product or an ear device. Keeping the routine gentle, washing only the outer ear and removing likely triggers goes a long way. If anything is happening inside the ear canal, or you have pain, swelling or discharge, it's time to get it checked and not to try to manage it at home.
Sources
- Eczema UK, "Ear eczema" factsheet
- NHS, "Earache and ear infections"
- NHS, "Contact dermatitis"
- NHS, "Atopic eczema"
- British Association of Dermatologists, "Seborrhoeic dermatitis" patient information
Ashleigh is not a medical professional and this article is not medical advice. It reflects personal and customer experience alongside published NHS and dermatology guidance. Ashleigh's Organics Body Butter is a cosmetic product, not a medicine, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent ear eczema, seborrhoeic dermatitis, contact dermatitis or any other medical condition. If you have a skin condition affecting your ears, please follow the treatment plan given by your GP, dermatologist or health visitor.