Having dry skin in ears can be a really horrible and annoying problem. The constant itching and flaking is not just uncomfortable but it is also highly embarrassing. You spend your days discreetly trying to scratch your ears at your desk, and you find your pillow covered in flakes of dry skin every morning. You might think that you are alone, but it is actually a very common problem that many people suffer from. The reason that it is so common is mainly to do with the primary causes. Read on to find out more information about the causes of dry skin in ears and what you can do to treat the issue.

Causes

Seborrheic dermatitis

This is a complex problem of which the direct cause is currently unknown. However, we do know that it has something to with an overproduction of oil within the skin in combination with high levels of yeast of the skins surface. The resulting symptoms are scaly and dry patches of skin that can be very itchy and uncomfortable. You may even notice that the skin on your ears has changed colour and resembles a white or yellowish tone. The itching can be present on the outside of the ear as well as inside the ear canal itself.

Sunburn

The ultraviolet rays that are transmitted from the sun have the ability to kill off skin cells. These dead skin cells need to be removed so the skin begins to peel. We’ve all experienced that at one point or another. However, when it comes to the ears it can be a little more severe. This is because most people forget to apply sun cream to their ears, therefore continuous exposure to these ultraviolet rays over the years will result in a build-up of dry and itchy skin. This is then known as actinic keratosis and is usually only experienced in adults however the cause of this begins in childhood. In very severe cases actinic keratosis can actually develop into skin cancer.

Treatments

Wash your ear with dandruff shampoo

When it comes to seborrheic dermatitis there are not currently any known cures, however there are ways that you can treat it. One of the ways to treat the problem is to use dandruff shampoo. Although this won’t get rid of the problem, the ingredients with the dandruff shampoo will help to reduce the itching and can also help to control the flaking of the skin. It’s important that you always make sure your ear is thoroughly wet before you wash it with the shampoo. If your ear is dry the possibility of you ripping off the dry scales is increased and this will result in the problem being much worse than before.

Moisturize with cooling based lotions

Heavy moisturising lotions will not do any good for your dry and itchy ears, because the high amount of oily elements will increases the natural production of oil in the skin on your ear and will therefore make the problem worse. You will find that using heavy moisturizers will make the skin much more tender and itchy. However, you still need to moisturize. Instead of using heavy creams, you need to be using cooling based lotions such as aloe vera. This will help to get rid of the horrible itchy feeling and will also help to control the dryness so it’s not so much of a problem.

Always apply sunscreen to your ears

If you think that your problem with dry skin in ear was due to skin damage caused by the sun then it is highly important that always apple sunscreen to your ears. You may think that the damage is already done so it’s not as important, but it really is. Even if the issue is already severe, you can still make it worse by neglecting to protect your ears from the damaging rays of the sun. You need to be applying sun lotion to your ears every single day, not just on the days when it is warm and sunny. Even in the colder months the ultraviolet rays from the sun can still cause damage to the skin, and your skin is more sensitive than most.

Final words

Although you might not be able to get rid of this problem for good, you can manage it with a little tender loving care. You don’t need to suffer the way you have anymore, and by understanding the damage that persistent sunburn can cause you now know how to prevent the problem becoming any worse in the future. If you find that one of the treatments is not enough to help you out then feel free to use a combination. Let us know what you think of the treatments described in the comments.