Why sharing earbuds could be the cause of uncomfortable ear acne
- Ear pimples can be caused by using earbud headphones, sharing earbuds, and too much earwax.
- To treat them, use antibacterial ointment and be sure to clean your ears regularly.
- Be very gentle when dealing with an ear pimple, since too much prodding can hurt your inner ear.
Pimples can show up almost anywhere on your body, including the inside of your ear. There are many reasons why you might get an ear pimple, like sharing earbuds or not clearing ear wax.
The good news is that you can often treat an ear pimple at home using antibacterial products. But for some pimples, you may need to see a doctor.
What causes ear pimples?
Like all acne, ear pimples can be triggered by clogged hair follicles or invading bacteria. Here are some of the common ways you can get ear pimples:
- Using earbud headphones. Earbuds go inside of your ear and press against the skin of your ear canal. This can clog the hair follicles in your ear and trap dirt and bacteria. Since the inside of the ear is a warm, moist environment, acne-causing bacteria flourish there, says Lauren Levy, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and acne specialist in private practice.
- Sharing earbuds. When sharing earbuds, you may also be exposed to more and new types of bacteria, which can increase outbreaks, says Robert Anolik, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. "If you must use shared earbuds, consider wiping them down with an alcohol pad or antibacterial wipe," Levy advises.
- Having too much earwax. Earwax can also clog the pores in your ears, Anolik says. If you don't clean your earwax whenever it builds up, it can lead to ear pimple breakouts.
How to treat an ear pimple
- Use an antibacterial ointment. Over-the-counter products like benzoyl peroxide can help get rid of bacteria on your skin and reduce pimples, Levy says.
- Clean your ears. If you notice a buildup of dirt or wax in your ear, clean it out once or twice a week with a cotton swab. Just avoid sticking anything too far into your ear canal, as this can push ear wax deeper into your ear. A doctor can also help clean out more stubborn earwax, by using suction or flushing out ear wax with water.
- Prescription medicine: "Sometimes, a prescription antibiotic ointment or even oral antibiotic may be necessary for large pimples that are painful," says Levy. Some antibiotics that a dermatologist might prescribe include ofloxacin.
- Steroids: Your dermatologist can also inject an anti-inflammatory steroid like cortisone into the pimple to take away the inflammation. "This usually resolves the pimple and pain in about 24 hours," Levy says.
Take special care with ear pimplesa
Because your ear canal leads directly to your sensitive inner ear, it's important to treat your ear pimples carefully.
"Don't be too aggressive with acne in the ear. If they burst and become infected it could lead to external and internal ear infections," Anolik says. This means no poking the pimple with household tools, says Levy.
Note: Inner ear infections can be painful and in some cases, and can temporarily or permanently affect your hearing.
If your ear pimple is getting larger and more painful over time, you should see a board-certified dermatologist as soon as possible. This could be the sign of a bacterial skin infection or a build-up of pus, Levy says.
Insider's takeaway
Ear pimples are an uncomfortable form of acne that can be triggered by using earbud headphones, sharing earbuds, or not cleaning out oil and wax from your ear.
There are ways to treat ear pimples at home, like using antibacterial products or a warm compress. But in some cases, you may need to see a doctor to treat ear pimples with antibiotics.
If an ear pimple is extremely painful or keeps getting worse, see a dermatologist as soon as possible.