Pimple In Ear: 3 Proven Treatments

A zit in the ear’s a pain in the rear!

Everyone loves sing-songy little rhymes; no one likes pus-filled bumps — particularly when they pop up in off-the-beaten pimple path places like your ears.

The dreaded pimple in ear.

There’s no need for a freakout session, though.

Pimples in your ear are actually really common. Just be thankful you’re not dealing with scalp acne.

We’ve got info and options on how to get clear skin to help you figure out what’s going on in there so you can get back to your glow up routine in no time.

Acne’s a super common skin disease, so there’s a ton of research on causes, effective treatment and prevention, and more.

This is an auricular win for you, friend! So keep reading for the best advice around.

Learn the ins and outs of ear blemishes.

Give the treatment and prevention suggestions a go.

Enjoy having earbuds or the occasional cotton swab be the only things in your precious ears once again.

Why am I getting ear pimples?

Pimples — small, reddish, inflamed lumps, plump with yellowish painful pus — are skin sores. They’re one way that acne can present itself.

Unless it’s actually fungal acne.

But it’s crucial to know the difference between fungal acne vs closed comedones in the first place.

Pimple in ear causes

Ear acne form when dirt, excess oil (sebum), bacteria, dead skin cells, or other debris lead to clogged pores, hair cells, or oil glands.

You, as a mammal, probably have all three of these things in your ears.

So, plenty of opportunity for blockages.

Yuck…But what’s the root cause of these obnoxious sores?

Here are some frequent culprits that trigger or exacerbate acne:

Hormones/hormonal imbalance (or hormonal flux like happens during puberty)
Medications (side effects or allergic reactions)
Heredity
Stress levels

Susan Bard (MD) from Manhattan Dermatology Specialists and prevention.com says:

“[Ear pimples] are very painful because the skin is more taut there, and more importantly there’s cartilage there,” Dr. Bard says. “Any time there’s inflammation around cartilage, such as around the nose or the ear, it’s always very painful.”

When it comes to your ears specifically, the source of your troubles may be a sign of improper cleanliness or product irritation such as :

Poor ear hygiene: You’re not cleaning your ears properly, sufficiently, or often enough, leading to earwax buildup or bacteria in the external ear canal (the hollow part).
Personal care products: Many hair and skin products are comedogenic, meaning they’ll clog your ear’s pores and follicles if given half a chance.
Nasty headphones or earbuds: You know what? They have yet to develop self-cleaning versions of these things. So if you ain’t wiping off the dirt and ear wax once in a while — it’s there for the long haul.*
Gunky or ill-fitting accessories: Along the same lines as the headphones and earbuds, your jewelry, glasses, and the like can build up zit-producing filth in inconvenient places. And hats and face masks that are too tight, tight, worn for extended periods of time (6), or improperly positioned may irritate skin.*

* And sharing — in this sitch — is not caring! Just the thought of a little piece of someone else’s ear sludge transferring onto your earlobe, ear drum, or into your ear canal is…yuck!

Ear anatomy

The ear has some unique target areas that harbor painful pimples.

Earlobes and conchal bowl: The shape and positioning of your ear parts can make it hard to clean them, creating a hospitable environment for dirt and bacteria.
Small pores: You’ve got lots of sebaceous glands in your ear skin. It’s easy for the tiny pores to get blocked up with that a high concentration of oil glands.
Thin skin: No surprise here. There’s just a little bit of skin covering cartilage. Because of this, it doesn’t take much for inflammation to set in and cause pain (and risk of infection).

How are ear pimples treated?

Maybe you’re thinking, “I don’t want to have to cover the side of my face or go around with a plastic bag over my head. I can’t stand these boulder-sized ear zits!”

You don’t have to!

Show your ear monster who’s boss.

Then show that disgusting thing the (r)ear door.

It’s a solid plan. But how to…uh…actually do it?

Thanks to the miracle of all that aforementioned research, you have almost countless things you can try.The good news is, there’s sure to be a treatment plan for you.

For more mild symptoms, it’s likely you can DIY a care plan.

For severe symptoms such as if the pimple hurts really bad, you might need the expert help of a dermatologist.

Topical treatments for ear pimples

Topical cream is applied to the surface of the skin.

If you’re using a spot treatment for your lumps and bumps, you’d only put ointment on the affected area.

Another option is to spread a base layer of cream over the whole acne-prone area to treat current blemishes and prevent future breakouts.

Guaranteed there’s a whole aisle of topical treatment goops at your grocery store or pharmacy.

Consider choosing one with active ingredients like retinoids, salicylic acid, or benzoyl peroxide.

They pack a lot of lesion-annihilating punch!Opt for acne spot treatments that are designed for your skin type (e.g., sensitive skin or oily skin).

Products such as differin adapalene gel acne treatment can work well for this type of skin concern.

Differin gel is often used for acne-related problems.

Switch products if you notice any adverse reactions, like a burning sensation.

Pimple in ear oral medication

Oral meds are taken by mouth and combat your acne (and/or its underlying causes) from the inside.

The most common prescribed medication (1) include antibiotics, hormone-regulating meds (like birth control or spironolactone), doxycycline, minocycline, and isotretinoin (derived from vitamin A which contains keratolytic properties).

Generally speaking, this class of treatment is gonna be doctor prescribed.

We’ll come back to this in a bit, so hold tight.

Natural options for ear pimples

It’s true.

People wrestled with acne before there were giant pharmaceutical companies churning out topical antibiotics, pills with hormones, and benzoyl peroxide- and salicylic acid- spiked skincare products.

What’d they do?

They leveraged all the goodness in mama nature’s pharmacy!

It can be the best thing to avoid highly-processed items and save you the trek to the store.

You probably even have some of these things on your bathroom counter or in your kitchen cupboard.

Warm compresses or an ice pack may ease pain and swelling for outer-ear pimples (auricle) with an obvious head.
Witch hazel can combat acne with its astringent and antiseptic properties.
Tea tree oil, diluted and applied with a cotton swab, might help.
Turmeric’s known for being anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and antioxidant, which can help heal acne.
Applying green tea for a few minutes may minimize inflammation and sebaceous gland oil production.

It may take a while to strike upon remedies that work for you.

That’s normal.

Everyone has different variables (e.g., oily skin, genetics, environment, etc.) factoring into the equation.

So, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all way to quell your angry zits.

How do you prevent pimples in the ear?

Prevention’s a huge deal when it comes to ear breakouts.

If you don’t get the pimples in the first place, there’s no torturous sores to suffer and no treatment needed.

Woohoo!

Clean your ears out

Forget about what that song claims.

Right here, right now, it’s not about the bass; it’s all about the ears.

Try using Cerave or Cetaphil cleanser to keep them nice and squeaky clean.

Here are some ear and skin care tips to help you mitigate a new pimple.

Wipe around your ears: Gently wash the skin with a cleanser (with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid treatment) around surrounding areas of your ears to loosen and remove pimple culprits like oil and cosmetics. Be sure to get behind your ears as well as the front of the ears.
Cleanse the inside of your ears: (This is an as-needed action, because you do need some wax in your ears. It actually protects this organ (4).) Using a cloth or tissue, gently clean inside the bowl of the ear to get rid of excess wax and other dirt, dead skin, etc. Be very careful not to push earwax deeper into the ear canal or to harm the eardrum (9).
Keep your ears dry: Moisture can promote bacterial growth. You can soak up fluids — after swimming or bathing, for example — by lightly touching a cotton swab to the nooks and crannies of your outer ear. For the middle ear or inner ear, experts recommend other, non-invasive techniques (5).
Avoid getting hair products in/on your ears: These are notorious for clogging pores and follicles.
Wear protective head gear: If you know you’ll be in a dirty or dusty environment, a hat, earplugs, or earmuffs can keep debris out of your ears.

Do not stick that in there!

“That” being dirty stuff: grimy fingers (even if you’re trying to dig bacteria out), used cotton swabs, gritty earbuds, or headphones.

You get the gist.

Anything going in or on your ears must be clean.

How to accomplish this:

Wash your hands: Often and properly. Use a nail brush to get all that funk out from under your fingernails. Dirty hands and fingernails can contaminate your ears.
Use new cotton swabs/balls/pads: These are disposable items for a reason! Each time you clean your ears or apply that topical antibiotic, do so with a dry, unsoiled implement.
Sanitize your ear gear: Periodically, wipe down your jewelry, eyeglass stems, hair accessories, headphones and earbuds — anything that comes in contact with your ear skin.
Don’t share your ear gear: It’s hard enough to keep your own dirt, debris, and germs out of your ears. Don’t add someone else’s into the fray. And if you must share, disinfect the item before the next time you use it.

Complementary ear pimple prevention tips

You are in a fight to the death with your ear pimples, right?

Well, in times of war, you have to use all the weapons at your disposal.

In addition to the approaches above, the following non-ear-specific measures can boost your ear acne-fighting efforts.

The good news is, you’re possibly already employing these tactics to ward off facial acne.

No squeezing: This is a hard piece of advice to adhere to. You’re not Dr. Pimple Popper. So, put that pair of tweezers away (even for the blackheads) — your tender bumps are a hands-off zone to avoid getting a scar. Don’t try to force it.
Destress: Relax! Doing so may help put a lid on those zit-instigating hormones.
Eat well: A nutritious diet nourishes your skin with oodles of anti-pimple minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants.
Hydrate: Consuming sufficient water helps flush toxins out of your body and keep your skin lookin’ fine.
Sleep: Your body does much of its healing process while you’re snoozing. (Conversely, chronic fatigue is not good for your skin health.)
Exercise: Moving your bod increases blood flow. This brings more oxygen and nutrients to your skin cells, aids in cell regeneration, and reduces stress.

Maybe it’s not an ear pimple?

Just because it looks like a pimple and quacks like a pimple, doesn’t mean it’s a pimple.

Acne hasn’t cornered the market on producing blemishes in or around your ears.

A number of other things can look like zits.

Other forms of acne

Your earlobe invaders may be a different flavor of acne.

They could be papules, whiteheads, tiny blackheads, nodules, boils, or cysts.

Yikes!

Ear infection

Bacteria buildup in your ears can lead to infection.

Some infections may show up as pus leaking from your middle ear or inner ear or as a rash.

Rashes are often composed of a clump of reddish, inflamed, irritated bumps that can resemble pimples.

Left unattended, ear infections can also result in cysts called cholesteatoma, which can resemble skin lumps.

Ticks, mosquitos, and other bugs

Tick bites (and other bug bites and stings) are common in the United States.

They could look like zits because the bite area can form swelling, red lumps.

Tickborne illnesses, like Queensland tick typhus (QTT) (3), can cause rashes and pus-filled lesions.

Proper tick removal properly is key — ya don’t want these bloodsuckers causing more probs!

Body lice have also been known to cause epidemic typhus, which can lead to gangrenous spots in the ears (8).

And, of course, you should get rid of other parasites that may be irritating your delicate ear skin. (Bug repellent is your friend, just a little PSA we’re sneaking in!)

Eczema, milia, and other skin conditions

There are a host of other common, and usually harmless, skin issues that may appear to be pimple doppelgängers.

They can aggravate the surface of the skin, producing red-or white-topped bumps such as seborrheic dermatitis or eczema.

Tumors

Some people develop growths in their ears (1).

Often it’s just a benign clump of excess bone covered in skin.

A rare disease

Not to be too vague here but there are some very unlikely disorders and ailments that could show up as ear sores.

For example, NBD (Neurobehcet syndrome) can cause ear ulcers.

Time to see your dermatologist

You may be reluctant to go to the derm pro.

But it may be the best way to resolve your ear acne issue — especially if it’s severe acne(like a boil) or you’re in desperate need of immediate relief for your ear pimple pain.

Plus, if it turns out to not be ear acne, your dermatologist — who’s an M.D. with extra training in skin health — can help connect you to the appropriate healthcare for your condition.

You might need the attention of a primary care doctor.

When to go pro

So, when should ya pick up that phone and book your date with the derm doc about your ear problems?

Because ya wanna: Who says you have to have a specific reason or threshold moment? Some people like to cut to the chase. They don’t feel like mucking around with trial-and-error approaches or giving potentially ineffectual treatments a longer period of time to miraculously start working. Heading straight to your dermie might bring a faster, more effective resolution to your ear pimples.
Your ear pimples aren’t going away: If your personal attempts to get rid of those suckers is going nowhere, a doctor may be to bust out more potent or appropriate tools from dermatologic kit. In addition to Rx meds, a dermatologist could use an extractor on your pimple (go ahead — watch some of those YouTube videos…) or suggest other therapies.
Your zits hurt: In this day and age, there’s no reason to just accept pain. If you can’t get rid of the owie, there’s a good chance that your dermatologist can.
Your blemishes are causing you mental anguish: A lot of people suffer real emotional distress over their skin issues. Your dermatologist can treat the physical condition and point you in the direction of a counselor to attend to your psychological wellbeing.
You’ve got suspicions your ear pimples may be something else: Maybe your acne treatments aren’t working because that’s not what’s happening in your ear. If you have other concerning symptoms, like fever/flu-like symptoms or hearing loss (especially if you’ve recently been hiking, traveling (7), or in contact with parasite-carrying critters), trust your intuition and hightail it to a medical professional.

What to expect from your doctor visit

Your doc will do a physical exam of your outer ear and inner ear, checking your glands, pores, and hair follicles.

Expect that your doc will also be on the lookout for signs of trouble in adjacent areas, like:

Whiteheads or blackheads on your cheeks
Dandruff on your scalp
Swollen lymph nodes

Your doc will ask if you have other concerning symptoms or severe issues.

So, be sure to mention things like hearing loss, pain, and so on.

From all this info, your dermie can piece things together to come up with a diagnosis.Based on what’s going on in a patient’s ear, and the type of acne, the dermatologist will recommend a care plan.

The goal of treatment is generally to get relief fast, clear up your skin, prevent future breakouts, and mitigate scars.

In the dermatologist’s arsenal are a handful of antibiotics, medications (oral and topical), systemic drugs, prescription drugs, cortisone injection, and recommendations for health and lifestyle changes to support skin wellness.

Ear pimple takeaways

Ear zits suck. We hear ya!

But, take comfort in knowing that acne — even in or on the ear — is incredibly common worldwide.

OK, this isn’t such great news.

But, end of the day, what it means is that scientists and medical professionals dedicate loads of time, energy, brainpower, and money to dealing with this pervasive skin problem.

The result?

You have info and options galore for prevention and treatment.

With so much knowledge at your disposal, you can take better care of your ear and skin health.
There are many readily-available DIY or OTC products and procedures you can try.
If you can’t clear out your ear pimples on your own, your derm doc can offer more potent acne-busting therapies, like a topical cream or topical antibiotic.

It’s time to wage world war on those ear pimples!

Acne – Diagnosis and Treatment – Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acne/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20368048. Accessed 20 Jan. 2021.
Benign Ear Cyst or Tumor: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001033.htm. Accessed 20 Jan. 2021.
Human Tick-Borne Diseases in Australia. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6360175/. Accessed 20 Jan. 2021.
Information, National Center for Biotechnology, et al. “Outer Ear Infection: What Helps If Earwax Builds Up?” InformedHealth.Org [Internet], Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG), 2020. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279354/.pimple in ear canal
Medical, Fuel. “Foolproof Techniques for Removing Water from Your Ears | LeMay Hearing & Balance.” Https://Hearingaidreno.Com/, https://hearingaidreno.com/foolproof-techniques-for-removing-water-from-your-ears/. Accessed 20 Jan. 2021.
Says, Dr Sakshi Sareen. Skin Irritation from Prolonged Use of Tight-Fitting Respirators | | Blogs | CDC. https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2020/08/04/skin-irritation-respirators/. Accessed 20 Jan. 2021.
Skin & Soft Tissue Infections – Chapter 11 – 2020 Yellow Book | Travelers’ Health | CDC. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2020/posttravel-evaluation/skin-and-soft-tissue-infections. Accessed 20 Jan. 2021.board
Typhus | Definition, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, & Facts | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/typhus. Accessed 20 Jan. 2021.
“Why You Shouldn’t Use Cotton Swabs to Clean Your Ears.” It’s a Noisy Planet. Protect Their Hearing., https://www.noisyplanet.nidcd.nih.gov/have-you-heard/cotton-swabs-ears. Accessed 20 Jan. 2021. ear canal pimple in ear

What Your Body Is Telling You If You Have Ear Pimples