Usually, an adult is not in a hurry to a medical facility if there are any he alth problems, especially when it comes to rashes. As a rule, everything is attributed to bad ecology or severe fatigue, poor nutrition. If crusts appear behind the ears, cracks or redness, then the person tries to monitor hygiene more carefully. But cracks behind the auricle can appear against the background of serious pathological processes. Therefore, if a crack appears behind the ear, you should immediately contact a dermatologist who will conduct the necessary tests and make a diagnosis, because there are many reasons for this condition.
Possible and fairly quickly eliminated causes
First of all, do not forget about personal hygiene in any area of the body. It is necessary to clean not only the area behind the ears, but also regularly clean the ear from wax.
Another common cause is vitamin deficiency. The lack of vitamins and nutrients is especially acute in the winter, the skin becomes dry and may crack over time. In light of this, it is necessary to correctnutrition, take vitamin and mineral complexes.
Dry skin is another cause of cracked ears. The problem in such cases is only that the body does not have enough moisture. This may be due to an excessively dry climate in the place of residence of a person or poor nutrition, insufficient intake of water into the body. Depending on the suspected cause of dry skin, treatment may be required, but you may only need to drink more water and moisturize the area around the ears.
For the same reason or after an infectious disease, the body's immune forces can weaken, which often leads to problems with the skin.
Stress is also a fairly common cause. As you know, all problems are from the nerves, and the skin is no exception.
Cracks behind the ear can appear on the background of hormonal failure, and most often this occurs during the period of gestation. Although such failures can occur in people of any gender, age, for example, while taking certain medications.
Another reason is heat urticaria. Inflammation behind the ear occurs against the background of blockage of the sweat glands. In parallel with this, severe itching, redness appears, peeling begins and a crust appears behind the sink. Most likely, no special treatment is required, just learning how to properly use moisturizers and control sweating.
However, the reasons can be much more serious and require immediate elimination andqualified medical care.
Eczema
This pathology can appear at any age and in any person, on any part of the body. Contact dermatitis is just a type of eczema that occurs when you come into contact with an allergen or a specific irritant. Cracks behind the ear in this case can occur after using shampoos, paints or other cosmetic products for skin and hair care. Initially, blisters or a rash may appear, and then cracks. This condition is characterized by a strong tooth and redness in the area of irritation.
Ointments for irritation are prescribed for these types of dermatitis, usually with an antihistamine effect and salicylic acid. Also, the doctor may recommend the use of shampoos and hair care products containing pyrithione zinc, selenium. For severe dermatitis, oral antibiotics may be prescribed.
Idiopathic form
There is also such a thing as weeping eczema behind the ears and on other parts of the body. Although this is not a scientific name at all, in reality such a rash is called idiopathic eczema. A characteristic feature of the disease is blisters that burst over time, and serous fluid appears in these places.
This type of rash is quite difficult to treat. In this case, the inflammatory process can end on its own, but with a mandatory exacerbation in the near future. In fact, such a pathology is a chronic disease, but not contagious. From the patient in the fight against the rashgreat patience is required, it will be necessary to exclude all irritating factors from life, review the diet and in no case comb the rashes in order to prevent a secondary inflammatory process.
Dermatitis
Problems with the auricles can occur against the background of the development of exudative dermatitis. Dermatitis itself can take two forms: chronic and acute. A rash with such a pathology can appear on any part of the body. Clinical picture: ulcers, papules, pimples, plaques, etc. Patients are tormented by severe itching, redness in the revenge of the rash, peeling and exudative discharge.
When making a diagnosis, the doctor first of all determines the cause of dermatitis. The patient will have to give up all foods that can cause a rash, these usually include: citrus fruits, alcohol, especially sweet, chips, muffins, and so on. You will have to lean on foods that have a huge amount of B vitamins in their composition, eat lean meat, dairy products, sardines and others.
For therapeutic purposes, the doctor will prescribe local remedies that have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects and will promote the regeneration of skin cells. To reduce the amount of toxins and allergens, enterosorbents and antihistamines are prescribed. If an allergic reaction is clearly identified, then glucocorticoids are prescribed. As an additional therapy, the patient is prescribed physiotherapeutic procedures: galvanization, ultraviolet irradiation, electrophoresis, radonbathtubs and others.
Seborrheic dermatitis
Another inflammatory process on the skin, against which crusts initially appear behind the auricles, on which scales (yellow or white) form over time. The provocateur of this type of rash is a fungal infection - malassezia.
Seborrheic dermatitis often occurs in immunocompromised individuals who have been diagnosed with HIV or Parkinson's disease. The disease can be classified as group A, that is, oily dermatitis, and group B, dry. It should be understood that it is completely impossible to cure this type of skin rash, only to constantly monitor the state of the body in order to prevent a relapse.
Scrofula
What is this disease? Many people do not really know what this disease is, because it is most common in children. Although it can also appear in an adult. It is an infectious disease that can be caused by nontuberculous and tuberculous bacteria. Most often, this condition occurs against the background of poor nutrition and metabolic disorders. Heredity in this case is not the last place, there are also unfavorable living conditions.
What kind of disease is scrofula? A rather complex disease, and rashes can appear not only on the skin, but also on the mucous membranes, on the lymph nodes and joints, bones. The main thing is to see a doctor in time, especially if the provocateur of the disease is Koch's wand, but this can be determined only after a series of examinations, andonly then can adequate treatment be prescribed.
Psoriasis
This is an inflammatory dermatological pathology that does not choose age and gender. Often psoriasis appears in the area of the knees, elbows and head. The exact cause of this problem is still unknown. It is characterized by a very thick and red rash that is covered with scales and crusts. If the rash appears on the head, then it often goes to the area of \u200b\u200bthe auricles. All therapeutic measures in this case are aimed at stopping the further development of a skin rash. Most often, cortisone-containing ointments are used for treatment, phytopreparations can be prescribed and injection therapy is carried out.
Auricular mycosis
Another reason that can lead to a crack behind the ear. This pathology is associated with the introduction of a fungal infection in the ear area. Mycosis does not always appear against the background of poor hygiene, it is possible that sulfur has accumulated in the ear passages, where it is impossible to get to the person himself. Sulfur and desquamated epithelium are an excellent environment for the development of fungal spores.
A crack behind the ear in an adult with a fungal infection may appear due to the use of other people's headphones or earplugs, as well as other devices for the auricles. The patient may be disturbed by headache, constant itching in the ear, noise. It may seem to a person that there is some kind of foreign object in the ear canal, or a sulfur plug has appeared. In some cases, there may be purulent discharge from the ear, clear orserous.
Inflammation behind the ear is treated depending on the type of fungus that struck the auricle. If we are talking about molds, then Nitrofungin, Itraconazole, Naftifin or Terbinafine are prescribed. If the cause is yeast, then mycosis is treated with the following drugs: Clotrimazole, Econazole, Fluconazole or Pimafucin. At the same time, the cleanliness of the auricles comes first for the patient.
Hormonal imbalance
If the level of certain hormones changes, then there may be problems with the skin, including the area behind the ear. In particular, these are androgens, which are responsible for the production of fat on the skin. If the level of the hormone decreases, then the skin dries up, cracks, crusts and scabs appear. At risk are women during the period of gestation and at the time of menopause; persons who use contraceptives, some other drugs. In such cases, most often resort to hormone replacement therapy.
Childhood
A fissure behind the ear in a child is a fairly common problem, but it requires the direct involvement of a doctor. This is primarily due to the fact that in babies the dermis is still quite loose, the connective fibers are poorly developed, and the veins are intensively filled with blood. It is clear that these factors are still not enough for the development of inflammatory processes, damage occurs against the background of general changes in the body or under the influence of local causes. Most often, cracks appear against the background of diaper rash or a fungal infection. But the cause of the appearance maybecome dermatitis, diathesis or eczema.
Parents should monitor the diet and gradually introduce new foods into it. The temperature regime is very important, that is, in the room where the child sleeps, it should be warm, but not hot, the air should not be dry. It is also recommended to carefully select laundry detergents so that they do not irritate the skin.
Folliculitis
Another skin disease that can cause cracking of the skin. This is an infectious pathology of the hair follicles, resulting in blisters, redness, irritation and cracks. Depending on the severity of the disease, antifungal or antibacterial agents may be prescribed.
An ointment for irritation called "Retinoic ointment" is often used. Despite its high effectiveness, it often causes irritation. If within 2-3 days from the start of use, severe reddening of the skin, peeling and new pimples begin, then the use of the drug will have to be abandoned.
