Red ears and burning hot, what does this mean?

What are the causes of hot ears?

Hot ears, either on the right or left, are a symptom you feel when you have certain conditions. These symptoms often appear together with other symptoms, such as redness, swelling, and pain.

The causes of this condition also range from trivial things to rare conditions. Here are some of the possible causes of hot ears:

1. Emotions and body reactions

Emotions of embarrassment, anger, or panic are the most common causes of sudden burning and redness in the ears. This occurs due to increased blood flow to the ear area.

Ears can also turn red in response to changes in temperature (whether cold to hot, or vice versa), alcohol consumption, after exercise, and hormonal changes due to menopause or after chemotherapy. Apart from burning, your ears can also turn red.

2. Sunburned

Exposure to sunlight for a long period of time can cause the skin of the ear and surrounding areas to become reddish and feel like burning. Other symptoms of sunburn include burning, soreness, and pain when touched. In more severe cases, the skin can even blister and peel from sunburn.

Usually, the ears become hot and red, several hours after being exposed to the sun. Within a few days, your ears and skin will probably heal on their own. However, sunburn or severe sunburn may take longer to heal.

3. Skin infections

The presence of an infection of the skin can also be one of the causes of red, hot, and painful ears. One of the conditions that can cause these symptoms is cellulitis which is caused by a bacterial infection.

Bacteria can enter the body through wounds, insect bites, and dry skin and cause disease. Apart from causing burning in the ears, this condition can also make the ears swollen. Not only that, cellulitis can also cause fatigue, fever, and chills.

4. Pericondritis

Perichondritis is an infection of the skin and tissue around the cartilage of the outer ear. This condition is usually caused by an injury to the ear, such as:

Ear surgery
Ear piercing
Sports injury
Trauma to the side of the head

Symptoms that result from pericondritis include hot, sore, and swollen ears. Redness usually surrounds the injured area, such as a cut or scrape. In addition, you may also experience a fever.

5. Seborrheic eczema

Seborrheic eczema or seborrheic dermatitis can cause redness in the ear skin. Seborrheic eczema is characterized by itchy, red, scaly patches on the scalp and back, and on the face. Not infrequently, this condition also causes the ear to feel burning.

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, the signs and symptoms of seborrheic eczema can be more severe if you are stressed. In addition, itching to heat on the surface of the skin may also recur in cold, dry weather.

Generally, the cause of seborrheic eczema is unknown. This is still thought to be related to genetics and the interaction of the immune system with organisms that live on the skin.

6. Red ear syndrome

Red ear syndrome or red ear syndrome is a rare condition only described in 1994. The Journal of Headache and Pain states that the disease is not yet clearly defined.

Red ear syndrome is characterized by ear pain, redness, and heat. These symptoms can appear several times a day. Sometimes, signs and symptoms of red ear syndrome appear every few days.

7. Erythermalgia

Another rare condition that can cause your ears to feel like burning is erythermalgia. This condition is characterized by erythema, pain, and burning sensation in the neck, face, ears, and even the scrotum.

These symptoms can last for hours, even days. Hot weather can make this condition worse and can be treated with cold compresses.

8. Ear infection

Hot ears are a symptom of ear infections. Apart from burning ears, ear infections can also cause many other symptoms, such as:

Hearing loss
Discharge from the ear
Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
Nausea and vomiting

Ear infections are a condition that can occur in children and adults. If you experience symptoms of an ear infection, contact your doctor immediately.

How to deal with hot ears?

The way to deal with red ears varies, based on the cause. If it is caused by excessive sun exposure, you can apply aloe vera gel or take a pain reliever such as ibuprofen.

You can also apply a cold compress to the red and hot ear. If it is caused by an infection, the main treatment is with antibiotics.

Although it sounds trivial, this condition should not be ignored. Seek medical help immediately if your ear hurts, is painful when you press it, feels buzzing, especially if you bleed suddenly.

It is also important to seek medical care for a bacterial infection such as cellulitis, especially if the burning ear symptoms of the condition are accompanied by fever.