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Have Painful, Red Rashes Behind Ear. Applying Hydrocortisone Cream. Wearing A Hearing Aid. Causes?
Question: I have a painful rash behind my right ear. It feels lumpy and is red, hot and sore to the touch. I've had this two days and I'm applying some hydrocortisone cream I found lurking around at home which isn't doing much good. The rash is just on the skin behind the ear with some on the actual ear itself. It is not on the scalp area, nor spreading and is not affecting the other ear. I wear a hearing aid in both ears but these are the same aids I've been wearing every day for 2 years with no allergy problems. The rash does not feel like an allergy. The lumps are quite pronounced, and initially they were quite crusty but the hydrocortisone has created a greasy effect.
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
The changes in the skin which you see behind your ear this certainly does appear to be a type of dermatitis. As you probably know there are several different classes of dermatitis. This includes allergic bacterial and fungal among others. There are inflammatory conditions also which could contribute to this kind of thing.
Along with the fungal infection there can sometimes be some inflammation which causes redness, itching and peeling of the skin.
The generally best way to treat this is with a topical cream which has both a mild steroid element and an antifungal cream. The active ingredients of this cream includes hydrocortisone and the antifungal clotrimazole. Your doctor will be able to provide you with a prescription for this. The brand name of the cream is Lotrisone.
I would expect the areas of irritation to slowly respond and improve over two to three weeks.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Please accept my answer in case you do not have further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
Thanks for posting your query.
The changes in the skin which you see behind your ear this certainly does appear to be a type of dermatitis. As you probably know there are several different classes of dermatitis. This includes allergic bacterial and fungal among others. There are inflammatory conditions also which could contribute to this kind of thing.
Along with the fungal infection there can sometimes be some inflammation which causes redness, itching and peeling of the skin.
The generally best way to treat this is with a topical cream which has both a mild steroid element and an antifungal cream. The active ingredients of this cream includes hydrocortisone and the antifungal clotrimazole. Your doctor will be able to provide you with a prescription for this. The brand name of the cream is Lotrisone.
I would expect the areas of irritation to slowly respond and improve over two to three weeks.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Please accept my answer in case you do not have further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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