Quick Facts
Dermatitis of the Ear Canal
Topic Resources
The ear canal is the tube that connects the outside of your ear to your eardrum.
"Derm" is a medical term for skin, and "-itis" means inflammation. So, dermatitis is inflamed skin. Dermatitis of the ear canal is itchy, flaky, and swollen skin at the opening of your ear and inside your ear canal.
What causes dermatitis of the ear canal?
There are 2 main causes:
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An allergic reaction to something that touched your ear, for example, an earring or hair product you've been using
What are the symptoms of dermatitis of the ear canal?
You'll have symptoms in and around your ear canal, such as:
The cracked skin sometimes lets bacteria into the skin of your ear canal. The bacteria can cause an infection called external otitis.
