How to Get Rid of Painful Swollen Bumps Inside Ear

A small raised spot on the ear may be harmless but that depends on the cause. If it keeps growing, hurts and swells up, it may be caused by an infection.

Whether small or growing, it is important to know that some bumps can be dangerous cancerous growths while others are not dangerous at all. Mostly, these zit like formations can be painful, grow on the ear lobe, cartilage or even in the ear canal.

Causes

While ear bumps and pimples are likely to form at any point of the ear, when they occur inside the ear canal, they become uncomfortable, painful and sometimes obstructive to hearing for some people. Pimples in ear are normally soft or hard.

Mostly, the location of these formations is associated with other characteristics such as being sore or painless. For example, in the ear canal, they can be sore and painful while ear bump next to piercing can be hard and painless. But if I have a bump inside my ear, what could be the cause?

Causes of pimple, bump or zit in ear

Ear pimples, zits and bumps are also called sebaceous cysts inside the ear. These are made up of “dead cells and skin oils” [St Mark James Training]. They can develop overnight and are said to be the most common cysts that form in the ear. Here are some of the causes.

  • Ostitis externa, also known as infection of the ear canal, which often leads to the swelling inside the ear. This can feel like a bump or a lump.
  • Non-cancerous extoses and osteomas, which are additional bone growths inside the ear may cause small hard bumps in ear.
  • When cancer develops in earwax cells, it can cause ear bumps as well. While one of the most common symptom is their manifestation on the outer ear, there are types of growths that happen in the ear canal as well. If you suspect in any way that this could be the cause, see a doctor as soon as possible.
  • Ear infections can also be the source of bumps, pimples, zits and scabs in ear.

Common symptoms of ear bumps and pimples may include a feeling of fullness in the ear, not hearing well, a sore pimple, or bump that hurts, itchiness and sometimes swollen glands behind the ear, pain in the earlobe.

Painful bump in ear, ear lobe, canal and next to piercing

Bump on ear cartillage from piercing
Bump on ear cartillage from piercing.

Do you have a bump in ear that hurts? A small painful bump in ear is generally caused by the sore pimple. You may feel a lot of discomfort if the small pimple is in the canal of the ear.

However, if there is acute pain, you should see a doctor immediately. Such bumps are commonly located:

  • Next to piercing
  • In earlobe
  • Inside ear especially for small painful bumps or nodules

Although an irritated inner ear bump can be a source of all sorts of discomfort even when the bump itself is not harmful, the explanation is that the ear canal has limited space.

In addition to that, the ear lobe is quite sensitive and any minor issues such as buildup of wax, dirt, oil and sebum is likely to cause a small painful bump inside ear, on the earlobe and sometimes next to ear piercings. The dirt and all that buildup will fill small breaks and lead to the “bump.”

Big bump on ear lobe

When it comes to size, you can get a big bump in ear or just a small pimple. Small bumps are tender and may easily disappear on their own without treatment.

If you know how to pop a pimple, you can do it if you are sure it is just a pimple or a zit. However, depending on the location, this might become difficult especially if it is in the ear canal.

A big bump inside the ear lobe could be a symptom of something else though. Most of the times, people with an earlobe piercing develop big lumps that are normally referred to as keloids.

A keloid may be hard to get rid of, or will take time to reduce with treatments such as silicone pads and rubber bands. Surgical removal may also be

Inside ear bleeding and hurting

At times a spot in the ear can start producing a discharge. Discharge from the inside of your ear can be anything from wax, pus, blood or fluid.

One of the main causes of a sore bleeding bump in the ear is external trauma to the sump. For example, most people experience bleeding and discharge from an ear bump after trying to pop it, mostly before it is ripe.

There could be other reasons for bleeding from a bump inside the ear canal. It is important to note that a raptured eardrum can cause a yellow discharge from the ear. Also, you might see a bloody discharge from your ear. Eczema and other irritations of the ear have also been identified as a causes of bleeding inside ear.

  • To prevent ear bumps and pimples from bleeding, ensure that you do not insert any objects in your ear until the sore lump is healed.
  • Mild bacterial infections in the ear can form bumps that bleed. Acne spots can also start bleeding if they are scratched or popped.
  • Avoid picking pimples, boils in ear and even small lumps in your ear as this is likely to make them bleed.

Pus, swelling

Any sort of drainage from your ear canal with bumps in it can be an alarming sign. Pus from a swollen bump inside the ear canal can be a sign of a serious ear infection, or a sign that you have open sores in your ear.

As LiveStrong reports, “an open sore on a bump may be a sign of cancer.”

Seek medical attention immediately if you see pus or feel a swelling from an ear canal bump or pimple. If caner is not treated at an early stage, the mostly applied treatment would be the removal of a big part of the external ear as Merck Manual reports.

Behind ear, hard, painful , large & swollen

Bumps behind ear might be caused by any of the already discussed causes. Typically, pimples, lumps and bumps behind ears tend to be of different sizes, small, swollen, hard, painful or that hurt, making the area behind your ear very uncomfortable.Bump or-pimple-behind-ear[1]

If the pimple behind ear is located on the earlobe, it is likely a cartilage lump. However, if it is a bump behind ear on scalp or head, then it could be part of scalp bumps and pimples. Lymphadenopathy, mastoiditis, lipoma and otitis media, as well as other infections such as cancer, sebaceous cysts could be the cause of big hard bumps at the back of ears.

If the bump behind your ear is just a pimple, waiting for it to ripe before popping it will be of much help. However, if it is swelling and growing large, painful or inflamed, you should see an ENT for proper diagnosis and treatment. See video at the end showing how to pop a pimple bump in your ear.

On ear cartilage

The pressure between your pillow and head at night is sometimes enough to cause your ear to form a painful bump on ear cartilage.

The bump inside the top of the cartilage is just a benign lump. According to DermNet NZ, a hurting pimple on your cartilage “occurs in people who sleep predominantly on one side. It can be precipitated by minor trauma, such as tight headgear or a telephone headset, or by exposure to cold.”

1.    Winkler disease

When this condition affects the inner rim of your ear, it is called Winklers disease, otherwise known as chondrodermatitis nodularis chronica antehelicis. Doctors say that this condition can last for months or even years and is easily confused with cancer of the ear.

2.    Benign cyst on ear (epidermoid cyst)

Benign cysts on the cartilage of the ear are small bumps that characteristically form on the top of the ear but on the inner side. It starts as a pimple and you may want to pop it, but you will find that nothing comes out of it.

Another symptom of such cysts is that they can either be painful or painless. As they develop, benign bumps on ear cartilage can easily turn into blister-like formation. They may also look like moles especially when they are hard lumps.

3.    Cystic acne

Another common condition with a bump inside ear canal especially when it is painful is simply a pimple forming under your skin inside the ear.

Though small, it can easily cause headaches and pain in the ear especially when you talk or do movements. A small lump on ear cartilage that hurts may simply be caused by cystic acne.Bump in ear canal

An infected body pore in the ear, when blocked can easily develop into a painful pimple under your skin. These are common when one has piercings.

According to Bhupinder Kaur, MD on MedHelp, if the bump is causing cosmetic problems, a dermatologist can excise it especially when it starts causing pain.

4.    Cancer tumors and cysts

It is known that both benign and malignant tumors can easily cause lumps in the ear. These include melanoma, lymphoma and fibroma. Moles on the skin are also a type of tumors that are considered the cause of these bumps.

In some cases, having these bumps could be a symptom of cancer, which is a life-threatening condition that should be treated immediately. A biopsy can help your dermatologist or general practitioner with the diagnosis.

5. Keloid bump on ear piercings

Keloids on ear are common with piercings. The process of making a piercing on the earlobe leaves a scar. The scar is a normal tissue growth that extends beyond the initial point of injury as it heals.

If you describe your lump or bump as a huge or big bump in ear next to a piercing, then you are likely to be describing a keloid.

Treatments for keloid bumps on ear piercings include steroid injections and surgical excision to remove the externally growing tissue. Steroid injections are used to reduce inflammation and pain as the scar heals or is eaten away.

However, according to Edward Farrior, MD, a Tampa Facial Plastic Surgeon, keloids on ear may recur after treatment.

6. Wearing headphones

There have been claims that wearing headphones and listening to loud music from them is one cause of bumps in the ear. On the Acne.org forum, one person complained of having a big ear bump after wearing headphones for some time.

The same person complained of getting those ear pimples after plugging ear buds in their ears as well. There’s no scientific explanation as to why you get such an infection in your ear after listening to music from your headphones.

Itchy ear bumps from earphones could be caused by reaction of your skin to the material that is used to make them. Also, if they keep rubbing on your skin, you are likely to get irritated skin.

However, it is reasonable that you are likely to get an ear infection from earphones or headphones if they are not clean. Do not share headphones with anyone. Also, clean your ears regularly to avoid accumulation of ear wax.

How to get rid of ear bumps

Always see a doctor if you have symptoms such as pain, discharge or blood oozing from your ear. For white bumps in ear, red bumps and pimples inside ear, here are easy ways to get rid of them.

Antibiotics – Oral and Topical and Injections

Any infections on the outer ear and on the earlobe are sometimes treated using oral antibiotics. Such treatments are effective for little ear bumps such as acne pimples and small swellings.

Your doctor will diagnose you and prescribe the right antibiotic to help get rid of ear pimples fast. “Corticosteroid ear drops can be used to reduce the swelling caused by otitis externa.” [St Mark James Training]

Excision and drainage, surgical removal

Epidermoid cysts may require the attention of the doctor who is likely to give you corticosteroid injections to help reduce the lumps in your ear. Other treatments include drainage of the cysts in the ear and incisions as Mayo Clinic recommends.

Keloids are surgically removed from the ear if they become too big, obstruct hearing or are considered an aesthetic problem by the patient. Surgical removal of cysts, growths and lumps in the ear may not be very effective if the problem is keloids because they often grow back, and might grow back bigger.

Natural healing of pimples in ear

If the small bump in your ear is simply a pimple or cystic acne, allow it time to heal naturally. Careful cleaning of the ear is likely to be enough to heal and prevent growth of formation of new pimples from dirt buildup, shampoos and earwax.

  • Avoid bursting the small dots, pimples and lumps in your ear. Aural pimples are very painful and may bleed for long when squeezed.
  • WikiHow recommends dabbing tea tree oil and saltwater to the pimple will help reduce the swelling and irritation and allow them to heal slowly on their own, naturally.

References

DISCLAIMER: This article is for general informational purposes only. Do not consider it a substitute for professional medical advice. See a doctor and seek their advice before taking medication or changing your treatment.

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14 comments

  1. If you wake up and find a cyst/bump in your ear that is painful, I have figured out why. For me at least. After a few days it tends to pop. Sometimes I don’t even realize it until I itch my ear and dried blood comes out.
    But when I get them it has happened when I fall asleep listening to music with my apple earpods in I believe it is because when I am asleep I roll and don’t realize the pressure of the edge of the bud is creating a spot where the blood builds up. Essentially a blood blister.
    Not entirely sure but 3/3 of the times I have had them, this has been the case.

  2. This thang hurt what can I put on it 2 make it stop hurting andor make it go away?

  3. I have a bump in my ear in none of these places , could be from earphones but it hurts like hell.

  4. I have a bump at the bottom of my ear lobe. I gauge my ears I had 00 plugs in for about 2 months then I lost them swimming so I stuck my tapers in and now there is this weird bump right next to my gauges. It is in my skin and it hurts. It is bothering. Someone please help I’m thinking about going to the hospital. I am going to wash my ears tomorrow morning with salt water and see if that helps with the swelling.

  5. I have a small sore bump in my outer eye any ideas to what it is?

  6. Could lumps be caused by dirty ear phones

  7. A friend of mine developed a red bump in the ear and I was unable to assist her because I knew little about ear infections. I just didn’t knew that soap, shampoo and hair sprays which gets into her ears can cause irritation and itches. The itch can cause you to scratch the ear canal with wool bud or fingers resulting in a lump in the ear that bleeds

  8. Ear lumps on the ear canal caused by infection, inflammation and trauma are temporary and subsides as the underlying condition resolves. The ear lumps that persist to grow and won’t go away may be a sign of a serious condition such as tumors. A lump on the ear associated with injury may also be a sign of brain bleeding.

  9. I had a zit on my ear drum, it really got me worried, and I didn’t know if it was temporarily swollen or a tumor from talking on the phone since I used to talk with my girlfriend too much on phone. I just learnt that cleaning the ear with dirty tools can cause a pimple infection on the ear drum that doesn’t hurt.

  10. I noticed that I was developing a bump on my ear where piercing was done. It was giving me a headache a little while though it was not irritating. I thought of cutting it off using a pair of scissors and tweezers but I was advised against it by my friends. I never knew that one can develop a lump on the ear after piercing.

  11. I used to have sores in the ear that bleeds. Then, I never knew that careless ear cleaning can cause a swollen bump on the ear canal that can be very painful. It is necessary to do it carefully using really soft piece of cloth or material, or cotton ear buds to avoid painful sores that that are caused by wrong ear cleaning methods.

  12. Am using glasses most of the time and I have realized a lump behind my ear, I have tried different home remedies to get rid of it but it keeps coming back. I just didn’t know that wearing glasses can cause a lump behind the year due to blockage of pores.

  13. My son had a pimple in ear that hurts really badly. We spend several sleepless nights trying to numb it using ice cubes but the pain was so unbearable. I just learnt that, the skin of the year is thin, the underlying cartilage can also get infected to cause a lump in upper ear cartilage that is so painful.

  14. This past week I have gotten a bump in front of my ear. Surprisingly, it was my first experience in my life. Its round, and when I feel it its hard. For some time, I had been struggling to figure out what exactly this could be. I had to confide in my friend who too had little information on this matter. However, this article worked the magic and I must admit it was resourceful.

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