Red Ear Syndrome
What is Red Ear Syndrome?
Red Ear Syndrome (RES) is a red ear that also feels hot and painful, caused by more blood flow through the tiny blood vessels in the ear. Usually, only one ear is affected.
Lasting up to 4hrs, it’s possible to experience RES multiple times a day.
Anyone can be affected by the condition, and while not usually serious, in rare cases it can also indicate spinal cord disease, diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, and venous hypertension.
Baby or Toddler Red Hot Ear
Redness, hot to the touch and swelling can be a sign of various diseases. If these symptoms are joined by a high temperature then it could be a sign of mumps, sixth disease, or acute otitis externa.
If the child is too young to talk then it may not be obvious that their ear is painful, so look for signs of regular touching, irritability and constant crying.
Important: Contact a doctor or 111 straight away and avoid a hot or cold compress on the ears, washing or any DIY remedies until you have been seen.
Symptoms
The temporary symptoms listed below are not concerning on their own, and won’t last very long.
- One or both ears are red.
- Warm or Hot to the touch.
If you also experience any of the following Red Ear Symdrome symptoms below, then these are more concerning and you should see a doctor.
- Swelling or tenderness.
- Burning or throbbing sensation.
- Itching or irritation.
- Flushed face or hot cheeks.
Causes of Red and Hot Ears
Red Ear Syndrome or just red hot ears can affect anyone and the cause can be varied. Causes that you may be affected by are listed below:
- Emotional flushing: More stress, embarrassment or anger than usual.
- Increased blood flow: A sudden change in temperature, alcohol, spicy food or exercise.
- Sunburn
- Sleeping on the ear, usually when the surface isn’t soft enough.
- Friction from wearing headphones, hats or even hair products.
Medical Causes
The causes above are usually because of something you have done yourself, whereas, the list below is because of a medical condition.
- Ear infections
- Skin infections
- Allergic reactions
- Hormonal changes and menopause
- Perichondritis (swollen from an infection following surgery or piercings)
- Relapsing polychondritis (swollen from an autoimmune disease)
- Erythromelalgia (burning pain from genetics)
Treatment For Red and Hot Ears
Red and hot ears are a fairly common, temporary condition that can come and go reasonably quickly. So, treatment isn’t something that needs to be considered, but we have listed a few things that you can do if you wish to speed up the process.
Home care measures: A softer pillow can reduce or remove the chance of it happening overnight. If wearing headphones, try larger ones that completely cover the ear to avoid irritation.
Cooling techniques: Sunburn can be treated with a damp flannel for 10 minutes, while also applying a gentle, hydrating moisturiser containing aloe vera afterwards. Even without sunburn, ice packs may help to calm the area down and numb any pain.
Avoiding known triggers: While some triggers may be unavoidable such as exercise and alcohol, keeping your ears warm in cold weather with earmuffs or a hat will ensure they don’t struggle with the temperature change.
Treatment For Red Ear Syndrome
Unlike simply ‘red and hot ears’ which can usually be treated at home, Red Ear Syndrome will need medication to resolve the issue.
From the doctor: Antibiotics will be provided for infections which should help very quickly. Neuropathic or anticonvulsant medications may be supplied to calm the nerves if they are causing an issue from being overactive. Strong anti-inflammatories may be supplied to control veins or headaches if these common causes are the issue. Nerve blocks, numbing cream and even botox could be used as an effective solution as backup measures.
Over the counter: Pharmacies will be able to help with creams for eczema or dermatitis. They can also supply antihistamines for an allergy that may be the trigger.
Prevention Tips
While there are a lot of causes that can’t be prevented, some basic prevention techniques can help to avoid flare-ups from lesser causes.
- Protecting ears from sun exposure
- Managing stress
- Avoiding irritants and allergens
- Good ear hygiene practices
If you’re unsure about what’s causing the issue, write down what you have done and eaten to possibly trigger the issue. You will soon start to see a pattern.
When to See a Doctor
While red hot ears are common, you should see a doctor if you also experience any of the following:
- Persistent redness or pain
- Fever or discharge
- Swelling after piercings or injuries
- Hearing loss or dizziness
- Symptoms spreading beyond the ear
- Frequent unexplained episodes
Conclusion
Most cases of red and hot ears are harmless and temporary, as Red Ear Sysdrome has only been recorded 100-200 times since the 90s.
If you are experiencing persistent symptoms, they should be evaluated to identifying the trigger, which is also helpful if you need to see a doctor.
FAQs
You may be wondering “why is one ear hot and red” but not the other. This is common and could be as simple as sleeping on it or possibly an infection if you’re experiencing pain inside.
You should see a doctor when a red and hot ear also includes one of these symptoms: Persistent redness or pain, fever or discharge, swelling after piercings or injuries, hearing loss or dizziness, symptoms spreading beyond the ear or frequent unexplained episodes.
If you slept on it then the symptoms will go on their own, you’ll need a cool flannel with sunburn, an infection will need antibiotics, you’ll need to avoid the food or chemical for an allergic reaction. If you’re not sure why it has lasted longer than a day with pain, make an appointment with a doctor.
No. It could simply be emotional flushing, increased blood flow, sunburn, sleeping on the ear or friction from wearing something over the ears. It could also be from a medical condition such as an allergic reaction, hormones, swelling from surgery or piercings, an autoimmune disease, skin condition or genetics.
It’s rarely the cause as the bacteria or virus has usually entered the ear in another way, but it can make it worse. So, it’s worth changing the pillow case weekly.
Yes. There is increased blood flow during dehydration which causes the face, ears and/or nose to become red.
Pillow ear is a swollen, flaky and sometimes red bump on the ear from resting the head for too long on one side.
It’s very possible that you have been lying on the ear for too long, or you have been wearing something tight like headphones or a hat. These can easily make your ear red, but if it’s painful and it doesn’t stop, you may have an ear infection. See the doctor when you can.
While high blood pressure can make the face and ears red, just the ears alone is not a sign of high blood pressure.
Yes. Anxiety increases blood flow which enlarges the blood vessels near the surface of the skin, making your face or ears red.
It can be, yes. It’s a very rare condition though, and you’re far more likely to just have a red and hot ear rather than Red Ear Syndrome. Red and hot is fine, if it’s painful and doesn’t stop then you could have an infection rather than Red Ear Syndrome. It’s worth seeing a doctor regardless, if pain is involved.
