YOUR QUESTIONS:
(click on each link to see the FULL QUESTION \ ANSWER)

1. I am pretty sure I have some form of dermatitis in my ears as I seem to have a lot of dead/flaky skin at the entry to my ears and in and around the general area of my ears as well. I am not absolutely sure but it gets quite itchy and very sore if I scratch it too much. It has been like this for a few years now. I have been told that you can get some sort of "Ear Dermatitis" and if so is there any treatment or products I can buy to try and get rid of it.

   What you have sounds like ear dermatitis, it is quite easy to treat with prescription products usually combining antibiotics to kill any bacteria or fungi in the ear that may be causing the problem. These products also contain small amounts of cortisone. Our Psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis cream is safe to use in the ear but I feel that a prescription from your Doctor would be more helpful in your case ...ANSWER

2. I have long suffered from excema and or dermatitis in my ears and have come to my wits end. I have seen many doctors and skin specialists over the last decade with some ok results and some not so ok using creams, steriods, packing the ears, patch tests and herbal tea. My ear canals are very tight and I have the usual excema symptoms of dry cracked skin which can weep. This weeping causes blockages (both wet and dry) which has lead on many occasions to infections which can be really painful to teat. Are there any products that I can use to treat inside the ears that will not irritate ?

   As 80% of long term ear dermatitis is bacterial in origin I would suggest you try a product called Ciproxin HC ear drops. This is a prescription antibiotic and hydrocotisone combination. Many antibiotics in ear products can cause long term toxicity to the ears e.g. Gentamycin. Ciproxin does not harm the ears. Ciproxin HC does not have this disadvantage. It would be prudent to have a scraping taken from you ear to eliminate the possibility of a fungal infection which is involved in most of the other 20% of ear dermatitis. ...ANSWER

3. I recently purchased your psoriasis scalp treatment. I have had a mild case of psoriasis on my scalp for about 10 years. Just recently, I noticed a bit of psoriasis in my ear (real close to the canal (ear canal)). I would like to know if it is safe to use the scalp psoriasis treatment on a q-tip in my ear?

   The Scalp Psoriasis treatment is Absolutely safe and no harmful effects with long term usage. Use once a day or when itchy is ideal. ...ANSWER

---

RELATED QUESTIONS and RESOURCES:

If you have questions regarding treating cracked ear lobes, particularly in infants, then please go to our Treating cracks (eczema) in ear lobes with Psorexederm cream page

From: "KR"
Sent: Friday, June 24, 2005 1:45 PM
Subject: EAR DERMATITIS


 Hi my name is KC, I am 19 and I have recently been looking at your
 website. I am pretty sure I have some form of dermatitis in my ears as I
 seem to have a lot of dead/flaky skin at the entry to my ears and in and
 arpund the general area of my ears as well. I am not absolutely sure but it
 gets quite itchy and very sore if I scratch it too much. It has been like
 this for a few years now. I have been told that you can get some sort of
 "Ear Dermatitis" and if so is there any treatment or products I can buy to
 try and get rid of it. I have tried using baby oil and cotton buds to try
 and remove the dead skin but it doesnt really work and it just comes back
 the next day anyway.

 Any information you could give me would be great.

 Thank you.

 KR

---

ANSWER:

Hi KR,

What you have sounds like ear dermatitis, it is quite easy to treat with prescription products usually combining antibiotics to kill any bacteria or fungi in the ear that may be causing the problem. These products also contain small amounts of cortisone.

You would need to see your doctor to ensure that was the problem.
Kind Regards,
David Hosking.
P.S. Our Psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis cream is safe to use in the ear but I feel the prescription products would be more helpful in this case.

----- Original Message -----
From: KD
To: David Hosking
Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 10:58 PM
Subject: Ear Dermatitis
Hello

I have long suffered from excema and or dermatitis in my ears and have come to my wits end. II stumbled across your website and was wondering if you could offer me any advice on how best to treat my symptoms. I have seen many doctors and skin specialists over the last decade with some ok results and some not so ok using creams, steriods, packing the ears, patch tests and herbal tea (not one of the more successful treatments). My ear canals are very tight and I have the usual excema symptoms of dry cracked skin which can weep. This weeping causes blockages (both wet and dry) which has lead on many occasions to infections which can be really painful to teat. I know all about not getting my ears wet and also realise that the only real long term treatment that I can strive for is never to scratch that itch. But that is the problem that most health professionals seem not to understand. With Excema you cant not scratch. I wake myself up with my fingers in my ear loving that relief, knowing Ill pay for it later.

My point is this, do you have any advice? Are there any products that I can use to treat inside the ears that will not irritate (I came through clear on my recent patch test)? Is there anything that I can try?

Thanks
KD

---

Hi KD,

The problem you have is very difficult to treat as you know. The current medical treatment options are summed up well at: http://www.rnzcgp.org.nz/news/nzfp/April2002/fields.pdf

BACTERIAL

As 80% of long term ear dermatitis is bacterial in origin I would suggest you try a product called Ciproxin HC ear drops. This is a prescription antibiotic and hydrocotisone combination. Many antibiotics in ear products can cause long term toxicity to the ears E.G Gentamycin. Ciproxin does not harm the ears. Ciproxin HC does not have this disadvantage.

FUNGAL

It would be prudent to have a scraping taken from you ear to eliminate the possibility of a fungal infection which is involved in most of the other 20% of ear dermatitis.

Ciproxin HC is rather new on the market but is very effective against a wide range of bacteria. It may be worth checking with your doctor then trying it.

Kind Regards,
David Hosking.

---

The Scalp Psoriasis treatment is Absolutely safe and no harmful effects with long term usage. Use once a day or when itchy is ideal.
Thanks for asking this useful question
Kind Regards
David Hosking