What causes swollen earlobes?

Piercing is by far the most common reason why you may end up with red, hot, swollen ears. Experiencing some pain and swelling following piercing is expected and considered normal. Remember, however, that swelling after piercing should subside over a few days. If the pain intensifies and persists, you may be dealing with an infection or a piercing rejection, and it is time to see a doctor. Post-piercing cleaning instructions should be followed closely to minimize the potential for infections. 

It is not hard to see how any injury or trauma inflicted on the earlobes can create swelling. The trauma does not even have to be too large; a tight earring may be enough to bring about the uncomfortable symptoms of earlobe swelling, pain, sensitivity, and soreness. 

One particular example of injury to the ear is hematoma auris. This condition is also referred to as cauliflower ear. Contact sports such as boxing, wrestling, and martial arts are predisposing risk factors. Cauliflower ear occurs when blood collects in the outer ear due to trauma inflicted on the ear. Swelling, pain, and bruising typically go hand-in-hand with hematoma auris. 

Nickel is the most common cause of contact allergy worldwide. So how do you know if you are affected? Most people find out when they get their ears pierced and develop signs of an allergic reaction. If you are sensitive or allergic, itchy, inflamed, red skin and rash may appear at the site where nickel touched your skin.

Although the signs of allergic nickel dermatitis may only appear at the nickel exposure site for most people, some can experience more widespread symptoms or develop hand eczema. Sadly, there is no cure for allergic contact dermatitis, and people who have it do not tolerate jewelry or clothing with any amount of nickel.

Mastoiditis is a potential complication of acute otitis media (middle ear infection.) It is named after the characteristic inflammation of a portion of the temporal bone called the mastoid air cells. Thanks to the widespread availability of antibiotics, treatment of the condition is generally successful. 

Please remember that recognizing the symptoms is critical because untreated mastoiditis can lead to life-threatening complications, including meningitis, intracranial abscess, and venous sinus thrombosis. So what symptoms should you look for? Loss of hearing, pain, fever, drainage from the ear are hallmark signs of mastoiditis.

While insect bites are most often harmless and resolve on their own in a day or two, a bite on the lobe can sometimes trigger swelling and itchiness. Depending on the type of bug, treatment can differ. However, over-the-counter ointments to reduce itching and inflammation are commonly used. 

An abscess is a bump containing a pocket of pus and is usually the result of a bacterial infection. It can show up anywhere on the body - even on the lobes - when an area becomes infected. How does it form? In response to the infection, our immune system sends white blood cells to the infection site. These white blood cells then collect within the damaged tissue and create inflammation. 

Unfortunately, during this process, pus can form from a mixture of living, dead white blood cells, germs, and dead tissue. It is a bad idea to leave this condition untreated. It is almost a surefire way to guarantee that your earlobes will continue to swell. Besides pus and swelling, you may also experience fever, chills, nausea, lesions, and inflammation. 

Cellulitis is a potentially severe bacterial skin infection. When you develop this common condition, an area on your skin swells, becomes red, painful, and hot to the touch. While cellulitis often occurs on the lower part of the legs, it is not unusual to see it on the face, arms, or other body parts, including your ears. 

Cracked skin can allow bacteria to enter the skin, and left untreated, the infection can quickly spread to the lymph nodes. When the infection gets into the bloodstream, the situation can become life-threatening. So if you suspect cellulitis, be sure to contact your doctor right away. 

Otitis externa or swimmer's ear is the most common in children between 7 to 12 and those who swim often. The condition affects the external ear canal, the tube between the outer ear, and the eardrum. The primary symptoms of otitis externa are pain, redness, and swelling of the outer ear. In severe cases you may develop fever and swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck.