Yellow Crusty skin just outside ear canal

[prb]

Hi,

 

My ear has had an itchy feel for years, then yesterday I had some part of the skin turning up like this few hours after I accidentally scratched the area.

 

 

Very uncomfortable. Ear canal inside if a little painful, does not seem to be infected.

 

I wonder between going to see a dermatologist in one of the Pattaya hospitals and probably go back home with a bag full of medicine that may or may not work on the symptoms OR leave it alone in the hope it will clear up by itself which seems to be the case with ear psoriasis / eczema according to dr google.

 

If someone have experience with that, what would you think?

 

 

Edited April 3 by prb

[watthong]

I have wax built up inside one ear canal to the point it gets hardened and I would have to use a ear-scratcher to dislodge it.

 

If the crust is yellow than it's not blood caking (which is simply a sign that you have scratched and got the skin to break and it bled.) But this is yellow, it could be just wax. However if it's really itchy, it could be something else. "this crust building up few hours" sounds a bit alarming to me. Could you check it first with the pharmacist, maybe it's something they have seen commonly? If not, then I would consider a doc visit.

[watthong]

Go to a seasoned pharmacist. The young ones fresh out of school won't have seen much of anything.

[Lucky Bones]

I think that is a good time in phucket.

[prb]

6 minutes ago, watthong said:

I have wax built up inside one ear canal to the point it gets hardened and I would have to use a ear-scratcher to dislodge it.

 

If the crust is yellow than it's not blood caking (which is simply a sign that you have scratched and got the skin to break and it bled.) But this is yellow, it could be just wax. However if it's really itchy, it could be something else. "this crust building up few hours" sounds a bit alarming to me. Could you check it first with the pharmacist, maybe it's something they have seen commonly? If not, then I would consider a doc visit.

Thanks for your reply, it is definitely not wax but some skin going weird... unfortunately.

[watthong]

If in BKK go to the ear eye and throat hospital the other side of the river. Excellent, quick and not expensive. Yeah that' the name of the hospital.

[scubascuba3]

Go to Dr Apichai, ENT specialist at a clinic evenings on 3rd road, search googlemaps. He's good, not expensive

[Sheryl]

Do not just leave it. You have an outer ear infection (external otitis). 

 

Since in addition to the yellow crust (which is dried pus) the outer ear itself is  red and swollen you may need oral antibiotics rather than (or in addition to) antibiotic ear drops. 

[prb]

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Do not just leave it. You have an outer ear infection (external otitis). 

 

Since in addition to the yellow crust (which is dried pus) the outer ear itself is  red and swollen you may need oral antibiotics rather than (or in addition to) antibiotic ear drops. 

Thanks sheryl, this is not feeling like dried pus but damaged skin building up.

I had the same problem at this spot one year ago but far from that extent...

Starting to have some hearing loss with this covering part of the ear canal entrance...

I will get to see a doctor.

[Katem]

It looks like this https://balmonds.co.uk/blogs/seborrheic-dermatitis/seborrheic-dermatitis-causes-symptoms-and-treatment?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw_LOwBhBFEiwAmSEQAeda2gtgS_i4a0U283tDhtVS1q4Vp-Tkl6_SgY8yFy1VDUVxVKeF7BoCoRIQAvD_BwE

 

I sometimes get it in the same area and in my hairline. Any pharmacist will be able to determine the type and give you a steroid cream. 

[Old Croc]

22 hours ago, Lucky Bones said:

I think that is a good time in phucket.

What a very strange thing to say, even considering that the OP is in Pattaya.

[bradiston]

22 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Go to Dr Apichai, ENT specialist at a clinic evenings on 3rd road, search googlemaps. He's good, not expensive

Not so sure. A week ago he cleaned my itchy ears and charged me 900 THB. A week later, itchy as hell and crusty skin.

[BritManToo]

Just now, bradiston said:

Not so sure. A week ago he cleaned my itchy ears and charged me 900 THB. A week later, itchy as hell and crusty skin.

Sounds like ear mites, my rabbits get this every Songkran, 150bht for an Ivermectin injection at the vets.

[Wrwest]

On 4/3/2024 at 9:34 AM, prb said:

Hi,

 

My ear has had an itchy feel for years, then yesterday I had some part of the skin turning up like this few hours after I accidentally scratched the area.

 

 

Very uncomfortable. Ear canal inside if a little painful, does not seem to be infected.

 

I wonder between going to see a dermatologist in one of the Pattaya hospitals and probably go back home with a bag full of medicine that may or may not work on the symptoms OR leave it alone in the hope it will clear up by itself which seems to be the case with ear psoriasis / eczema according to dr google.

 

If someone have experience with that, what would you think?

 

 

I would take a Q-tip and coat with the Terramycin antibiotic ointment (only outside the ear canal and use a couple of drops of Otic Solution in the ear canal. See if that cleared things up. If not, then it would be off to the Doctor.

Edited April 4 by Wrwest

[Carlotta]

On 4/3/2024 at 9:34 AM, prb said:

Hi,

 

My ear has had an itchy feel for years, then yesterday I had some part of the skin turning up like this few hours after I accidentally scratched the area.

 

 

Very uncomfortable. Ear canal inside if a little painful, does not seem to be infected.

 

I wonder between going to see a dermatologist in one of the Pattaya hospitals and probably go back home with a bag full of medicine that may or may not work on the symptoms OR leave it alone in the hope it will clear up by itself which seems to be the case with ear psoriasis / eczema according to dr google.

 

If someone have experience with that, what would you think?

 

 

Go to an ENT specialist in s good hospital

[scubascuba3]

9 hours ago, bradiston said:

Not so sure. A week ago he cleaned my itchy ears and charged me 900 THB. A week later, itchy as hell and crusty skin.

Did you ask him what was causing the itching? cleaning is not connected to itching

[Captain Monday]

Go see an ENT specialist.

Then get your ear hair waxed. It's breathtaking....

[0ffshore360]

Fungal ? I twice have had similar and a few days of Canesone cream applied several times a day gets rid of .

[prb]

On 4/4/2024 at 5:58 PM, 0ffshore360 said:

Fungal ? I twice have had similar and a few days of Canesone cream applied several times a day gets rid of .

Could really be anything from psoriasis, eczema, seborrheic-dermatitis (as said above), bacterial infection, fungal etc etc. All i can say this problem is coming back once in a while, although it has never looked so ugly.

The morning after my OP, the crust partially dissolved into a White Yellowish grease that i was able to clean, then the crust reformed later. I could feel a small open wound behind the grease. Not sure i can put any cream on that without risk.

I feel better atm, it's still there but my hearing is almost completely back.

I have an appointment in few days to see a dermatologist. Will see if it has cleared up or became worse....

Edited April 6 by prb

[prb]

Guess i owe an update: Been to the doctor. The yellow crust was dried pus as @Sheryl mentioned and removed. It's coming out from a little wound there.

I checked on my archive and it is not the second but the 3rd time i have this problem since June 2022.

Been given antibiotics tablets, Mupirocin and antiseptic solution.

Like the 2 doctors i have seen in 2023, the fact that this problem keep coming back after few month did not lead to any comment....

Maybe some bacteria that decided to live here and cause infection every time a little scratch is done? 3 times bad luck? Who knows.

Wait and see.

[Rimmer]

Troll post has been removed

[Sheryl]

8 hours ago, prb said:

Guess i owe an update: Been to the doctor. The yellow crust was dried pus as @Sheryl mentioned and removed. It's coming out from a little wound there.

I checked on my archive and it is not the second but the 3rd time i have this problem since June 2022.

Been given antibiotics tablets, Mupirocin and antiseptic solution.

Like the 2 doctors i have seen in 2023, the fact that this problem keep coming back after few month did not lead to any comment....

Maybe some bacteria that decided to live here and cause infection every time a little scratch is done? 3 times bad luck? Who knows.

Wait and see.

Possible that the infection never fully cleared. Be sure to complete full course of antibiotic. 

 

Do you swim?

[prb]

32 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Possible that the infection never fully cleared. Be sure to complete full course of antibiotic. 

 

Do you swim?

Yes, I will be careful to finish it until the end.

I rarely swim. I've been told not to put any water inside the ear until everything is cleared

[PPMMUU]

Have you ever picked your ear with things like cotton buds or ear scoopers? If so, you'd better stop.

[prb]

18 hours ago, PPMMUU said:

Have you ever picked your ear with things like cotton buds or ear scoopers? If so, you'd better stop.

I don't

[PPMMUU]

8 hours ago, prb said:

I don't

That’s good to hear. 🙂