Do You Have Dry Skin Behind Your Ears? Dermatologist Reveals 10 Treatment Options
You may care a lot about your face, but have you thought about your ears, too? According to dermatologist Dr. Geeta Yadav, the skin on your ears is one of the most neglected areas of skin on the body, which can lead to dryness, irritation, and/or unwanted flaking. However, neglect is just one of many causes of dry skin behind the ears, as age, environment, skin type, or chronic skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema can also cause flaking. We spoke with Dr. Yadav and double-board certified dermatologist Karan Lal DO about how to prevent and treat dry patches behind the ears. Read on to learn about the causes, possible remedies, and when you should see a professional.
Causes of Dry Skin Behind the Ears
“The ears are rarely moisturized and even less often cleaned,” says Dr. Yadav. “Dryness behind the ears is a relatively common occurrence. It’s usually caused by common causes.” She mentions fluctuations in temperature or humidity, sunburn, or eczema. ” In other cases, it could be a sign of an allergy or even a fungal infection.
If you have sudden dryness behind your ears and you’re not sure why, consider factors like weather, your recent activity, or changes in the skin and hair products you’ve been using to determine the cause.
When to see a professional
In general, you should see a dermatologist regularly to have your skin checked. If you notice anything unusual or if irritation persists, discuss it at your next appointment, or consider calling for advice or rescheduling an earlier appointment if necessary. However, not all dry patches need to be treated with medication. In many cases, you can try home remedies first (see below for a few options), as dryness behind the ears is often caused by seasonal changes or neglecting to care for the area. If DIY If the method doesn’t seem to be working, make an appointment.
The main cause of dry patches behind the ears is infection. If you notice that the skin is infected or inflamed, contact your doctor immediately. This happens when dry skin is scratched or broken, allowing unwanted bacteria to enter. If you are not sure if the area is infected, it is better to be safe than sorry. When in doubt, we recommend seeking help from your doctor.
How to Treat Dry Skin Behind the Ears
Gentle Cleansing
If you suffer from xerosis and don’t typically include your ears in your skincare routine, cleaning your ears with a gentle, moisturizing formula may be a good place to start. Dr. Lal emphasizes the importance of using a gentle cleanser on the tops of your ears. “Properly cleaning the area helps prevent an overgrowth of bacteria and yeast,” he says. This helps prevent dry patches from forming.
Exfoliate Regularly
After cleansing, the natural next step in keeping the skin behind your ears (or anywhere on your face and body) in check is to exfoliate. The skin around your ears is delicate, so vigorous exfoliation isn’t necessary. If the area is particularly delicate, Dr. Yadav gently wipes behind the ears with a damp washcloth to remove loose and flaking skin: “This allows you to effectively moisturize and nourish the new skin underneath, preventing future dryness, rather than treating dead skin that’s already flaking.” ”
Apply a Moisturizer
After thoroughly cleansing the area, Dr. Yadav applies a small pump of moisturizer. She likes Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 35 (which has a lightweight texture and supports the skin barrier) or CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 (rich with soothing niacinamide and hydrating hyaluronic acid).
Apply an Occlusive
Both Dr. Lal and Dr. Yadav told us that using an occlusive (like Aquaphor’s Healing Ointment) after moisturizer is the best way to lock in nutrients. “This keeps the skin behind the ear super hydrated,” says Dr. Yadav. “If you have long hair, this can be a little messy, so I recommend using this technique at night while your hair is tied up in a topknot.” ”
If you prefer natural herbal remedies, you can also opt for those. “A small amount of coconut oil can provide the same long-lasting nourishing and moisturizing benefits, and it tastes delicious,” Dr. Yadav told us.
Use hydrocortisone cream
Both Dr. Yadav and Dr. Lal recommend incorporating hydrocortisone cream into your daily routine. “If the dry skin behind your ears is very sensitive, itchy, and irritated, use a hydrocortisone cream,” Dr. Yadav tells us. This mixture of a topical anesthetic and a corticosteroid can soothe any discomfort you’re feeling. She also notes that these formulas often have an occlusive base that provides long-lasting protection from dryness.
Avoid potentially irritating products
Even if your ears don’t have their own skin-care routine, they’re probably exposed to more products than you think. Products like shampoo, cologne, or sprays can irritate the skin on your ears, especially sensitive ones. For this reason, Dr. Lal says, avoid irritants altogether. Instead, look for gentler shampoos and conditioners, and be mindful of the amount of perfume and other products you use.
Wear jewelry that’s meant for sensitive skin
Jewelry is another potential irritant for the skin behind your ears. Not all metals are created equal, so look for jewelry made from 100% Jewelry made of titanium or precious metals like gold or sterling silver to avoid irritation.
Cover your ears
If you live in an area with cold weather, always bring a hat with you, as particularly cool temperatures can exacerbate cracked or broken skin. Bonus points if your hat is made of a skin-friendly material like cotton or linen.
Use a humidifier
According to the Cleveland Clinic, using a humidifier can moisten the air and help relieve conditions like dry skin and eczema. 1
See a dermatologist
This step is last on the list for good reason. Generally, this shouldn’t be your first step in treating dry skin behind your ears, but if the above steps don’t solve your problem or you have other worrisome symptoms, you should consult your doctor for advice.
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
