Getting rid of and preventing blackheads in ear: tips and tricks
Blackheads are unsightly both in the ear and on the face. If they develop in the ear, there is also the fact that this is a very sensitive part of the body. Removing them here can be cumbersome and painful. Learn more about what you can do about it.
Remove blackheads in ear
Blackheads are technically called comedones. They commonly arise on a person’s face, most commonly on and around the nose. While one can express them easily here, that is not possible in the ear. On the one hand, the area is extremely sensitive, on the other hand, you will also find it very difficult to reach with your fingers.
- The blackheads in the ear have formed due to increased sebum production. If you don’t remove these, pimples can form from them after a while. Since these are very painful, you should remove any blackheads that you have spotted as soon as possible.
- The pores on the face can be easily opened with moist heat (steam bath). After that, it is usually sufficient that you press lightly and gently so that the sebum can drain to the outside. In the ear, you don’t do that well that way. Also, pressure is harmful in that you push the sebum deeper into the tissue.
- The best way to get rid of blackheads is to go to a beauty salon, an otolaryngologist, or a dermatologist. Here you will get professional help. In particular, if the blackheads are not only visibly in the auricle, but are sitting in the ear canal, medical attention is required.
- In order to solve the problem yourself, first, wash and disinfect your hands thoroughly. This is the only way to prevent you from carrying germs into your ears. Then clean the affected areas in the auricle with a washing gel. Rinse with clear water and dry well. Again, apply disinfectant, wipe off, and reapply. Now it has to dry completely.
- Now apply a propolis tincture that contains beeswax as a base. Propolis is made up of numerous ingredients, mainly flavonoids, and phenols. In the hive, they ensure an antiseptic environment. The tincture has an antibacterial and antiviral effect on the skin. The tincture is also said to have antioxidant properties.
- To apply the tincture, you should use a cotton swab. Use a new cotton swab for each dose. Please discard materials that have been used once. Repeat the procedure twice a day for several days. If the blackheads are still visible after 5 days, professional help is needed. This is the only way to prevent pimples from developing.
- Note: In many guides, you will read that tea tree oil is also suitable instead of propolis. However, many people are allergic to essential oil. If you suffer from sensitive skin, you should first try it carefully to see if you can tolerate it.
This is how you prevent blackheads in the ear
To prevent blackheads in the ear, you should pay attention to conscientious hygiene. When it comes to body care, you should include the ear just like all other regions.
- During daily personal hygiene, you should make sure that you do not impair the physiological production of earwax. Therefore, do not clean earwax with cotton swabs. They push the earwax even deeper into the ear and also distribute it unfavorably in the auricle.
- A washcloth and warm clear water are sufficient. Use this to gently wipe the auricle and not penetrate too deeply. Then you should dry the ear well. You can only clean the outer ear with a cotton swab.
- The facial area and hair should also be cleaned and cared for daily. This prevents dirt from getting into the ear canal. You should use mild body care products for the entire cleaning of the head.
- In addition, blackheads in the ear can be prevented if you disinfect objects that you insert into the ear beforehand. These include in-ear headphones in particular. Wipe disinfection with a disinfectant wipe is sufficient.
- But even devices that are brought to the ear can cling to the ear and thus cause blackheads. These primarily include telephone receivers, smartphones, and over-ear headphones. Use the hands-free function as often as possible. This prevents germs from getting into your ears.
This is how blackheads are formed
The skin’s sebaceous glands produce sebum. Normally, this drains through small channels and protects the skin with it. If the glands become horny or produce too much sebum and fat, the pores become horny and clogged. In this case, the sebum no longer drains as physiologically prescribed and forms a plug.
- If blackheads, the so-called comedones, appear, as a result, these can appear as open or closed variants. Closed comedones are colored white, the sebaceous gland secretion does not escape to the outside (whitehead). The open variant is visible as a dark dot (blackhead).
- The dark coloring of the open blackheads occurs when the skin pigment melanin oxidizes with oxygen.
- In a closed blackhead, bacteria find an ideal breeding ground. If they multiply, the skin pore becomes inflamed. You can recognize this by the fact that the surrounding tissue turns red.
- Blackheads are not only found in the ear. More often they are found in the T-zone of the face since there are several sebaceous glands that are larger and more voluminous. The T-zone is made up of the forehead, nose, and chin.