The microbiome of the ear canal
The ear canal has a diverse microbiome – the community of fungi, yeast, and other microorganisms that naturally live on our bodies. The composition of the ear canal microbiome varies among individuals and is influenced by age, genetics, personal hygiene habits, and environmental exposures.
The ear canal is a warm and moist environment, so it is perfect for certain microorganisms to grow. The ear canal microbiome includes Malassezia, Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, and other types of microorganisms.
Together they work to protect the ears from infections, but when the microbiome is out of balance, the risk of infections increases. The microbial imbalance also causes dryness, itching, and flakiness in the ears.
For example, a study showed that the number of Malassezia species that live in the external ear canal increase with age. Their overgrowth can cause problems like otitis externa and seborrheic dermatitis of the ear canal.
Cleaning out flaking skin from the ear canal
The ear is a self-cleaning organ. Earwax is produced in the ear canal and naturally moves from deeper inside to outside.
However, when your ear skin microbiome is out of balance, and you have flakiness inside the ears, this self-cleaning process doesn’t work properly.
What can you do to clean your flaky ears?
- Gently cleanse the external ear (auricle) with a soft cloth moistened with warm water. Do not insert anything in the ear canal itself, it can push dead skin cells further inside or potentially damage the ear.
- Rinse the outer ear with warm water. Carefully direct the water stream towards the side of the ear, avoiding excessive pressure.
- If there is an excessive buildup of dead skin cells in the ear canal, you may consider using over-the-counter ear drops specifically formulated for softening and loosening earwax. Consult with your doctor first.
How to prevent flaking in the ear?
Dead skin cells naturally accumulate in the ear canal as part of the skin’s renewal process. Their amount is influenced by irritation or allergies, dryness, or vice versa, excessive moisture. The use of earphones, earplugs, or hearing aids, and exposure to harsh weather conditions or low humidity, can also contribute to the accumulation of dead skin cells in the ear canal.
So how to prevent the ear flaking?
As the core of the problem lies with the skin microbiome, this is what should be addressed.
To rebalance the skin microbiome inside and around your ears try Dry Ear Skin Ointment. It is designed specifically for this problem and with the skin microbiome in mind.
The formulation includes urea, ichthyol, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and gorgonian extract. Let’s see what each of the ingredients brings to the table:
Urea gently exfoliates the skin removing dead skin cells and regenerating the skin. It has anti-itching, anti-fungal, and anti-microbial properties.
Ichthyol provides anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and moisturizing properties. It soothes damaged skin and promotes skin regeneration and wound healing.
Glycolic and salicylic acids in DES Ointment also provide gentle chemical exfoliation, removing dry flaky skin. They support healthy pH which in turn helps to rebalance the skin microbiome.
Gorgonian extract (aka sea whip) neutralizes enzymes responsible for irritation and helps to soothe and hydrate the skin.
To use it inside the ears, add a bit on a cotton swab and apply a thin layer of the ointment to the ear canal skin.
Here are some additional recommendations that will help you prevent flakiness in the ears:
1. Avoid excessive ear cleaning. Once again, the ear is a self-cleaning organ, and the presence of a certain amount of earwax is normal and necessary for ear health. Be careful using cotton swabs, as they can push flaky skin and ear wax deeper inside, causing more build-up.
Even with healthy ears, the act of swabbing can remove both harmful and beneficial microorganisms from the ear canal.
2. Be mindful of water when showering or swimming. Excessive moisture in the ear can lead to maceration of the skin, which can contribute to the shedding of dead skin cells. After water activities, gently dry the outer ears with a towel to remove any excess moisture.
3. Avoid irritating and allergy-triggering ingredients in shampoos, conditioners, and hair sprays.
Things to look out for:
- Harsh surfactants like SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) or SLES (sodium laureth sulfate);
- Fragrances;
- Synthetic preservatives.
Do lotions help with ear flaking?
As your ear is already full of flaking skin, adding a moisturizer to this mixture can cause more buildup. You need to get rid of the flaking first and that’s not that simple to do, as some amount will inevitably stay inside your ear until it naturally comes out with earwax.
So the buildup – the mixture of a lotion and dry skin cells – will stay in the ear. This moist warm environment will promote the growth of bacteria and fungi which can lead to infection.
If you decide to go with a moisturizer anyway, at least make sure it is specifically formulated for ear application. Apply it only to the outer part of the ear and the entrance of the ear canal. Avoid direct contact with the eardrum or deep insertion into the ear canal.
If the issue persists or worsens despite these measures, seek professional advice from your doctor.
