A bleeding ear can be a terrifying sight. Ear bleeding is something you cannot leave unattended – you have to rush to the doctor to understand the cause behind it. More than often, the causes are not serious. But it’s always better to be on the safer side and get yourself checked up immediately.
What are the causes of Ear Bleeding?
Ear bleeding causes vary from simple to complex. Irrespective of how simple the cause is, do not let it go unattended. Treat it right away to prevent serious consequences later. Some common causes are:
INJURIES
Superficial skin injuries such as minor cuts, wounds or even insect bites can cause bleeding from the outer ear. This is not internal bleeding and you don’t really need to worry about it a lot. Simply tend to the wound and your bleeding will vanish right away.
EAR INFECTION
This is the most common and easily treatable cause of a bleeding ear. Infections in the middle and outer ear can cause bleeding, along with a whole lot of other symptoms such as ear discharge, ear pain, headache and redness of the ear.
EXTERNAL OBJECTS
Presence of external objects in your ear can damage your ear, causing internal injuries and subsequent bleeding. This is an issue that causes bleeding among people in all age groups – any object in the ear, right from a tiny toy to a small insect can cause pain and bleeding in your ear.
Once you get the object removed with the help of a doctor, your pain and bleeding both will disappear.
HEAD INJURY
Your ears are closely linked to your head. Bleeding from ears is a possible aftermath of skull fracture, severe trauma or serious head injuries.
EAR CANCER
An extremely rare cancer, this can happen if you have left chronic infections unattended for years together. Bleeding is just one symptom of ear cancer.
Brushing off ear-bleeding may not be the best thing to do, as it can be the result of something as serious as an ear cancer too.
CLEANING INSTRUMENTS
You may unknowingly end up damaging your ear while cleaning it, leading to bleeding. Ear bleeding after cleaning with a cotton bud is pretty common too. Similarly, using any pointed, intrusive objects to clean your ears can lead to injuries in your ear too.
What to do When Your Ear Bleeds?
WAIT
Most of the time, the causes of bleeding ears are healed by your own body in a while. Observe your ears for some time, and if bleeding still persists, head straight to the doctor without any delay.
ANTIBIOTICS
Over the counter antibiotics too work well to cure ear bleeding. However, it is advisable to opt for antibiotics under the guidance of a doctor. The cause of ear-bleeding varies, and only a doctor can help you pinpoint the exact cause and treat it accordingly.
WARM COMPRESSION
Placing a washcloth soaked in warm water on your ear can help you ease pain too. The gentle heat will slowly relieve you of the discomfort.
COVER YOUR EARS
At times, merely covering your ears with ear covers or plugs works wonders. Of course, this has to be done as advised by your doctor only.
How to Prevent Ear Bleeding in the First Place?
We have listed a couple of things you can take to prevent your ear from bleeding:
MAINTAIN HYGIENE IN YOUR EAR
By keeping your ears clean, you can get rid of infections and allergies of different kinds. Talk to your doctor about safe ways to keep your ears clean, and follow the routine regularly to avoid any further ear issues.
AVOID INSERTING FOREIGN OBJECTS IN YOUR EARS
Steer clear from all urges to insert objects in your ears – in case you have a perennial itching sensation, talk to your doctor. If you want to keep your ears clean, discuss it with your doctor and he/she will suggest safe alternatives to use for cleaning your ears.
KEEP YOUR EARS COVERED
If you’re camping or hiking, preferably keep your ears covered. This way, you can avoid not only insect bites but also dust and dirt from entering your ear.