Wearing earbuds all day? Your skin may be paying the price, experts warn

Usually,‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌ you pose on earbuds when you require to focalize, piece traveling, or simply to divide yourself from the rest of the world, but if you cram them in your ears all day, your ears (and the skin around them) might not be so fortunate. Dr. Priyanka Kuri, Consultant - Dermatology, Aster Whitefield Hospital shares a safe, somewhat scientific glance at how prolonged use of earbuds can lead to skin issues, what the reasons are, and some easy fixes that you will actually ‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌use.

“Ear acne” (acne mechanica). The continual pressure, friction and trapped sweat caused by earbuds could result in clogged pores and the appearance of pimples or small bumps in and around the ear - the same condition athletes get from tightly fitting helmets or straps. This is a prominently described skin reaction known as acne mechanica. (Mills, classic description; practical overview).

Allergic contact dermatitis. Some earbuds may contain plastics, adhesives, metals (including gold plating), acrylates or other chemicals that could induce allergic eczema - redness, itching, flaking, or blistering in the area where the device is in contact with the skin. There have been documented instances confirmed by patch tests in the literature of dermatology linking allergic reactions in-ear devices.

Infections (bacterial or fungal). Earbuds, particularly the in-ear type, cause a warm, slightly humid microenvironment. In humid seasons (think monsoon), it is an ideal place for bacteria and fungi to grow - and some studies indicate that different earset users have different patterns of bacterial/fungal growth in their ear canals. This can cause otitis externa (infection of the outer ear) or, in the case of pimples, the sudden appearance of infected flare-ups.

Irritation resulting from grime and sweat. Dirt, sebum (skin oil), product residues (hair spray, perfumes) and dead skin taken from a dirty earbud are being returned to your skin each time you put them on - thus, the risk of blocked pores and irritation is doubled.

There are tiny hair follicles and oil glands on the skin of your body. The friction caused by a close-fitting earbud, along with heat and trapped moisture, works to encourage oil and dead skin to come together and also bacteria to flourish - this is a cause of inflamed bumps. If you are allergic to a certain material, even limited contact may cause the immune system to react and the resulting dermatitis will be very bad and last for a long time. Moreover, if the ear canal is warm and humid (and you use earbuds during rainy days), microbes that are usually on the skin can multiply too much and bring about infections.

When‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌ the pain of an ear sore is intolerable, if the ear starts to produce pus, the infection expands, bleeds, or after you have removed earbuds and given a gentle care treatment for a few days the condition has not improved, then it is necessary to see a doctor without a doubt. There is a possibility that infections of the outer ear as well as allergic dermatitis, can be treated with medications, both topical and ‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌oral.

Earbuds are not bad; actually, they are quite handy. Yet, if you wear them all day long without taking breaks or cleaning your ears and the earbuds, then you make them a perfect place for bacteria to multiply and a place for your skin to be damaged by the friction. A little care (cleaning, breaks, style choices) can go a long way in keeping your ears comfortable and your skin free from ‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌blemishes.

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