Although it can heal on its own, boils in the ear can sometimes cause annoying complaints, such as ear pain and swelling. To overcome this, there are several ways that can be done to treat boils in the ear.
Ear boils are small red, pus-filled bumps that form under the skin of the ear. As with boils that grow on other parts of the body, boils in the ear, especially those that grow on the outer ear, can be painful before they burst.
Boils that grow in the ear can be very painful even though they are small. In addition to causing pain in the ear, ear ulcers also sometimes cause other symptoms, such as itchy and swollen ears, fever, discharge from the ear, and hearing loss.
Causes of Boils in the Ears
Generally, boils in the ear are caused by infection. The infection itself can occur due to a wound on the surface of the skin of the ear, so that germs can enter and cause infection.
Boils in the ear can be at risk due to several things, such as the habit of cleaning the ears with cotton bud, frequent insertion of fingers or foreign objects into the ear, and outbreaks of pimple in the ear.
Sometimes, boils in the ear can also appear due to irritation or allergic reaction in the ear due to the use of soap, shampoo, cosmetics, or hair spray that gets into the ear.
However, sometimes a boil in the ear is not clearly known what causes it. If you experience this condition, you should immediately consult a doctor so that the doctor can determine the cause and provide the appropriate treatment.
Some Ways to Overcome Boils in the Ear
Boils in the ear that are small and relatively mild can actually heal without treatment. The immune system can generally kill the bacteria that cause ulcers. It's just that, boils in the ear can sometimes be painful or itchy so that it interferes with comfort.
To relieve the pain of ear ulcers and speed up recovery, you can try the following ways to treat ear ulcers:
Warm compress
Compress boils in the ear using warm water can relieve the pain that appears. How to do it is quite easy. You just need to soak a clean washcloth or cloth in warm water, then apply the towel or warm cloth to the boil area.
Compress boils for about 10-15 minutes. Giving warm compresses can be done as much as 2-3 times a day. Don't forget to wash your hands before and after compressing boils, okay?
Don't pop the boil on the ear
You may be tempted to touch or pop a boil in your ear. However, as much as possible avoid doing this. If the boil is broken or touched frequently, it can lead to a more severe infection in the ear.
To clean boils, use warm water and a mild soap or antiseptic solution.
Use of drugs
Medications used to treat boils in the ear must be adjusted to the cause. Therefore, the use of drugs to treat this condition must be based on a prescription and doctor's advice.
The following are some types of drugs that can be prescribed by a doctor to treat boils in your ears:
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are often used to treat ear ulcers caused by bacterial infections. Antibiotic drugs are available in the form of ear drops, topical medications (ointment or cream), or oral medications (tablets or capsules).
Pain reliever
To relieve pain in the ear due to boils, doctors can also prescribe pain relievers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. This drug can also be given to treat fever, if fever complaints appear.
Eardrops
To treat bacterial infections and swelling in the ear that occurs due to boils, your doctor may prescribe ear drops that contain antibiotics or an antiseptic solution, such as hydrogen peroxide.
Your doctor may also prescribe ear drops that contain corticosteroids to relieve swelling and inflammation in the ear.
Boils in the ear generally get better on their own without treatment. However, some of the ways above can relieve symptoms of pain or swelling due to boils and speed up healing of boils in the ear.
However, you need to be vigilant and see a doctor immediately if the boil in the ear gets bigger and doesn't go away for 2 weeks or the pain gets worse. This condition may indicate that the boil in your ear is severe and needs to be treated by a doctor.