[watsonsh]

Ok question....my left ear, on the upper part in that hard to reach crevice area (kind of bony part) is crusty each morning and when I clean it with a Q-tip after a shower each morning it comes off on the Q-tip as dried blood.

I had my husband look and he says it looks like small open sore that is crusty.

Any thoughts?

[Koala77]

It sounds like an open sore to me Shelley. Blood and a crusty area would be be indicative of an open area.... the crusty bits being dried discharge from a weeping area.

The most common cause would be from an injury of some kind, which isn't healing because you keep fiddling with it.

Another less common cause could be from a skin cancer, so in either case, it wouldn't hurt to get it checked as an open sore of any origin can become infected.

[Jomar]

how long has it been that way?
maybe try a few days/nights of applying Neosporin or similar to see if it heals and then if not see dr?

sons gf's mother just had a minor benign skin cancer removed from top of her ear {exterior} - light skinned, burns easily , California

[kerry wright]

hi im kerry and i have just joined today. i am a dermatology nurse and i see skin conditions every day. if you have had this non healing lesion for more than 2 weeks i recommend you pop along to your gp.. you may have a little sun dammage there. you are quite fair skinned. your doctor will be able to tell you what this may be. i will also suggest you apply a little vaseline or non perfumed moisturiser to the affected area daily and avoid picking at it as you want to avoid infection. i hope this helps you
kerry

[mrsD]

If your "sore" is deep in the crevice... I doubt it is a cancerous lesion. My husband has had one on the outer upper surface of the ear, and goes to a dermatologist who thinks it is NOT
a basal carcinoma. But is watching it with photos etc.

Also you can get a bug bite in there.

I'd clean it with hydrogen peroxide and put a bit of triple antibiotic ointment on it. If this does not work in a couple of days, I'd worry about moisture collecting there and it might be fungal (given your insulin resistance issues).
So if you think it is fungal, Lamisil cream, might work.

I think people tend to over clean their ears, esp if they shower alot. That part of the ear has natural oils that protect it. So don't over clean it, IMO.

[Curious]

have you colored or highlighted your hair recently? not that you don't look like a natural beautiful blonde. ( covered my rear didn't i? ) those chemicals can be harsh.

i will say that i have scratched my ear up there being in hurry to comb it.

i know you don't share a phone, but maybe use alcholol to wipe your phone just incase. cell phones too. if you do you have alittle infection, you don't want to keep getting it back.

[watsonsh]

Thanks guys, I have been trying the hydorgen peroxide and its helping a bit.

I'll give it a week and then see the doc. So do I see dermatologist or ENT?

[Jaspar]

Originally Posted by shelley

I'll give it a week and then see the doc. So do I see dermatologist or ENT?

You see a dermatologist.

By the way... I had this a long time ago, and it went away.... I think I put an OTC ointment on it -- Tea Tree Oil Ointment with vitamin E.