About the Ears

Can Food Allergies Cause Yellow, Itchy Ear Discharge?

Food allergies are becoming more and more common -- or at least so it seems. What’s happening is the body misidentifies a food substance as harmful, causing a release of histamine and other chemicals that help protect the body from harmful substances. But they also contribute the symptoms often associated with an allergy. Abnormal ear discharge doesn’t usually top the list.

Featured Videos

All About About the Ears

Reflexology Treatments for Glue Ear

This illness occurs when fluid is trapped in the middle ear. If your toddler complains of ear pain or your infant begins crying more frequently and tugs on her ears, she could be experiencing glue ear. Reflexology is a natural ...

Kids Complaining of Clogged Ears and Nose

Nearly all children will experience a clogged nose and ears, also referred to as congestion or stuffy nose. Most of the time, these uncomfortable symptoms result from a minor illness or allergies. Fortunately, your child’...

Signs & Symptoms of Sensitive Ears in Kids

Children with sensitive ears, also called sensitive hearing and hyperacusis, feel discomfort when they hear everyday sounds that are tolerated by those with normal hearing. The condition can be difficult to diagnose because chi...

The Best Ear Guards for Wrestling

Athletes who've been wrestling for a long time often develop swollen ears, a condition commonly known as "cauliflower ears." A cauliflower ear is caused by the force of the opponent's arm or the wrestling mat pushing ...

Gluten & Ear Problems

Gluten sensitivities typically affect your digestive system, skin or sinuses, but in certain circumstances, a gluten allergy can cause ear congestion and a temporary reduction in hearing. Your heath care provider should evaluat...

Acupuncture for Clogged Ears

Blocked or clogged ears occur when the eustachian tubes inside your ears fill with fluid. Sinus infections, cold and flu viruses and allergies can inflame the linings in your ears, leading to blocked passages. Though not a cure...

Congested Ears & Sensitivity to Gluten

Gluten sensitivity, or allergy, is an immune system reaction that produces histamine and causes inflammation throughout your body that can cause mild to severe symptoms, including congestion in the ears, lungs and sinuses. Have...

Acupuncture of the Ears

Acupuncturists may practice acupuncture of the ears, or auricular therapy, to relieve several illnesses that occur throughout the body. By inserting needles or applying other instruments to certain points on the ear called meri...

Ear Irritation From a Jewelry Allergy

If you've ever worn jewelry that left your skin red and itchy, you may be one of the estimated 10 to 15 percent of the population who has a metal allergy or sensitivity. You might be able to wear certain metals on your skin but...

Allergy Related Ear Problems

When you suffer from allergies, your symptoms may begin to involve your ears and hearing. Some ear problems may include hearing difficulty, ringing in the ears and otitis media, or fluid in the middle ear. When you know how all...

Ear Acupuncture Points for Arthritis

Auricular acupuncture can offer relief from pain and enhance mobility of arthritis sufferers. Several acupoints of the ear can significantly relieve arthritic symptoms of the shoulder, elbow, neck and lower extremities. Howev...

Do Bananas Make Your Ears Itchy?

Itchy ears that develop from eating bananas might be more common than you think. While bananas are not a common allergic food, certain allergy conditions might cause itching to develop in your ears and other parts of your head....

Vitamins & the Ears

Infections, injury and loud noises are common causes of hearing impairment. If left untreated, these conditions can worsen and cause permanent hearing loss. Consult your doctor about your diet and the association between vitami...

There's a Tiny Bit of Bloody Discharge in My Child's Ear

Failing to seek proper treatment for blood-tinged drainage coming from your child's ear could result in various complications, including loss of hearing. Called otorrhea in medical circles, ear discharge occurs when blood, pus,...

How to Avoid Blackheads Inside the Ears

Though most people associate blackheads with facial blemishes, they also occur on other areas of the body, including ears. Essentially, a blackhead is a hair follicle or pore clogged with sebum, an oily substance secreted by th...

My Ear Gets Plugged When I Exercise

Blocked ears or popping sensations in your eardrum can stem from a variety of circumstances. If this occurs while outside exercising, your surroundings may influence your symptoms, but exercise itself is not the culprit. Allerg...

Ear Vibrations in Workouts

This symptom can interfere with your ability to hear an instructor, and can leave you concerned about whether you have suffered damage to your ears. Fortunately, ear vibrations during workouts are often temporary and are

Yoga for Unblocking the Ears

Ear barotrauma is the technical name for the feeling of pressure you may get that causes you to seek ways to unblock your ears. The root of the problem is simply an imbalance of pressure between your middle ear and the pressure...

Ear Aches & Garlic

An ear ache can come in a variety of ways, such as a stabbing pain or a dull ache that throbs. You may experience a fever or changes in hearing along with the ache. Children and ear aches often go hand in hand, and this often s...

Yoga for a Plugged Ear

When the eustachian tubes in your ears are obstructed, your ears may become plugged. Plugged ears are usually caused by colds, allergies or a change in elevation. Certain yoga poses may bring temporary relief. A plugged ear may...

Exercises for Ear Imbalance

Feelings of slight dizziness are common and often pass without concern. However, if you are one of the 8 million Americans who suffer from chronic imbalance or among the 2.4 million who suffer from chronic dizziness, daily life...

My Ears Pop When I Exercise Hard

Ear popping during exercise can be a disruptive, aggravating side effect. The cause of your ear popping could stem from several sources. Allergies, sinuses, the common cold or Eustachian Tube Dysfunction, also known as ETD, cou...

My Ears Hurt When Eating

Ear pain can come from a long list of conditions, but if your ears only hurt when you eat, the list of causes narrows considerably. If you go about your day or sleep at night without feeling pain in your ears, two scenarios are...

Sharp Pain in the Ears When Jogging

Experiencing sharp pain in the ears is not a typical complaint of joggers. When it does occur, the pain is usually temporary in nature and resolves without any complications. However, pain that worsens and is accompanied by ble...

How to Roast Ears of Corn Over a Fire

Corn is a domesticated plant native to Central and South America. Cultivated by Native Americans for thousands of years, sweet corn, so named because of its high sugar content, is grown best in free-draining soil in warm temper...

How to Cut Ears of Corn

People with dentures or tooth problems can't eat corn on the cob, and some people simply prefer to have fresh corn off the cob. Removing the kernels from the cob takes only a few moments, and the ease of eating hot, fresh corn ...

Are There Exercises to Alleviate Clogged Ears?

When you ride an elevator or fly in an airplane, the sudden change in altitude may cause blocked ears. Your ears may feel clogged and you may have difficulty hearing for hours or even days after the altitude change. By moving y...

Exercising With a Clogged Ear

Exercising with a clogged ear can be distracting and even dangerous, depending upon what you're doing when it hits you. Learn the facts about clogged ears, so you can deal with this common disorder and keep it from taking over ...

When Doing Exercise There's a Noise in My Ear

The body gives warnings when blood pressure reaches high levels or body systems fail to operate properly. Hearing noises in the ears when exercising, a condition called tinnitus, signals an underlying medical condition, accordi...

Exercises to Unblock Ears

Blocked ears can be painful and can temporarily impair hearing. The most common causes include colds, air travel, sinus infections and impacted earwax. There are exercises you can try to unblock your ears. If your ears remain b...

My Ears Hurt When I Exercise

Ear pain or ear discomfort during exercise is a side effect of a number of medical conditions -- some relatively benign and others more serious. If your ears hurt when you exercise, see your primary care physician to rule out a...

My Ear Hurts & Feels Blocked When I Workout

When ear problems already exist, even a shift in position or a change in muscle tension can cause pain and the feeling of a "full" or blocked ear. Minor inflammations of the Eustachian tubes may linger after an illness and sign...

What Are the Functions of the Muscles That Move the Ears?

If you've ever tried to move your ears, you'll notice that it's not the ears themselves that move but the muscles surrounding them. Muscles in the scalp and in the face, jaw and the neck may facilitate movement of the ears, acc...

How to Stop Pain in the Ears

It occurs for a variety of reasons, including ear wax buildup, allergies, cold viruses, ear infections, sinus infections, sore throat, ear pressure changes or ruptured eardrums. Because pain in the ears can be frustrating and m...

Why Do My Ears Hurt When I Exercise?

During exercise, pain in the knees, ankles, feet, hips and back is common for many people. But for other people, this pain occurs in the ears and causes a sharp earache. With a variety of potential causes, there is no easy answ...

How to Clear Drainage From Ears

Drainage from the ear -- medically known as otorrhea -- is usually caused by an infection. Take care to clear the drainage and clean the ear using the appropriate method, as improper cleaning can cause additional damage. Some o...

How to Relieve Pressure in the Ears From Sinus Drainage

Ear pressure and pain are common symptom of sinus congestion and drainage due to allergies or sinusitis. In order to relieve pressure in the ears, it is important to treat the underlying sinus condition with rest, hydration, de...

Spots in the Ear Canal

The ear canal is dark and hard to see into without special tools like an otoscope. Any indication that something unusual is in there, such as unidentified spots, can set off alarm bells. Some causes of spots are not unusual, bu...

Smelly Secretions Behind the Ears

The development of smelly secretions anywhere on the body is common in both humans and animals. Skin folds and protrusions around and behind the ears are typical places for odor to develop. There are several possible reasons fo...

Herbal Ear Wash

Ear washes are popular for use on animals but can also be helpful for several human conditions, like excessive earwax, ear canal dryness, dermatitis and mild infections. You can purchase herbal ear washes from health food store...

How to Do Ear Irrigation

Ear irrigation refers to the process of flushing your ears with a liquid to clean and remove foreign particles. Whether it is discharge that needs to be removed, hardened ear wax that needs softening or a small object that need...

Dry Outer Ears

If you have dry, flaky skin on your outer ears, it's probably not a serious condition, according to the Dizziness and Balance website. Dry outer ears can be caused by a variety of factors and you have several options for treati...

Ear Congestion & Garlic

Ear congestion is a common symptom when fluid is in the ears or as a result of air travel in a pressurized cabin, according to the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University. But it can also be a symptom of an ea...

White Bumps on the Top of My Ears

Although small, painless bumps on the top of your ears may not seem like a threat to your well-being, exposure to sunlight or squeezing the bumps often results in the need for surgery. Recognize how to care for bumps on the ear...

Dryness of the Ear Canal

Ear canal dryness can produce a variety of uncomfortable problems, including itchiness and pain. The ear canal naturally lubricates itself with ear wax; pain and itchiness can occur when that substance is lacking, and the sensi...

My Ears Are Dry

When it becomes dry and flaky, the ear can begin to itch. While it can be uncomfortable, scratching makes it worse. If the skin becomes broken from scratching, infection is more likely to occur. Although most times dry ears are...

Why Do I Have Bumps on the Top of My Ears?

While small bumps on the top of your ears may seem harmless when you don't experience itching or pain, in some cases medical care for the bumps may be necessary to treat infection and rule out the presence of cancer, according ...

Why Do My Ears Feel Hot?

Hotness of the ears might cause discomfort and interfere with typical daily activities such as listening to music, talking on the phone or even participating in face-to-face conversations. Hotness that persists, worsens or is a...

Calories in Elephant Ears

A popular food at carnivals and amusement parks, elephant ears are thin, sugared portions of fried dough. The thin pastry comes in irregular shapes and gets its name due to its resemblance to an elephant's ear. The sugary treat...

Little Bumps on the Ears

Little bumps on the ears might cause frustration and pain, especially if the bumps interfere with wearing glasses or earrings. If the bumps grow in size or number, ooze, change in color, cause pain or persist, seek medical eval...

Smelly Ears

Body odor can have negative repercussions when you're around other people. Stinky ears can have many causes, but you can take a few steps to treat the condition and prevent further episodes. For chronic smelly ears with pain o...

Why Is My Ear Canal Dry?

The yellow substance is often associated with poor hygiene in people, but this is a bit exaggerated. In fact, overcleaning the ear can be much more damaging to your ears than failing to maintain the ear at all. The ear itself i...

Small Bumps Behind the Ears

Discovering a new lump or bump on your skin can be frightening. When located behind the ear, those bumps could be anything from an infection, such as mastoiditis, to an allergic reaction, such as dermatitis. Only your doctor ca...

I Have a Pimply Rash Behind My Ears

Dealing with a rash behind your ears can be uncomfortable and itchy. And though these rashlike bumps may look like pimples, other conditions besides acne may be their cause. The key to treating this pesky ear rash is to identif...

Blackheads in the Ears

Blackheads are most often associated with the face, where there is a dense population of pores and oil glands, making it a prime area for breakouts. Even so, blackheads can also appear in the ears. They are no different than th...

Itchy Flaky Ears

Suffering with itchy ears is a common health concern that can be the result of many variables. Diagnostic conclusions are made through otoscopy, wherein an otoscope is used to look into the ear so that an accurate diagnosis ma...

Nasal Irrigation & Ear Pain

When it comes to your ears, making sure they are clear and debris-free prevents irritation, pain, infection and keeps your hearing level normal. Ear pain can have several causes, including sinusitis and ear infection. Never try...

Bumps on the Top of My Ears

Ears are generally very tender and sensitive. If you develop bumps on the top of your ears, it may be uncomfortable and painful. It may make tasks, such as talking on a telephone, more difficult to perform. Depending upon the c...

What Is Ear Stapling for a Diet?

Ear stapling is a procedure that borrows from the acupuncture concept that stimulating certain points on the body can alter the body's balance of energy. It involves placing a small surgical staple into the ear's inner cartilag...

Pimple in the Ear Canal

Your ear canals are the tube-like passageways that connect your outer ears to your ear drums. In some circumstances, you can develop a type of ear canal infection called external otitis or otitis externa. When external otitis i...

How to Treat Pimples in the Ears

You may not be able to see pimples in your ears but you can certainly feel them. Pimples can be very sore and itchy in the ear and they can be caused by wax build-up or a small infection in the ear canal, according to FamilyDoc...

Red Bumps on Ears

Red bumps on the ears may indicate early warning signs of cancer since the ears are one of the most sun-exposed areas of the body. Bumps on the ear also may be due to a variety of other conditions ranging from skin disorders su...

Deformities of Human Ears

While some ear deformities can correct with time, others can be more serious, resulting in hearing loss. If you observe an ear deformity in one or both ears of your child, seeking treatment as quickly as possible can ensure you...

Itchiness Behind the Ears

Itchiness behind the ears can be because of a number of causes ranging from allergies to infections. To properly treat itchiness, also called pruritis, you should consult a doctor for a definitive diagnosis. If not properly tre...

How to Rid Smells in My Ears

Other symptoms include ear pain, ear discharge and a feeling of fullness in the ear, MedlinePlus reports. If you do develop an ear infection, antibiotics can be used to treat. You can also clean your ears to help remove the bac...

Why Ears Get Red

Red, hot ears often appear out of nowhere. Sometimes the cause is obvious, such as an embarrassing slip of the tongue or having to get up in front of crowd to speak. Other, the cause of red ears is not readily apparent. Althoug...

How to Get Pressure Out of Your Ears

Pressure in the ears, also known as aural fullness, can be caused by a number of reasons, most of which are temporary and disappear on their own. According to Dr. Douglas Hoffman in his column AllHealth.com, consulting a doctor...

Yoga for Ear Problems

Yoga's combination of meditation, postures and breathing techniques offers balance and stress relief, two key benefits that may help alleviate ear ailments. Experts at MayoClinic.com recommend gentle stress-reducing exercises t...

How to Create Your Own Ear Gauges

Tribes throughout the world have stretched their earlobes, often for spiritual reasons. Today, stretched piercings can be seen in mainstream society, often — but not limited to — the bodies of young adults. The jewe...

Pressure in the Neck & Ears

Pressure felt in the back of the neck and ears is most likely the effect of sinus pressure. Sinus pressure headaches begin as a dull, throbbing pain in the center of the head and can affect various parts of the head, such as th...

Fizzing in Ears

Tinnitus is a symptom associated with problems in the auditory system, including the brain, auditory nerve, ear and blood vessels. People with tinnitus describe the condition as a foreign noise in the ear, which may sound like ...

Acupressure & Ear Seeds

If you're suffering from addiction, cravings or unwanted habits, acupressure using ear seeds might be for you. In this form of traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM, a practitioner places the tiny seeds of the vaccaria plant on ...

Ear Pressure Cures

If you are experiencing ear pressure, it may be the result of a variety of medical conditions, including a middle ear infection, swimmer's ear or airplane ear. Ear pressure may occur when the Eustachian tube malfunctions. The E...

Throbbing in Ears

It is a symptom characterized by a sound heard in the inner ear. You can experience temporary tinnitus when you are exposed to very loud music, like at a concert, and you hear a loud ringing in your ears once you are in a quiet...

How to Eliminate Ear Mucus

Ear mucus can be developed due to a wide variety of conditions, from allergies to infections of the ears, nose or throat. Eliminating the mucus that builds up in the ear can be done safely at home, in combination with preventat...

How to Get Blackheads Out of Your Ears

A blackhead typically appears when the pore opens to the surface and the contents of the pore, including sebum, dead skin cells and bacteria, become exposed to oxygen in the air and turn black or brown. According to Acne.org, e...

Relief From Ear Congestion

Ear congestion is typically more of an annoyance than a serious condition, resulting in difficulty hearing and ear pressure. It usually disappears on its own without treatment or can be managed with over-the-counter medications...

Relative Pitch Ear Training

Unlike with a rainbow, however, a note such as a "C" is not a unique frequency. And mathematically the notes have predictable relationships. Humans find certain sound combinations pleasing and others displeasing. A harmonic, ...

Hearing Out of One Ear Better Than the Other

The loss of hearing sensitivity in one ear can happen suddenly, gradually, or can be present at birth. The term unilateral hearing loss is used to describe a hearing loss in one ear. According to the American Speech Language...

How to Deal With Ear Pain

The ears play an important role in your overall sense of the world around you, which can make life miserable when your ears are in pain, whether due to infection or air pressure changes during airplane travel. You have various ...

Dangers of Wearing Ear Plugs

While these plugs offer benefits for those who require special protection, prolonged or incorrect use does carry some risks associated with ear plus use. Being aware of these risks can prevent you from causing damage to your ea...

How to Ease Ear Pain

Ear pain can be caused by a number of reasons, depending on how serious the pain is and whether other symptoms are also present. For example, ear pain with a fever might indicate an infection or a ruptured eardrum. Pain on the ...

How to Treat Congestion in the Ear

Ear congestion is a problem that often accompanies nasal congestion as part of a flu, a cold or an allergic reaction. Symptoms of ear congestion may include muffled hearing, a ringing in the ear or a stuffy feeling inside the e...

How do I Get Gauged Ears Sewn Up?

Whether it's for reasons of employment, military duty, or simply a change of heart, you're now faced with the distressing question of how to reverse the process. For most people with stretched earlobes, surgery is the best meth...

About Ears

The ear is an anatomical organ that receives and detects sounds and plays an integral role in balance and body position. Vertebrates have a pair of ears placed symmetrically, on opposite sides of the face, allowing sources of s...

Types of Ear Protection

Prolonged exposure to very loud noise can lead to the destruction of the nerve endings in your ears, which in turn can cause hearing loss, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, or AAO-HNS. ...

How to Use Sleeper Earrings

Ear piercing is one of the earliest types of body modification. It was replaced by the popularity of clip-on earrings in the 1900s, but pierced ears came back in style in the 1950s. Many people pierced their own ears at home un...

Ear Gauge Problems

Earlobes and other piercings can be gradually stretched to accommodate thicker jewelry. The word "gauge" refers to the thickness of the jewelry, measured by diameter. The smaller the number is, the larger the gauge is; for exam...

Types of Ear Drops

Any inflammation of the ear is termed "otitis" and can affect the external or internal part of the ear. Ear drops, either prescription or over-the-counter, are available to treat several different problems that affect the ears....

How to Care for Gauged Ears

As body piercing becomes more mainstream, it is harder to defy conventionality. Two, three and even nine earrings in one ear are not enough to mark you as a rebel. Ear gauge piercings are unmistakably unconventional. A hollow r...

Childhood Ear Problems

More than three out of four children will have had at least one ear infection by the time they reach 3 years of age. If your child is showing signs of an ear problem, contact your doctor to determine the treatment needed for yo...

How to Gauge Ears Without Tapers

The process of stretching the earlobes in order to wear large diameter jewelry is sometimes erroneously called "gauging." In fact, the word "gauge" refers to the thickness of the jewelry. A round piece of jewelry worn in a stre...

About Allergies & Ear Pain

Allergies are caused by physiological response to allergens, such as mold spores and pet dander. Allergies affect each person differently and can cause complications, such as ear pain, sinus infections and asthma attacks. An ap...

Ear Pain Symptoms

Ear pain can be due to a wound associated with the outside of the ear or pain radiating from inside the ear. Ear aching is also referred to as otalgia. Ear pain generally comes from some type of infection or other conditions t...

List of Ear Gauge Sizes

Conventional ear piercings use a 20-gauge needle. That's also the starting size for ear gauging, a modern trend that imitates the ancient tribal means of body decoration. Ear gauging is a gradual process; starting with the 20-g...

Ear Dandruff

In most cases dandruff is found on the scalp but it can also affect other parts of the body. When the condition is found in or around the ears it is sometimes referred to as ear dandruff.

How to Keep a Child's Ears From Popping When on a Plane

Traveling with children presents unique challenges, and preventing their ears from popping while on an airplane is one. Pressure changes in the cabin while the plane ascends and descends causes ear pain; once a steady altitude ...

Tips on Putting Tapered Gauges in Your Ears

The most common method by which earlobes are stretched is with a surgical steel taper. This process of stretching is sometimes incorrectly called "gauging" and the jewelry incorrectly called "gauges." In fact, the word "gauge...

How to Fix Gauged Ears

Ear lobes that have been stretched to accommodate large jewelry are often referred to as "gauged," although the term "gauge" actually refers to the diameter of the jewelry. While earlobes stretched to a 2 gauge or smaller may s...

Flushing of the Ears

A build-up of earwax occasionally warrants an ear flush, especially if it is a recurring problem. Earwax is a common annoyance for which some people utilize ear flushes to get relief. However, you must take care in removing ear...

How to Shrink Ear Gauges

Stretching the earlobes to accommodate large-gauge jewelry--which is sometimes incorrectly called "gauging"--has become a popular trend in recent years. When the jewelry is removed, the lobes will shrink somewhat; but if they'v...

How to Repair Ear Gauges

If your stretched earlobe has torn, your piercing may shrink. Repairing a tear in your earlobe is relatively straightforward if you still want to wear large-gauge earrings. Simply follow the same aftercare instructions as you...

How to Reverse Gauged Ears

Though it differs from person to person, if your ears are stretched from the small size of 14 to a large size, such as 4 or 2-gauge, it is possible to shrink your ear piercing holes and completely heal the stretched earlobe pie...

How to Correctly Gauge Your Ears

Stretching should be done very slowly for best results. Possible complications from stretching a piercing too quickly include tearing, which can cause the stretched hole to shrink back to its previous size, and blowout, in wh...

How to Use Weights to Gauge Ears

The tiny holes most people get when their ears are first pierced are an 18 or 20 gauge, but lobes can be stretched over time to several inches in diameter. One way of stretching an ear piercing is to hang a weighted piece of ...

Ear Plugs Safety

Ear plugs are ideal for a quiet night's sleep or for those who work in particularly noisy places, like at construction sites or on a railroad train. People constantly exposed to noise who don't protect their hearing can start l...

How to Make a Bajoran Earring

The Bajoran earring was first introduced in the science fiction TV series "Star Trek-The Next Generation" and often seen on other related shows. In the world of Star Trek, inhabitants of the planet Bajor wear earrings that indi...

Taking Care of Gauged Ears

Gauging usually begins with the use of a 1.6 mm taper, inserted into the hole. The taper remains in the ear as the lobe expands; which usually takes three to four days. Jewelry replaces the taper after the three to four day wai...

Information on Ear Gauges

Ear gauges are different sized jewelry inserted into stretched ear lobes. Gauging is the process of stretching the lobes. Typically a long tapered earring that is small on one end and progressively gets larger in diameter, lik...

Allergies and Ear Pressure

An allergic reaction causes sinus inflammation, eye irritation and skin complications. Ear pressure related to allergies is the result of swollen sinuses that place pressure on the inner ear, according to MedlinePlus. An allerg...

How to Gouge Your Ears Without Tapers

If you do not have access to a sterile taper, there are other methods and tricks to stretching your ears. Before attempting to stretch your earlobe piercings, a consultation with a professional piercer can help you to und

How to Unplug Your Ears When You Have a Cold

When battling an illness, pressure or pain in the ears or difficulty hearing often occurs as a result of congestion or inflammation. Sinus pressure constricts the Eustachian tubes that connect your middle ear to your nose and t...

How to Put in Gauged Ear Plugs

A plug is a type of earring for a stretched earlobe piercing. While plugs and other larger types of jewelry for stretched earlobe piercings are commonly called "gauges", this term is incorrect. Professional piercers will not us...

How to Sterilize Earrings

The only way to completely sterilize, or remove all viable microorganisms from, your jewelry is with an autoclave, a machine that does the job with high-pressure steam. It is possible, however, to use a cold sterilant to grea...

The Easiest Way to Gauge Ears

Most ear piercings are performed at an 18 or 20 gauge, which is very small; however, the lobes can be stretched to 3 inches in diameter or more. While it is possible to use a scalpel or dermal punch to cut ears to a large gau...

Ear & Sinus Pressure

Ear pressure and sinus pressure are common conditions affecting the middle ear, eustachian tubes or the sinus cavities located in your head near the nose, eyes, cheeks and forehead. Pressure symptoms may arise for a variety of ...

How to Put a One-Ear Headstall on a Horse

The one-hear headstall allows a single loop attached to the crownpiece to pass over one of the horse's ears to hold the bridle in place. This delicate bridle, with its split crown piece and no throat latch or noseband, "complem...

Conditions of the Outer Ear

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health or NIH, the human ear consists of outer, inner and middle parts, and people use all three parts to hear. The NIH states that a variety of ...

Problems With Ear Plugs

Prolonged exposure to sound louder than 80 decibels may damage your hearing over time. Earplugs help prevent this by blocking out the loud sounds, and in situations with a lot of background noise, may make it easier to hear cer...

How to Unplug My Ears If I Can't Hear

Whether you have a cold or you've just stepped off a cross-country flight, you feel one symptom--your ears are plugged. While this is not a serious condition, it is uncomfortable and it makes it inconvenient when you need to he...

How to Gauge Ears Properly

Gauging is the process of increasing the size of your ear piercings. Professional piercers recommend that you wait at least one month in between stretching your ear piercings, according to Infinite Body Piercing. One month is a...

Antihistamines to Relieve Ear Pressure

Ear pressure is commonly the result of fluid buildup in the middle ear, or pressure from an infection or allergic reaction, notes MayoClinic.com. Antihistamines are used to treat allergies and to reduce the amount of sinus mucu...

Common Ear Problems

Hearing and ear health are often taken for granted. There are many different ear conditions that can cause pain or hearing loss. It is important to seek medical evaluation when there is pain or hearing loss to in order to prev...

Signs & Symptoms of Ear Problems

Left untreated, ear disorders can threaten not only your ability to hear but also can cause serious disruptions in your sense of balance that can lead to other health problems. Infections and other ear problems can manifest the...

How to Relieve Ear & Sinus Congestion

Sinus congestion including the ears, nose and throat can irritate and bother the person suffering from it. Use over-the-counter medications as well as other methods for immediate relief of sinus and ear congestion, but it&rsquo...

Ear, Nose & Throat Diseases

The ear, nose and throat have separate, but related functions, according to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. The ears and nose are sensory organs that are responsible for breathing, smell, hearing and balance. The thro...

About Ear Stretchers

Simple ear piercing is looking old-fashioned these days. Your teenager may be asking for permission to "stretch" her ears with "gauges." This new fashion trend involves wearing a series of ever-larger rings in the earlobes to s...

Aching Ears & Headaches

While most ear and head pain is not cause for concern, a doctor should evaluate severe pain that lasts longer than a few days or is accompanied by other symptoms. Sometimes aching ears and headaches are a sign of an underlying ...

Primary Auditory Cortex Functions

The primary auditory cortex, located in between the two others, is mainly composed of two areas named the Brodmann areas 41 and 42. It is located in the temporal lobe, right above the ears. The function of the primary auditory ...

How to Put in Double Flare Ear Plugs

Always visit a professional piercer to determine if your ears are ready to stretch to a larger size. Double flare jewelry, or plugs, require you to have enough elasticity and room in your earlobe piercings to stretch to accommo...

What to Do for a Child's Ear Ache?

Earaches are often caused by ear infections in children, but not always. DrGreene.com, a website produced by pediatrician Dr. Alan Greene, points out that when bacteria infect the ear, antibiotics are no longer the first line o...

Diseases of the Ears

The ear is an organ used for hearing and balance; it is part of the peripheral nervous system and consists of outer, middle and inner parts that work together. Ear infections are common problems; in addition, a variety of more ...

What Is a Ruptured Ear Drum?

A ruptured eardrum is a tear or opening in the eardrum. The eardrum, also called the tympanic membrane, separates the outer ear from the middle ear. The eardrum vibrates when sound waves strikes the eardrum. The vibrations are ...

Diving & Ear Problems

Dramatic changes in pressure affect your ears and sinuses. You might have experienced ear popping as an airplane descends, for example. As you descend to begin a dive, the pressure increases dramatically with increased depth. W...

About Gauging Ears

Ear gauging is a type of body modification where you use different size ear gauges to stretch the earlobe to form a through hole. Ear stretching is popular in Western culture, but individuals modify the ear for many different r...

How to Insert Ear Plugs

Ear plugs are effective in protecting the ear from many potentially harmful agents, like water and loud noises. Ear plugs can also diminish annoying sounds that interfere with concentration or sleeping. The Centers for Disease ...

Facts About Your Ears

Only the external portion of your ears are visible, but in total there are three sections--the outer ear, middle ear and inner ear--that work together to make sense of the sounds you hear. The ear is responsible not only for yo...

Ear Odor & Itching in a Child

Ear problems in a child often leave parents worried, exhausted and frustrated, especially when symptoms develop at nighttime or on a weekend. Like other ear symptoms, ear odor and itching may indicate a serious problem. Knowing...

How Can Sound Damage Your Ears?

The human ear is a complex and delicate organ. Although it does help the body stay in balance, its primary job is to detect and amplify sounds. Unfortunately, loud noises in the environment can damage sensitive ear structures, ...

The Effects of Gauging Ears

While stretching your earlobe piercings might interest you, like any body modification, there are issues surrounding the process that may make you think twice. The process of stretching ears is commonly called "gauging," which ...

Ear, Nose, and Throat DIseases

The ear, nose and throat are susceptible to all sorts of bacterial and viral infections. These structures contain moist mucosa that serve as a perfect breeding ground for these infections. Sometimes, bacteria can lead to hearin...

The Human Ear & How We Hear

Anatomically speaking, the ear consists of three sections: the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. The outer ear and the middle ear are used only for hearing, while the inner ear is involved in both hearing and maintai...

How to Eliminate Blackheads in Your Ear

Blackheads are a result of oxidized bacteria, sebum, and dead skin cells that have clogged skin pores and have been exposed to the outside air. These brownish black blockages form in the ears as well as on the face and back of ...

Herbs for Ears

Ear irritation and infections are typically caused by bacteria, a virus or fungi, and prescription drugs are not always effective in treating ear problems and can come with negative side effects. There are various natural herbs...

How to Make Your Own Ear Wash

Earwax, or cerumen, is essential to ear health. It lubricates the ear, cleans away dirt and debris and helps protect the ear from insects and bacteria. When too much earwax accumulates, however, earache, pressure, coughing, itc...

Effects of Ear Gauging

Ear gauging is a popular body modification practice in which gauges of varying, graduated sizes are placed in an ear piercing to slowly stretch out the hole for a larger spacing. Ear gauging can be painful and have lasting effe...

Amoxicillin for the Ears

It acts by attacking the bacterial cell wall. Amoxicillin has been in use for a long time and is fairly safe and effective against many of the common bacterial strains. It is most effective against streptococcal strains, which ...

Ear Irrigation Tips

Earwax is a thick, sticky and oily substance produced in the ears, according to "Aural Rehabilitation For People With Disabilities" by John M. A. Oyiborhoro. It cleans, lubricates and protects the ears from infections. It also ...

About the Ears

The ears are the sensory organ for hearing and also operate to help maintain balance. Ear disorders and damage to the ears can cause irreversible lifelong problems. Fortunately, protecting and caring for the ears proves fairly ...

What Are the Dangers of Gauging Ears?

In the Western world, a more recent derivation of this body modification is the practice of gauging or stretching, in which the diameter of a piercing is increased over time by gradually using larger earrings in the holes. This...

Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases

While only a few ear, nose and throat diseases are fatal, they can cause considerable cosmetic, communication and pain problems for the afflicted person. Ear infections are the most common ailments, especially in children. Thro...

Dry Crusty Ears

Your ears are important parts of your body. Taking care of them and making sure they are functioning properly will ensure optimal health and hearing for many years to come. While daily hygiene practices should be all you need t...

How to Unstop Ears

Colds or influenza as well as other medical problems can leave the ears feeling clogged and under pressure. The condition is uncomfortable and can interfere with hearing and sometimes with balance. Stopped up ears can also crea...

How to Unplug Your Ears When You're Sick

This causes feelings of fullness and discomfort, and may lead to tinnitus, hearing impairment and ear infection, according to the House Ear Clinic. Allergies, viral and bacterial infections, and overly narrow Eustachian tubes c...

How Do I Unclog My Ears?

A clogged or blocked feeling in the ears is generally caused by a blockage of the eustachian tubes. The eustachian tubes connect the upper throat and back of the nose with the middle ear. They function to equalize the pressure ...

What Are Some Good Ear Drops for Earache?

Earache may occur on its own or as a common side effect of ear infection (otitis media). While the treatments for ear infection are varied, the pain may be easily remedied with ear drops. There are many brands of ear drops on t...

What Are Some Common Ear Problems?

The human ear is an organ most of us don't think about until it develops a problem. Essential for hearing and balance, the ear is divided into three parts: outer, middle and inner. Several common problems can befall the ear. Se...

List of Pediatric Ear Drops

Pediatric ear drops are used in two of the most common diseases in pediatrics, otitis media and otitis externa. Otitis media is inflammation and/or infection of the inner ear behind the eardrum. Otits externa is inflammation an...

How to Unstop Your Ears

If you are experiencing symptoms of a cold, have allergies or have ridden an airplane recently, your ears may feel plugged up. Clogged ears can cause pain and temporary hearing loss and are caused when the eustachian tubes insi...

How to Unplug Ears

Plugged ears are rarely a serious problem. They most often result from allergies or a cold and can last between a few hours or a couple of weeks. They usually subside on their own and are painless, only resulting in muffled hea...

How to Unblock Ears

While it's standard to have wax in your ears--it protects your body from foreign intruders like bacteria and dirt--too much can lead to a blockage, causing pain, dizziness and infection. It's important to unblock your ears as s...

How to Unblock Your Ears

Under normal conditions, the ear is able to regulate earwax to avoid hardening and subsequent blockage of the ear canal; however it is not abnormal for blockages to occur infrequently. Symptoms of an earwax blockage include rin...

Conditions That Affect the Ears

The ears are susceptible to all sorts of medical problems. Composed of cartilage (a type of fatty substance) on the outside and an intricate inner system on the inside, the ear can become infected or certain cells can grow on t...

Ear Acne

Acne can occur just about anywhere on the body, but one area many people don't even think about blemishes showing up is in or on the ears. However, it can happen, and just like with acne on your face, there are treatments avail...

How to Get Rid of a Keloid on the Ear

A keloid is a scar made of cartilage and forms as a result of an infection. A keloid scar is especially common on the ear due to infections from ear-piercing. Keloid symptoms include pain and itchiness on the scar, as well as a...

Symptoms of Ear Problems

The outer, middle and inner ear work together to facilitate hearing and the inner ear is responsible for helping us keep our balance. One or more parts of the ear may become inflamed or infected, leading to a variety of bothers...

How to Close Gauged Ears

Your success on closing the hole in your gauged ears without surgery will vary according to how big the gauged hole is, how old you are and your particular genetics. A younger person's skin is more resilient and more likely to ...

How to Protect Your Ears on Airplane

The repeated opening and closing of these tubes caused by pressure changes during takeoff and landing is responsible for the popping and ear pain associated with air travel. While these pressure changes very rarely cause damage...

How to Relieve Plugged Ears

A plugged ear typically involves some blockage, usually ear wax, of the eustachian tube (the passage connecting the middle ear with the throat and the back of the nose). This blockage impedes the normal vibration of the eardrum...

How to Put In Ear Drops

Ear drops cure a variety of inner and outer ear ailments. General wax removal and infection treatment are the two main reasons for using ear drops. Your doctor may have prescribed ear drops for you, or you may be using an over-...

How to Disinfect Ear Plugs

Earplugs are important personal protective devices for anyone who works in noisy conditions. People who use music equipment, farm equipment, heavy machinery or weapons for a large portion of the workday could be losing hearing ...

How to Use Ear Plugs

Whether you're constantly around loud noises or only briefly exposed, high volumes now can lead to hearing loss later in life. This happens when brittle hairs inside the ear canal are vibrated and shatter, and also when the ear...

How to Care for an Ear Ache

Earaches are often due to infection. The Mayo Clinic explains that the pain or aching is due to the blockage or swelling of the pathways that connect the middle ear to the nose. The fluid can settle in the middle part of the ea...

How to Get Rid of an Ear Ache

Imagine your 3-year-old child is screaming, tugging at her ears and acting extremely fussy. These are all common symptoms of an earache, also known as otalgia. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, earaches ar...

How to Cure an Ear Ache

Earaches are a common ailment that are usually caused by an infection. Typically this infection affects the middle and inner ear and can cause pain, and, in some cases, temporary loss of hearing. If you have an earache you sh...

Glue Ear Symptoms

In most cases, the condition clears up on its own. However, the "British Journal of General Practice" says glue ear is the most common reason children undergo surgery. OME can affect people of all ages, but it's most co

How to Insert Ear Plugs

Whether you work in a loud environment, you're preparing to go on a highway bike ride, you're boarding an airplane or you want a little peace and quiet while you're sleeping, ear plugs are effective in removing the louder sound...

Safety 1st Ear Thermometer Instructions

Part of its product line includes items for child care, including thermometers. Some of its thermometers are designed to obtain temperature readings from the ear canal. Ear thermometers are sometimes used because it is easy to ...

How to Relieve Congestion in the Ears

The tubes in the ear are called the eustachian tubes, and when they become blocked, ear congestion occurs. Ear congestion is most commonly caused by viral infections such as colds, or from nasal allergies. Changes in air pressu...

How to Relieve Ear Aches

Earaches can be caused by many conditions, including bacterial infections, viruses, irritation inside the ear canal, excessive wax buildup, objects in the ear or trauma to the ear. Pain in the ears that is caused by viruses or ...

3 Ways to Treat Sinus Congestion in Ears

Your ears feel congested during a sinus infection because the sphenoid sinuses are irritated. These cavities are located in the front portion of the skull just above the ears. Sinuses normally ebb and flow with liquid, but whe...