seborrheic dermatitis (aka dandruff) can involve the ears and is in fact quite common. My patients with seborrheic dermatitis of the ears often complain mostly about the itching, which can occur on the ear or in the ear canal. They may also complain about the scaly crust that develops on the front of the ear or behind the crease of the ear. Lastly, they may actually have such thick crust that they think they have a lesion or growth and come in for me to check it to be certain that it is not a cancer.
Like seborrheic dermatitis on the face and scalp, ear seborrheic dermatitis is treatable but not curable. That means, you can use medicated soaps, shampoos and creams to control the rash, but it will come back over time. Scientists don’t know what causes seborrhiec dermatitis and so we don’t know why it flairs up. I do see much more seborrhea during the winter months and in people who aren’t able to bathe or wash the affected area frequently. Many of my seborrhea patient’s also note that their rash flairs when they’re under stress, are ill, or when they are eating an unusual amount of fat, carbohydrates or sugar in their diet.
