Pimple can occur anywhere in your body where sebaceous glands actively produce sebum; however, when you see pimple behind ear, you may need to be cautious as the lump might not always originate from acne. Pimple behind ear occurs when acne ever develops on that spot and when the lump causes pain. Remember that lump behind ear is not always painful. Conditions like lipoma, tumor, cancer, and sebaceous cyst rarely cause pain. Don’t mistake them for a pimple because they are not.
Several types of painful lump behind the ear are also not categorized as pimples. Painful conditions like abscess, dermatitis, mastoiditis, swollen lymph node, and ear infection don’t originate from acne and are therefore not a pimple. Knowing the causes and consulting a doctor are the best ways to find out whether the lump is indeed a pimple and to decide whether home remedies will work for you.
Causes
Pimples behind ear are often categorized as later and more severe version of acne that grows behind the ear. The area behind the ear is one of the most vulnerable areas to acne because of its grooved shape and because it contains a large number of sebaceous glands or glands that produce sebum, the primary culprit that causes the development of acne. Excessive production of sebum may also cause seborrheic dermatitis, so you need to know how to distinguish acne behind ear from dermatitis.
Infection that leads to the formation of pimple is also more likely to occur behind the ear. Dirt, dead skin cells, bacteria, and other harmful particles and organisms may be trapped in the skin indentation behind the ear, causing acne and pimples. Poor hygiene of that area will further boost the possibility of acne and pimple occurrence.
Pimple behind ears will soon appear if acne has developed in that area. Therefore, knowing the causes of acne and what make it worse is essential if you want to avoid it. Besides poor hygiene, hormonal imbalance caused by adolescence, menstruation and drugs rich in androgens is also the primary cause of acne. Genetic factors may also contribute to the development of acne. Stress is believed to be the cause of acne, but it is actually not. Stress only worsens the condition if you already have acne.
How to Get Rid of Pimple behind Ear
Pimple behind ears occurs because of bacterial infection, so antibiotic is the most possible drug that your doctor prescribes to remove it. If you want to remove it from the outside, you can use the following home remedies to get rid of this problem as they are proven to be potent cures for most skin problems that involve infection, including pimple.
1. Garlic
Garlic is not only a taste-enhancing spice for food, but also a home remedy with many medical benefits. Garlic erases cholesterols and helps improve skin conditions that are triggered by infection due to its antibacterial effect. To use garlic in your pimple treatment, use the following methods.
- Mash garlic cloves and use the pulp as topical remedy. Put the pulp on the affected area and leave it there for a while before you rinse the area. Do this regularly until the lump disappears.
- Take raw garlic orally as the spice also acts as natural antibiotic that kills bacteria from within. Don’t take garlic too much, though, as garlic may agitate your stomach. Eating garlic too frequently may also cause your body to emit foul odor.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is an excellent remedy for a variety of skin problems, including pimples behind ear. Apple cider vinegar is an alkaline liquid that helps prevent pH imbalance on the skin, which causes massive production of dead skin cells. Apple cider vinegar is also a good astringent that keeps your skin oil-free. Of all health advantages of apple cider vinegar, the biggest is its antibacterial effect, which helps eliminate bacteria that infects your acne and causes the emergence of pimple. Take the following steps to treat your pimple with apple cider vinegar.
- Wash your face using lukewarm water and then dry it using clean towel.
- Mix apple cider vinegar with water. Keep the concentration of the vinegar 25% of the whole mixture.
- Use the mixture to treat your pimple and then leave it for about 10 minutes or overnight.
- Afterwards, rinse the affected area and then apply skin toner on it.
Prevention
There are two important things to mind if you want to prevent pimples behind ear from occurring. First, you need to know how to prevent acne because pimple develops from acne. Second, you need to know how to prevent pimple from forming from acne if acne has already developed.
You already understand the causes of acne, so try to prevent its occurrence accordingly. Genetic and hormonal factors may not be something that you can handle, but hygiene is definitely something that is always under your control. Make sure to keep the area behind your ear always clean to prevent sebum and dirt from clogging your pores. Regular exfoliation may help prevent the accumulation of dead skin cells behind your ear, which are also responsible for the formation of acne.
If acne has already developed, you can prevent pimple from developing by preventing bacteria from infecting your acne. Keep that area clean without ever scrubbing your acne as any types of physical harassment that you accidentally do to your acne will worsen it. This also means that you must never put your dirty finger on your acne as doing so may cause infection to occur. You have to keep the affected area clean even after you have removed the acne because there is still open wound, be it visible or invisible, that may cause acne and pimple to recur.
Pimple behind ears forms when acne has already occurred in that area, so you shouldn’t mistake this condition for other types of lump that may also occur behind the ear but don’t originate from acne. If you can confirm that you have pimple, the two home remedies above that we show to you are guaranteed to work. If you want to prevent it, keep that area hygienic enough and never put your finger on it to prevent infection that will trigger pimple behind ears.
