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Have White Powder In The Inner Part Of Ear. Is It Ear Dandruff? How To Treat It?

Posted on Sat, 16 Jun 2012

Question: Mr. Dermatologist,
Everyday I have white powder texture in the inner part of my ears (around the ears inside). I have tried to wash well my ears but the residue is there all the time. I take it out with my fingers during the day as it aderes as a white crust. It looks like dandruff in the ear but the strange thing is that I don't have it in my head. I have tried to watch my ears with dandruff shampoo but it does not work.
Can you tell me what I have, and what can I do to get rid of it.
If you can tell me an over the counter product or call in my pharmacy to give me a recipe for a product will appreciated it.
Regards,
Victor XXXXXXX
PS: My Pharmacy is in NYC XXXXXXX Read tel. 212-0000 My DOB is 01/31/72

Answered by Dr. Bharat Chawda (1 hour later)

Hi Mr. XXXXXXX

Thank you for posting the query.

You have provided with good information regarding your skin problem and it is a very good description. I appreciate it.

I understood your problem however it would be good if you can answer few of my queries:
1) Do you get scaly white lesion over the eyebrows too ?
2) Do you observe redness over the laugh lines (naso-labial fold) too ?
3) Do you have similar lesions behind the ear ?
4) Any skin lesions over the elbows or knees?
If you can reply me with the answers, I would be able to help you further on this.

However, I shall address your concern based on your current given information. With history what you have submitted ,there seems to be two possibilities.
The first possibility seems to be of SEBORHEIC DERMATITIS & the second to be of localized PSORIASIS.

In both these conditions what is required is topical steroid cream like betamethasone or clobetasole, desonide or hydrocortisone. However it would be good if you can consult a dermatologist at your place who can clinically look at the lesion and prescribe you the cream. I am not very sure whether these creams would be over the counter in your country.

But if you can reply me with the above answers it would help me in suggesting you better.

Awaiting for your reply.

Regards,

Dr.Bharat chawda XXXXXXX specialist, Dermatology.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Bharat Chawda (20 hours later)

Dr. thank u very much for your answer. I think you lead me into the right path. To answer your questions:
No scalp over eyebrows
no Redness around nasal or eyebrows
no behind ear lessions
no lessions in elbows or knees

Regards,
Victor

Answered by Dr. Bharat Chawda (17 hours later)

Hi XXXXXXX

Thank you for the reply,

According to the description, I most probably feel that you are suffering from seborrheic dermatitis rather than psoriasis.

Seborrheic dermatitis is a condition in which due to excessive secretion of sebum (oil) from the glands there leads to inflammation. This in turn causes redness and scaling which may be associated with itching. Apart from the ears, similar lesions can be seen on the scalp too.

Best remedy for this would be topical steroid cream as I had mentioned earlier.
However, these are prescription drugs and can be taken after consulting your treating dermatologist.

I hope I've answered your query. Should you have additional concern regarding the same , I would be happy to address it.

Please accept my answer in case you do not have further queries.

Regards,
Dr.Bharat chawda XXXXXXX specialist, Dermatology.

Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Aparna Kohli