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What Could Be Causing Red Earwax In My Ear?
Posted on
Fri, 13 Apr 2018
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 13 Apr 2018
Answered on
Tue, 8 Aug 2023
Last reviewed on
Question : Hi, I noticed that sometimes I get some red earwax falling in my ear. I decided to use a cotton bud to clean and see if anything was inside. it seems as though the wax is a red/yellow colour. what is this and is it something to be worried about? Thanks.
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
The dark orange color is normal. I see something in the very center of the q-tip that looks like a deeper red. That could be either just more concentrated/older wax or it could be dried blood. Usually dried blood in the ear canal is from having poked it when cleaning the ear. It doesn't look concerning, but I'll say that the next time you go to the doctor, ask him/her to look in your ear as it would be easy to see if there is an irritation.
If you are having any pain or increased discharge like what you are describing, then don't wait to go in to be seen.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, General & Family Physician
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
The dark orange color is normal. I see something in the very center of the q-tip that looks like a deeper red. That could be either just more concentrated/older wax or it could be dried blood. Usually dried blood in the ear canal is from having poked it when cleaning the ear. It doesn't look concerning, but I'll say that the next time you go to the doctor, ask him/her to look in your ear as it would be easy to see if there is an irritation.
If you are having any pain or increased discharge like what you are describing, then don't wait to go in to be seen.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, General & Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi, I usually don't use q-tips, and was just wondering what could be the other causes for blood in the ear?
Brief Answer:
Thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Sometimes (not commonly) the eardrum can be inflamed and rupture from air pressure changes from an airplane flight, but it will be painful. Other possible causes, if nothing has been poked in there, is an infection of the middle ear, with rupture of the ear drum. But that usually happens in association with an upper respiratory infection and ear pain, which is suddenly relieved when the ear drum ruptures. Then people will note discharge of pus and sometimes blood. It doesn't look like that, which makes me think it's maybe old wax.
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards,
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, General & Family Physician
Thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Sometimes (not commonly) the eardrum can be inflamed and rupture from air pressure changes from an airplane flight, but it will be painful. Other possible causes, if nothing has been poked in there, is an infection of the middle ear, with rupture of the ear drum. But that usually happens in association with an upper respiratory infection and ear pain, which is suddenly relieved when the ear drum ruptures. Then people will note discharge of pus and sometimes blood. It doesn't look like that, which makes me think it's maybe old wax.
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards,
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, General & Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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