Why Are Your Ears Burning?

• Hot ears are often caused by extreme temperature changes, sunburns, or surface injuries to the ear that cause swelling or heat as it heals.
• Heat in your ears may also be caused by ear infections or allergies that inflame the ear canal and cause feelings of heat or discomfort.
• Spiritually, hot ears may be a sign that someone is talking about you, an omen of good things to come, or a reminder to brush off other people’s opinions.

Medical Causes

Extreme temperatures Particularly high or low temperatures cause what’s known as the Raynaud phenomenon, which is when your blood vessels expand or contract in response to the temperature. This happens most commonly in your extremities, like your fingers, toes, and ears. In very cold or very hot weather, your ears may feel hot as your blood vessels fluctuate in size to try to regulate their temperature. Treatment: If you’re out in cold weather, wear ear muffs, a headband, or a hat that covers your ears to keep them nice and cozy. In warm weather, be sure to stay hydrated. An icepack on your head or the back of your neck may help your body cool down.

Emotions Your ears may feel warm when you experience heightened emotions like embarrassment, anger, or fear. This is a natural part of the blushing reaction, when the blood vessels in your face and ears fluctuate in size as an involuntary reaction to acute emotions (also known as “cutaneous flushing”). It’s totally normal, and nothing to be worried about! Treatment: Take a few deep breaths—10 seconds in, 10 seconds out—to calm your emotions. Staying hydrated can also help your body regulate its facial temperature.

Sunburn or other injuries Sunburns are known to make your skin feel hot to the touch as it begins to repair itself. More general injuries, like scratches or bruising, may be accompanied by minor to to severe swelling, which is caused by an increase in white blood cells in the area, and often causes a warm or hot sensation. Treatment: Apply aloe vera gel to a sunburn 2-3 times a day, and be sure to wear sunscreen when you go out. Apply antibiotic ointment to other topical injuries. If the swelling or heat is severe, consult a doctor about possible infection.

Allergies Hotness in your ears may be triggered by any number of allergies—hay fever, dust, nuts, insect stings. Allergies often induce itchy eyes, coughing, and other symptoms, but may also cause the Eustachian tube (which connects your ear to your throat) to swell, resulting in redness, pain, or heat in your ears. Treatment: Avoid trigger allergens and take an over-the-counter antihistamine (according to the dosage on the package) to reduce swelling. If you're unsure of your trigger allergens, talk to an allergist about having a full allergy test conducted.

Ear infection Ear infections occur when the narrow passages of your ear swell and trap mucus, which may cause heat, fever, ear pain, irritability, and a loss of balance. Ear infections are more common in younger people, and are often caused by poor air quality or water trapped in the ear, such as after using a swimming pool or hot tub. Treatment: Many ear infections subside without any treatment. If the infection lasts more than 3 days, however, see a doctor about treatment. They’ll likely prescribe antibiotics. Use over-the-counter pain medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen (according to the dosage on the packaging) to manage the ear infection in the meantime.

Skin or piercing infection After an ear piercing (or any other surface damage to your ear), your skin is susceptible to infection if not properly taken care of. Symptoms of an infection include swelling, heat, pain, and a dark red color. An infection may also emit blood or white, green, or yellow pus, and cause overall fever or nausea. Treatment: Clean your piercing or wound twice a day with a saline solution. If you spot signs of infection, talk to a doctor, who will likely prescribe antibiotics in the form of cream, ointments, or tablets.

Seborrheic eczema Eczema is a general skin condition that causes dryness, redness, scaly patches, heat, blisters, and other topical irritations. Seborrheic eczema is more specific to the ears, and often occurs in people with dandruff or itchy scalps. It manifests as inflammation in the ear canal, which leads to swelling or a sensation of heat, and is often caused by an excess of otherwise harmless yeast on the skin. Treatment: If you have flaky, yellowed, or otherwise irritated skin around your ear, talk to your doctor about the possibility of eczema. They may prescribe anti-fungal shampoos or steroids. You might also use over-the-counter antifungal cream like miconazole (according to the instructions on the packaging) in the meantime.

Erythromelalgia or red ear syndrome Red ear syndrome (RES) is a fairly uncommon condition that causes pain, swelling, redness, and heat in one ear at a time. The discomfort may spread to the forehead or along the jaw. It’s often caused by exercise, touch, chewing, neck movement, or external heat, and episodes last from a few seconds to several hours. Some dermatologists believe it may be caused by disrupted nerves. Erythromelalgia is a very similar condition that may occur in other body parts as well, such as the feet, hands, and face. Treatment: See a dermatologist about frequent, unexplainable irritation of your ears. They may prescribe painkillers or antibiotics, or local anesthetics like lidocaine. In the meantime, use over-the-counter pain medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen (according to the dosage on the packaging) to manage discomfort.

Relapsing polychondritis Polychondritis is a disorder that causes inflammation and deterioration in the cartilage of your ear. It’s often accompanied by swelling, redness, and pain, and may also affect your nose and respiratory system. It most often occurs in people aged 40-60, but is fairly uncommon. It’s thought to be an autoimmune disease, though dermatologists are currently at work getting to the bottom of what exactly causes it. Treatment: Polychondritis is best treated by a doctor, who may prescribe colchicine, corticosteroids, or other symptom-management medications.

Trigeminal neuralgia This is a fairly uncommon disorder that’s characterized by acute pain (accompanied by heat) that starts at the top of the ear and spreads toward the eye, jaw, and cheek. It’s sometimes spontaneous, but may be caused by injury to the face or dental surgery. It most often occurs in women over 50, but may occur in men, as well. Treatment: This condition tends to resist over-the-counter medications, so it’s best to speak with your doctor about treatment. Your doctor may prescribe medications often used to manage seizures, which have displayed success in treating trigeminal neuralgia. They may also offer prescription-strength painkillers.

Spiritual Meanings

Someone is talking about you. Common folk wisdom says that any time your ears start to burn, someone somewhere is talking about you. Most often, they’re saying good things, and your ears are burning because you’d be a bit bashful if you heard them in person. It could also be a potential romantic interest saying nice things about you to a friend. Lucky you! What to do: Next time you see them, compliment your crush. It could be the start of a mutual connection! Or, think about someone you admire and pay the vibe forward by singing their praises when they’re not around. It makes the world a better place when you say good things about others.

You should be careful who you trust. Sometimes, burning ears are a sign that someone around you doesn’t have your best interests in mind. A friend may secretly harbor resentments, or a coworker may be gunning for a promotion over you. Your instincts are manifesting in your body to tell you to be wary of the people around you. What to do: It’s good to be wary of the people around you, but it often pays to give them the benefit of the doubt, too. If they haven’t done anything to prove they’re untrustworthy, be pleasant to your friends, peers, and coworkers. Your positive attitude may change their minds.

Good things are coming your way. Heat in your ears is often a message from the universe that good things are coming your way, or that your hard work is about to pay off. You may be studying for a big exam, putting extra work into your art, or pumping the gas at work to show your boss what you’re made of. Your burning ears may be an indicator that what you’ve been working for will come to fruition. What to do: Stay motivated by visualizing your end goal. Thinking about what you hope to achieve often lends a much-needed burst of energy. Just be sure to rest and take a break every now and then!

Spiritual powers are warning you of danger. Some say that when your ears start to burn, your body is tapping into the spirit world. The spirits may be trying to communicate and guide you on your journey, warning you of perils to come. You may be worrying over a major career change, or struggling with what to do about a conflict with a friend. The spirits are telling you to go with your gut and trust your instincts. What to do: Ask a close friend or family member for advice about your situation. Often, an outside perspective is an invaluable tool when you’re facing down trouble.

You feel guilty about something you did. Burning ears are a common reaction to heightened emotions. Spiritually speaking, they’re often a manifestation of your own acute guilt or remorse. Maybe you said something unkind to a friend, or neglected to help a family member in need. Your hot ears are a sign that now’s the time to reach out and make amends. What to do: Apologize to the person you may have hurt. Say, “I’m sorry I did that, and I want to make sure it doesn’t happen again.” A sincere and straightforward apology is the best way to patch up relationships and clear your own conscience.

You need to let go of other people’s opinions. When we’re embarrassed, our faces and ears often flush, and we start to feel hot. It’s sometimes a sign that we put too much value in what other people think, and feel shame when their opinions of us are negative. But that physical reaction is a spiritual sign that you’re too tied up in the views of the people around you, and need to focus on your own opinions of yourself, instead. What to do: Ditch the self-consciousness by making a list of your strengths and positive qualities. Sometimes, reminding yourself of what you love about you is all it takes to cut through other people’s noise.