Hello ! My ear(sometimes both) get really hot and red for about 1-2 hours almost every evening. When I described this in a mail to doctor he said that it could be a part of the carcinoid syndrome. So now they are investigating my levels of hormones(in the blood and urine)to check if I have carcinoid (slow growing malignant cancer) or not. The results should be ready the next week.
I find that when my ears go red I am usually tired or stressed. But if I hit the treadmill for about 20 minutes afterwards I notice that the red ears are all gone.
My mother is suffering from this hot ear problem for the last 2 months. And now it has become absolutely unbearable. She had advanced breast cancer 8+ years ago and responded to treatment. We are very worried if this is a case of remission. Can you update us on your check-up results. Regards. jasmeet (new delhi, india)
Hi ! My results were good and I was feeling good all summer without any "flushes". Now they have tested me for systemic mastocytosis and the results were good. Now my ears and sometimes my face still gets burning red. It´s almost always my right ear and it triggers by temperature change and alcohol. I also have red rashes beside my nose (rosacea like).
Try looking up erythromelalgia on the internet the symptoms you are displaying seem to fit with this. most people get in their hands feet or anywhere really but it is not uncommon to get facial flares. It is a very rare condition and most dr's dont know anything about it so you will not be diagnosed with it very easily. If you check out this on yahoo groups, "TEA" The erythromelalgia association, YOU WILL GET MORE USEFUL INFORMATION TO GO BACK TO YOUR DR WITH. It may not be this but it sounds like it could be, the burning is painful and can be cooled by cold water soaking if it is EM.
I am just seeking info about this red ear situation for my grandson...age 6. When he is tired (we think) in the evenings one or (rarely) both ears will turn bright red and get warm. Did you find out any more info?
My 6-yr-old son has the same problem. I started to notice it when he was a toddler, during bath time, in the evening. Usually it doesn't seem to bother him, but the other day for the first time it was very painful for him.
Wow - this is more common than I thought! I was just searching for the red, hot ear problem because my 7 year old has it. He's had this problem for almost a year. It happens at all times of the day...sometimes one ear, sometimes both.
Crazy, I just got online to check out why my son's ear (just one at a time) flares up every now and then. This has been bothering my 7 year old for about a year now. He has had the problem w/out pain for several years. I wonder why there are so many young boys with this problem?? I am definitely going to check out the TEA site.
I am stunned to see so many posts! I just got done holding a wet, cool cloth on my 7 year old son's ear. He has had red, hot ears for several years but it has just started to be painful. It comes on in the evening hours during all four seasons. Very strange that there are so many young boys with this problem!
I am strangely relieved that so many people have this. Tonight I have one hot, red ear (left), so I googled it and found this site. I do wish someone had a definite answer though...
i just came on here because my son has been having this problem for a year and he is only 3 now... I thought he might be getting ear infections.. but nothing on the internet says thats a sign,his ear doesnt hurt just bothers him because its hot... and now he makes me blow and it and we have to stick col
My 6 year old has one ear flaming hot, he has been having ear infections, and a cold. I actually wonder if it is chapped, it is below zero out for us lately and his face gets really chapped. I see a trend with 6-7 year old boys tho....weird
fantastic...who would have thought you were all out there..... its actually my husband that has one hot red ear and one cold ear in the evening...please tell me he should drink less alcohol and then it might help with the snoring later on !!
My son just asked me to go on-line and find out why his ears turn so red and hot at night....this is very strange to see so many kids with this same affliction. Has anyone talked to a doctorabout this? The one connection with cancer scares me to say the least! My son is 6 years old and just this past month the red ears have become painful
my six year old has this too and we go to the pediatrician soon. I have heard that food allergies can cause this, and I am allergic to wheat and suspect he might be too. It could also be swimmer's ear, which is a bacterial infection. hope you go to the pediatrician and we can both share answers. thanks!
Blair, oddly enough just this afternoon I drank about 4 oz of asparagus puree and right now I am experiencing my left ear very hot and red. I am 45 years old and never to the best of my knowledge experienced this before. Like everyone else I googled it to find out more. I don't even eat asparagus normally but was reading how asparagus has these amazing medicinal properties. My interest and reason for trying it revolved around busting kidney stones. I still have about 10 oz in the refrigerator, boy is it nasty. You may be correct about the food allergies. I have allergies to almost everything outdoors and indoors for that matter. I know I am allergic to tomatoes and suspect allergies to some corn product. Perhaps I'm having a reaction to the asparagus.
Hi Ive had hot ears, back of neck associated with anxiety at random times for a few years. Usually after wine, beer, prawns, salmon, etc. It responds to antihistamine tablets after 40min-1hr. It began to get worse and even though Im a doctor myself I couldnt figure it out. Initially my allergy team thought I had systemic mastocytosis, but it turned out in the end I had an intolerance to Sodium Metabisulfite and suddenly everything made sense. This preservative is in everything and your reaction to it depends on how much you expose yourself-even up to 48hrs later. See these links:
hi, my 8year old daughter same issue withnher left ear becoming hot and turning red. recently i asked a doctor and she seemed very dumdfounded without an answer.I think u mentioned the possibility of a food allergy.
Hi Sue, March 2nd, 09 My mother has had the hot ear her whole life. (Left ear) I am 41 and have had it my whole life same ear. Now my 12 yr old son had his first hot ear also left ear. I have never found any Dr that knows why. I am in good health no problems. My mom the same way. This is my second hot ear today. My ear burns red and is so hot to the touch. I put ice on it and it doesn't even help. The only thing that we can figure is we seem tired when this happens.
hello i have had this problem since i can remember and my 6 year old has the same problem so much so that he has to put ice on it too one burning hot red ear i usually get the burning ear and cheek when i get out of a hot shower or have alcohol sometimes i get it for no reason my mom has this saying that when your ear is burning it means someone is talking about you lol. i wish it was that simple i have looked all over the internet for the reason and haven't found one i guess this is it at least its good to know that there are other people out there who have the same thing and im not alone
If you ever find out what causes this, LET ME KNOW! Sometimes my face will get hot and a burning sensation and red, then that will go away when my right ear gets red and hot, then it moves to my left ear.
It is SOOO good to learn that so many other people (of all ages) have the RHE (red hot ear) syndrome. Mine is always the right ear. I am 59 years old. The first tiime was last year when I was getting my hair done. The beautician thought it was the blow dryer. It doesn't happen frequently, but when it does - it is uncomfortable and embarassing! My doctor is watching my blood pressure. When I told him about my RHE - he said he had never heard of that!
This is usually from an allergic reation to a chemical. As a hair dresser, I have seen & experienced this many times. Try & use a different type of color, see if it doesnt change. It may also be a sensitivity to heat or chemical also. (Not necesserrily allergy).
Hi Suzanne,I just read your story it is simmilar to mine exept in my case it is my nose.it swells up is deep red painfull to touch an i also have a tremendous headach too sometimes and feel powerless.i consulted different doctores and finally im seeing a doctor for rheumatism.He is cecking me for relapsed polychondritis and morbus wegener now.both not good but i hope i will get a diagnose and treatment.:( .
Hi, I wanted to reply because you mentioned pain. I have severe migraines since I was a kid. I'm 47 now and I get the hot, red ear. Almost always the right ear. Then the headache comes on the left side. Occasionally my right ear will get hot and red, but I never get the headache wen that happens. In the last 3 years this has been happening to my son. It's the same thing with him. Right ear, left headache. He does not however get the heat/redness in the left ear. The weird thing is that it will happen on the same day to both of us. Even if we eat different foods, etc. I think it is the weather. The change in barometer, it's Gonna rain, or an extreme change in the weather. Like a 20 to 30 degree difference in the temperature. Another interesting correlation is that Auto-Immune diseases run in my family. My grandma had Multiple Sclerosis, my sister has Lupus, Sjrogens Syndrome, my mom has Rheumatoid Arthritis, I have Lupus, mad my oldest sister has an Ataxia disease. All autoimmune. Your body is literally attacking itself. Thinking your good cells are defected, diseased etc. I just read that they think Migraines are an Autoimmune disease. Migraines are not a headache. They are a neurological diseases from the brain. There are many symptoms, headache is one, and so is vascular disruptions. Veins and arteries that increase or decrease in size, thus affecting blood flow! Thus affecting oxygen to your body, which is why oxygen helps some people. I use a nice pack on my ear and try to help the blood flow to regulate. Have you noticed any other strange symptoms when this happens to you? No matter how stupid they sound? Write down everything. Does this happen during weather changes? What is different.. Etc? Good luck
Let me start by saying that my intent is to inform and not to frighten. I suffered severe chemical Truma to my ears, and shortly thereafter I started to experience RES. After some time the problem dissappeared. My left ear was the one to get hot and red, and it would last for about an hour or so. The problem returned, but very sporadically. It's important to note that the ear lobe does not get red as there is no cartilage In the lobe. I have researched this problem, and The results are frightening. Red ears, or red ear, is a marker for a serious autoimmune desease, Relspsing Polychrondritis. When Coupling the red ear with cartilage issues, mainly joint pain, my concern level went vertical. RPC is a very rare desease. It is difficult to diagnose, and little is known about this desease. Only 3.5 people out of a million are diagnosed with RPC: there is no cure, treatment options are limited to NSAIs, and steroids, and the complexion of the desease changes with regulalarity. I have had a sed rate, & C- reactive test done. The sed rate is slightly elevated, but the c- reactive is normal. I will discuss this with my GP to determine where to go from here.
My 6 year old has had this problem for the last 4 years. I was told it was allergies and that it happens when he eats anything with soy, tomatoes and chocolate. He is now getting the red burning ears when he runs around and plays hard. Now I am not so sure it is food related???????
Hi Lisa, My 7 year old also his this problem, usually just in one ear. Sometimes it turns red for no apparent reason, other times it's while he's doing his homework or reading to me. It makes me wonder if it's a physical symptom of stress or anxiety. Has anyone else noticed this connection?
Wow I too am in shock over how many people are trying to get info on the red hot ears. My seven year old has just started having this problem. He does not have any pain on the inside of the ear, but the outsides get red and hot.... What is causing this??? any ideas???
i have not been able to find anything else out,though recently my sons ear is getting worse and i noticed that his cheek is doing it as well only stay for about a 1/2 usually its been happening since he was 2 and starting happening more recently sinced we moved into our house,but his does seem to do it more when he runs around the house or jumps on the bed,so I dont know... I didnt know there were so many kids with this problem,I havent talked to his dr. yet
Well you guys don't have to feel to bad, I'm going on 32 and I've had it from time to time for years. In the last week or so almost every day I have had my cheeks feel warm, my wife says they are a little red but not much. (I'm white but the like 1/64 indian I am keeps me pretty tan if I'm in the sun at all) So I wouldn't call me fair skined. Anyone have an awnser?
I am 32 also and seem to have one red hot ear (left). It usually occurs during mid-late afternoon and/or evening. It typically happens either when I'm stressed, tired, or both it seems. Some weeks are better than others but the red ear happens least once a week. I've probably had it for a couple of years now. Not really painful but just uncomfortable. I don't suffer from ADHD and consider myself in good health. I don't seem ot be allergic to any foods.
I noticed that you mentioned that you do not have ADHD. Is the red ear a symptom of ADHD? My 7 year old son has just been diagnosed with ADHD and also has one red ear on a regular basis.
My four year old son also suffers from red ear syndrome, usually just one, his left and it seems to occur in the evening or when he is tired. We just assumed he got this from my husband as he also gets red ears, especially when he gets angry or has a few drinks. I am surprised how many people suffer from this and will keep reading this website on a regular basis.
This just started happening to my son (usually left ear, sometimes both), he is two. I am very concerned about it. He is allergic to dairy. His cousin who is almost 4 also has this, he is autistic and allergic to practically everything.
My 5 year old son is experiencing this same hot ears. He is very smart and understands things around him that will be cool to his ears. He started a few weeks agao and it was after he ate White Tortilla chips. You can see them get flaming hot and they are hot to the touch. The only ingredients are white corn, soybean oil, sunflower oil and salt. He will now not eat white chips since it is so painful. But he is still experiencing the symptoms especially around bedtime.
Intresting to hear that he was eatting white tortilla chips, what kind were they? That's a type of chip I eat all the time. You mentioned his was painful though, Personally I feel no pain assosated with it, I just have warmth, does he has one ear hot the other cold?
My 13yo daughter has been getting the red, hot, painful ear for about 8months. She claims she started getting it when she started swimming lessons, but she has a weird memory.
Anyway, check out phenol allergy and the feingold diet. I am getting ready to try this with my daughter. Also, as for the phenol allergy, it is associated with a lot of our fav foods, such as tomatoes, bell peppers, oranges, etc...there seems to be an enzyme you can put on the food that will stop the phenol effect.
I am in the very early stages of investigating this, so sorry I don't have any definitive info on this.
BINGO! reading up on phenol allergy and food intollerance seems to answer both my mother's Red Hot Ear and my son's systemic mastocytosis symptoms (tests came back neg. for masto but the symptoms were right). The culprit in both cases seems to be tomatoes (and possibly an apple chaser). We will experiment with my mother's diet. We will not take any chances with my son, he goes straight to anaphylaxis.
So I just finished up reading quickly and noticed several common things, and wonder if any one has input. Mostly Boys! Neck Issue. ADD or ADHD, eczema, asthma. My son has all of it. Has anyone had good results with Chiropractic? Maybe we need a new one....
my son has ADD, asthma and allergies and is lactose intolerant he gets this in both ears and get very hot in the face he is 13, I thought this was a new problem but looking back he has always gotten really hot and red in the face, with so many other issues he tends not to complain until lately when he plays his drums or gets overheated his ears burn bad and he peels his shirt off when its cold out he will play basketball with a thin tank top, to control the burning.
Interesting....I am a 53 year old woman and it seems that every fall I get a red, itchy ear....usually the right ear but sometimes the left, and sometimes both! This fall it has been almost constant. l First the right ear...(the pinnea), that cleared, then it was the left ear lobe, now, it's both. The itch is so intense, and almost internal...the little scratch now and then is gratifying but quickly intensifies redness, swelling, and spreading. It would probably only last a couple days if I could just leave it alone. I alternately apply hydrocortisone cream and benadryl topical spray...some relief. The main reason I am commenting is that I had severe childhood asthma, had occasional eczema and have been diagnosed with ADD. Good Grief! Could this all be intertwined? Additionally, I had chili last night for dinner.... tomatoes? I've always figured that it was some type of allergen in the environment, hair spray or different pillow....foam? feathers? Don't know, but it is very irritating for sure. Hanna
Debbie, My son has the red ear syndrome which flared up tonight. As we were reading your comments we realized that my son had eaten tomato soup and an apple. Have you found anything else out about this combination of food and the correlation to the red ears?
Tamara, My mom has been watching her diet and so far no more "Red Hot Ear". I talked to my son about it and he hasn't had an "attack" for a couple years, but he will be watching his diet. I knew when he was young that he was sensitive to tomatoes (his face would break out in a rash whenever he ate spaghetti). Good Luck
wow! My son is 4, and has been having this problem for a couple of months now, had a flair up tonight, and had eaten salsa, and tortilla chips... maybe there is something to this...
My son also has this issue with his ears. Tonight was extreme. By any chance did the Feingold Diet work? If not has anything seemed to help? Would greatly appreciate any direction.
Hello, Did you ever find anything out on the swimming and what type of water was she in. My son started to get hive after going to the YMCA pool, which is saline water. Now he has hot ear. Just happened first time tonight. could anyone please tell me what they have learned.
I was just at my friend's house when I noticed that one of my ears was bright red. I had not been touching it or anything. She said that, for years, she had noticed that when she, her husband, or one of her 3 kids had a fever, the one in question always had one red ear. So I asked her to take my temp. and, sure enough, it was elevated. I had never heard of this and don't know if it will help anyone, but I thought I'd share. I could not find anything to support this theory on the net.
I will have to check my temp next time I have an "episode" have not had one for a little bit, very strange that I had it so much for a little bit and it went away. Crazy stuff. Have fun guys and keep me posted. Will let you know about tempp next time it happens.
So funny! I have been experiencing red, hot ears for as long as I can remember. All of my siblings and my mother have the same problem. Sometimes it happens when we have had alcohol, are stressed, hot, and sometimes when we are completely relaxed. It's not painful at all. I can't figure it out. My mother and sister are European. My brother and I are European decendant. I've mentioned it to my Doc and he has no idea. I've never done a temp check. Will do next time.
I actually do. Most recently in my hips. But I have experienced joint pain off and on in other areas. Why do you ask? RA maybe? I had a lot of foot pain and had x-rays that came back completely normal...
Yes I have joint pain but not related to the ear thing, just old age. (32 years old :-) ) Ok so not old age just feel old. :-) Had quite a spell there for a little while of Flush face and one ear thing (not always at same time) but not so much lately (sorry, spelling). Nothing intresting to report. Have not check temp due to not having one.
My son had the flu a few months ago and then a problem where the virus moved into his hip causing intense pain. He also has eczema. Yesterday morning he woke up with a red hot itchy ear. I thought it was where he had slept on it, but it was still there at bed time tonight.
look into RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS OR CHONDRITIS, it is very rare but affects cartilage and joints it is usually painful and just check with your Rheumatiologist, it usually affects people in the 50's but my 6 year old was just diagnosed with it. All my 6 year old has is continuous red swelling of right ear and redness of left ear. rarely a fever, high energy and it just seems odd for a child to have this but, he was just diagnosed so i am looking into it more. I just came across this web site. good luck.
Hot red ear gives me a migraine on the opposite side of head. Not my own dx of migraine, but the neurologist. My son gets same thing, red, hot ear then migraine. I just read in a medical journal that doctors think migraines are an. Autoimmune disease. Remember, you do not have to have a headache to have migraines. That is 1 symptom. Usually people do, but not always. You mentioned joint pain. Possible RA?.. If so, maybe the read ear is from migraines.
My daughter has joint pain all over & the one hot ear. She also has eczema (sp?). She has not been in to see the Rheumatologist yet, but I wonder if it's simply a form of eczema. I hope it is not arthritis of any kind for you.
I first noticed my red ear issue when I was in my mid 20's (now 44). It seemed to happen when I was extremely stressed or angry (which was often, at least when I worked for Walgreen's as a Pharmacist in Milwaukee). The ear (rarely both) turned bright red, began to throb, and was hot to the touch. No sweating occurred. Friends and co-workers found it highly amusing, but the severe unilateral headache that followed was nothing to laugh about. I have had classic migraines since the age of 7, and Chronic Paroxysmal Hemicrania (CPH) since 27 years of age. I have severe cervical disc disease and believe that nerve impingement has a lot to do with my difficulties. What a mess! It's a rare day that I DON'T have a headache of some sort. I feel sorry for the loved ones who feel sorry for me!
I was diagnosed by a nurologist with red ear syndrome about 5 or 6 years ago. At that time about 37 reported cases..people with history of migraines, TMJ and cervical disc problems. Triggers include cool breeze (bad with air conditioner) Causes severe trigeminal pain...left side of my face. Treatment with gabapenten helped but side effects...treatment with ibuprophen worked but developed an ulcer. I find blocking the stimulus to be the best treatment. I use a single ear muff. My doctor co wrote a paper with physician at Mayo Clinic.. was loking for it tonight ..his name Dr Purdy.
My co-worker just today mentioned that both my outer ears/lobes/rims were bright red. I thought he was joking til I looked in the mirror. The are quite warm/hot to the touch. This is a first for me at 45 yrs. of age. You know, a few days ago I started bleeding from my uterous(mis-carraige? change of life?)but not sure yet what the exact cause is. More tests to be done. Anyway, they put me on ALPROLOZAM (?) for anxiety. Do you suppose all these things could some how be connected? Weird.
My son has been getting red hot ears (usually one) for years. It is due to a sensitivity to salicylates. Any tomatoes, berries, oranges and others will cause it. Salicylate sensitivity can also cause eczema too. Go to feingold.org and you can read more about it.
We kept a food diary and whenever he ate something with a high salicylate content his ear would get red hot and swollen. Since eliminating them he has been fine. He also no longer has to take meds for ADHD. The salicylates cause hyperactivity too.
Yeahh, me and my dad have it, and it doesn't hurt it just feels like it's burning and sometimes itchy, and I get joint pain in my knee sometimes. But it doesn't hurt and I can handle it, I just need ice held to it! Glad I'm not the only one
I too have this problem. Had it quite a bit more in my late teens(now 30). Back then, quite a few girls I talked with had it also. None of the guys I knew did though. Alcohol may have been the factor back then. Now I have noticed that it happens when I am exposed to chemicals or paints. Any time I paint (even low VOC) it would happen. I used to remodel houses and so this happened quite regularly. My husband thinks I am crazy, but obviously he can see the bright red ear! 2 weeks ago our basement flooded. In the process of drying it out, we got a mildew smell. So I sprayed the floors with bleach. Not sure if it was the bleach or mildew. But the red ear lasted on and off for several days. This time my ear was itchy (never happened before) and started to get dry, to the point of having to put lotion on it. I haven't read of anyone else here, although I didn't read all posts, who had the reaction to chemicals and paints. Anyway I try to stay away from toxic stuff, seems to help!
I get this too, very often. I have discovered that I have a sulfite intolerance. Ingestion of sulfites makes my whole face, ears included, turn red and hot. Even now that I'm watching sulfites, though, I am often plagued by one or both ears turning bright red and hot.
Sulfites are in most corn-containing products, as well as soy containing products. Modified corn starch, corn syrup, etc.: all sources of sulfites. They are an ingredient, of ingredients; they are not normally listed anywhere on the food labels.
It's entirely possible that, in spite of my efforts, I'm still getting some sulfites at least 3 or 4 days a week. I have noticed that, on those days I thrown sulfite cautions to the wind, I typically suffer the hot ear(s) to a far greater extent--painfully so--than I do on days where I'm careful.
Children can develop sulfite intolerances, some theories claim, by sulfite containing foods that have not been fully digested entering into their circulatory system. The food requiring more breakdown is considered an invasion and the body mounts an immunoresponse. This leaves the child with antibodies to sulfites, similar to the mechanism used to inoculate against other types of infections.
An interesting connection that someone drew between these facts was that all soy based baby formulas he researched, contained sulfites. Children given soy based baby formula are typically given it due to digestive difficulties, making it all the more likely that some of the food may not be digested fully.
I was raised on soy milk because of stomach problems resulting from the constant antibiotics taken for ear infections. Of course, I also have severe ADD...
Marybeth, I started having panic attacks/anxiety issues about 4-5 years ago. Since then I have noticed the issue with one ear getting warmer than the other. It also happens if I get tired/sleepy at night and then stay up anyways- sometimes because I'm drinking with friends.
I've always associated it with a jump in heart rate, either from getting my 'second wind' or from a panic attack.
I have your same symtoms as you do and was wondering if you have found any causes yet? I have been to sooooo many doctors and they don't know what it is.
I just recently started noticing my ears would starting feeling warm and would be red...then I would get really bad migraines. I have always had migraines but it was odd how after my "left" ear would go thru this phase I would get a migraine. I started noticing this probably about 6mths now. I asked a lady at work about it and she was like oh it's probably just stress, but the fact was I was under no stress at the time!! I am going to ask my neurologist about the burning ear to mirgraine scenario when I go for my check up in February '08 & let you guys know if she says anything...or if she just looks at me like I'm a nut! hah
Do you take Niacin? I tried all the prescription high cholesterol medications and my legs felt so weired like numbing sharp little pains,strange pains in different areas of my leg through out the day. I stopped all of them! I started taking Niacin over the counter because I researched for a natural cure, Niacin was effective 250mg a day without the pain in my legs. Within six months my cholesterol dropped from 252 to 196. We went out for Hot Wings and beer one night, when we I started drinking a few beers my face, ears and the top of the upper part of my legs were red hot, burning real bad. For a few moments I didn't say anything, didn't want to alarm anyone, my friend across the table ask me what was wrong because my face was fire red, long story short I traced it to the Niacin. You can not have alcohol when taking Niacin. Now, I take it at night before bed, and will skip the dose if I am going out to have a few beers. I will not take it the night I have had any alcohol and everything is fine.
Hello, I have had this hot ear problem in the past usually both ears. But for the last week or so it has just been on my left ear. Along with head, neck, shoulder, back and body pain all on my left side. I also have Rosacea, it usually shows up after a shower.
My botfriend has had hot red ears for years. It seems to start in the evening and usually after a shower. It can sometimes be quite painful. It baffles me that after all these posts no-one seems to have any diagnosis, or any idea what could cause it.
Dear Friend I readr your article about red hot ears so do u got the tests and wht are the results kindly mail it to me do they occure when u think or pass through mental stress or anger.
Thanking you
IAnonymous - 13th May 2006 Hello ! My ear(sometimes both) get really hot and red for about 1-2 hours almost every evening. When I described this in a mail to doctor he said that it could be a part of the carcinoid syndrome. So now they are investigating my levels of hormones(in the blood and urine)to check if I have carcinoid (slow growing malignant cancer) or not. The results should be ready the next week.
Hi Rajnikant, I have been tested for carcinoid (5HIIA urine collection) and for systemic mastocytosis (imidazole acetic acid urine collection) and all tests have been good. My doctor takes this seriously but they can´t find the cause. Now it´s almost one year ago when I first noticed this. Regarding stress I can tell you that I have been in a very stressful situation since 1 1/2 years ago when they stared to investigate a cyst in my spleen. They didn´t know if it was malignant or benign. One year follow up of the cyst showed no change in size or shape so it´s benign but I´m still kind of stressed about it.
Hi Everyone. I have had a carcanoid tumour removed (1979) and did have the horrible flushing. I recently (2001) well I guess not so recently was diagnosed with relapsing polychondritis. It affects any cartilegde, so could affect the upper part of your ear but not your ear lobe as there is no cartiledge there. Hopes this helps.
I am 73 years old and have been having this painful, red ear problem for several years. Just last year an ENT doctor diagnosed it as relapsing polychondritis. It affects one ear or the other, sometimes both. When it happens, the ear is not only red but becomes very swollen and extremely painful. And it doesn't come and go in an hour or two as in some of the "red ear" cases here. Mine will last about ten days. It starts slowly, peaks for about 4 days and then starts, very slowly, getting better. There is no known cause or cure but it has something to do with the autoimmune system. It does just affect the cartilage and not the ear lobe. When I get an episode the only thing I can do is to take Advil for the pain and put an ice pack on my ear. I have learned to live with it. My husband has almost the same problem. But with him, the cartilage between the breast bone and the rib cage is affected and it is called Costochondritis.
Dear friend, It is possible that this apparent cyst is a Carcinoid tumor. This is a rare neurendocrine neoplasm. The test you should have done is a chromgranin-A, and an octeotide scan, e-mail for more info.
It's a blessing to connect with others who suffer from the "red ear syndrome". Years I have researched - spoke to medical professionals only to face road blocks time and time again. My first flare-up was many, many years ago in High School when the school beauty queen had choosen to share my text book in class - as the class erupted that we were "lovers" I blushed and someone in the class remarked I had red ears...years went by without even a hint of that until a few years after graduating from College - what started off as an occasional flare up turned out to be like a well timed event - each day, usually an hour or two after lunch one ear would first start off like a tinglely sting and quickly develop into a fire engine red display. (felt like I could as just strapped on a blue-flashing light on my head for the same attention getting effect). Never both ears - and the effect like everyone else has described in here - usually for me an hour - sometimes 2 - but after my red ears I had a serious calming effect. Not that I was overwhelmed before but I do seem to suffer from "low" hypertension. I felt food played a role as maybe a allergic reaction (blamed on milk or byproducts)...but changing eating habits had some effect at first but never was the cure.
However - red ears was a rare occurance during the weekends when I was not at work or it ususally was a lesser effect and later during the day.
My wife reassures me that its more in my head ... that red ears isn't so terrible but the truth that I have lost or bypassed promotions or career changes due to my burden. I dread hot days as it ususally ignites red ears - a hot car in the middle of the afternoon is a almost sure bet of another rush of hot blood hitting my ear. My ear usually is at its reddest at the upper part - usually the lower part (where woman have the ears pierced) stays somewhat unchanged. Cold water seems to do little to elevate the heat - but controlled breathing and chewing on gum has seemed to have some positive effects. I would chew gum ususally 2 hours before my timely occurance and it really seems to work.
I felt I had pinpointed the problem when years ago I read a article about red ears and those who suffer from "Fragile X"..those who suffer mild effects go through life never knowing they have this gene defect. There are obvious serious physical cases that are immediately diagnosed.
Red ears has played through much of my adult life - I have hoped it would be a passing fad - but even after nearly 15 years it makes it presence at the least opprotune time. Alcohol is a definate factor as during my wedding it flared like a 2 alarm blaze. I hope there will be a day I find out exactly what makes this happen - but it is comforting to know that I am not the only one who suffers from this. I Keep telling myself that only the truly blessed are actually given this "gifted" occurance....it has major powers when using the energy correctly. I wonder if most who suffer from red ears are overly sensitive ( I am) to the environment - people -noise - and have a strong tendancy towards artsy things. So I sign-off thanking this site for being my comfort blanket.....best of luck to all!!
If you meant hypotension when you said low hypertension, you might ask your allergist to to test you for mastocystosis. The lab test that evaluates one for this is called total serum tryptase. Not that you have this, but some of the symptoms for mastocytosis can be flushing (redness episodes) as well as episodes of hypotension (of course, hypotension is a more severe allergic reaction). If you seemed calm after the redness left (not during) as you indicated but didn't feel faint it may be nothing. However, it probably would be a good idea to get it checked just to rule it out.
Hello all, Wow there is sure alot of red earred people up in here :) Well I too suffer from this effect and it it usually one ear and sometimes both. I am 36 and have dealt with this problem most of my life. When I was a kid I would flush easy. Being a man it was rather embarrassing to have hot flashes the same time my mother was as she went through menapause lol.
It usually occurs after I get hot like after physical excercise or get in any kind of hot weather. I thought If I would tan indoors maybe it wouldn't be that noiceable. However, after hitting the tanning bed my ear would be ablaze for about 10 hours straight and is aggrivating. Sometimes for no apparent reason what so ever, I can be working in doors as I usually do in a medical office where its about 65 degrees with air conditioning and then all of a sudden my left ear just goes fire red. I can feel its on fire without even touching it. Could this be hormonal? I have not checked for cancer with special test, but my CBC and Basic metabolic panel is perfect. Once again I have been suffering from this for pretty much most of my life so I doubt its cancer. It has got to be a genetic thing is my thinking.
I also suffer from Vasomotor Rhinitis. If you do not know what this is, I would encourage you to look this up. I would like to make an educated guess here (been in the medical field for 13 years as a R.N. and Paramedic). I would probably guess that most of us have this condition (Vasomotor Rhinitis - hypersensitivity towards odors like perfume, cologne, candles, exhaust fumes, cold weather changes, cigarrete smoke etc.) You do not have to have all of these, as sometimes I can actually wear cologne and be around certain scents, but sometimes my body goes crazy. There is medication called Astelin that really helps with Vasomotor Rhinitis, but unfortunately I can't see how it could really help the entire body of a hypersensitive individual. Wish someone can help with this. Heck I would be willing to take an injection 5 times a day if it would help!
I have the same problem, almost everyday at about the same time. some days i get luck and nothing happens. I have had this problem for years. In my younger days I that it was the alcohol, but know I havent drink in 3 years. For a few years it didn't seem as bad but now it is back and seems worse in the winter months. I also hate a hot car or even worse my office at work is hot sometimes and it will just set it off. I wish there was a cure. I have been the the doctor 3 times this year and they don't know. Please keep me posted.
I also suffered from this problem - I am SOOOO sick of people commenting on it - ANYWAY - I eat porridge - rolled oats - every morning and they stopped after a few weeks - Of they start to come back I just eat some more and they go - I am very relieved!!!
Oh my, I didnt read further just yet to find your results, i had to first pick my mouth up off the floor...i never mentioned it to my doctor about my red hot ears....mine started about 2 yrs ago, it was always the right ear...now its either ear and occassionaly both....i thought it was a blood pressure symptom....until my ears or ears got hot when my blood pressure was normal....like right this minute. I sure hope its nothing serious...I considered hot flashes, but it doesnt seem to be the hot flashes associated with menopause.
Hi ! My doctor (endocrinologist) is amazed about the fact that I get this red ear every afternoon/evening (never had it before lunchtime)and they can´t find the reason in spite of very thourogh investigations. It often appears when I lay down or when it´s hot in the room. What triggers your hot ears ?
I also had a red hot ear problem. It is always the left ear. It has been happening for almost an year. I tried to investigate the reason. I have concluded that I have a habit of turning to my left when I am sleeping & I sleep with my left ear touching my pillow. I tried to change my sleeping direction to my right side & it seems to work. I have not had this problem for a week now after changing my sleeping style.
I also get hot red ears most often in the afternoon and evening but I do get it in the morning just not as bad. The worst time is laying down on my pillow or if the blanket is on my face, on either side. I dont just get it on my ears though I get it on my cheeks and ears first and it spreads to my arms. I get it when its hot or cold there arent many consistencies with it. I have thought it was anxiety (I have anxiety really bad), but I get it whenever. I thought I was allergic to certain medicines, but I stopped them and its still there. I have thought it could be a thing with fair skin but I dont think so. I thought hot flashes like menopause, but im 16 so I dont think its that. I have looked up the symptoms of mastocytosis like someone said it could be (my cousin had it when he was a baby), but I dont fit that. I have read that skin mites can do it and I had scabies years ago but I doubt its that. I looked into all the things ive seen on here that it could be but I dont fit any and I know my doctor will say its anxiety or something. my doctors have given me a different diagnosis for everything that cant be from anxiety and now I have so many diagnosises I have to think im either a hyperchondriac or have something really wrong that they cant find. I am going to see her but she doesnt ever help. oh ya another thing thats been worse lately is that I have a headache constantly but ive had bad headaches for years and these arent bad just annoying.
If anyone has any ideas let me know it just might help.
I am 53 years old and have had this syndrome since as long as i can remember and finally just found out that it was a syndrome... I doubt that this has any relation to cancer since i have never been sick except for an occasional cold all my life. I wouldn't worry about it.
GOSH MIKE YOU ARE SO RIGHT SOON AS I SAW THAT POST BY MIMIRECO I THOUGHT THATS IT MY LIFES OVER I HAVE CANCER BUT I UNDERSTAND HE OR SHE WAS JUST FRIGHTEND BY THE POSSIBLITY I KNOW I AM..
did you find out why your ears were doing this? this has been happening to me and basically at the same time of day...one of the doctors i work with said something about carcinoid syndrome. Just wondered what you found out
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Hello ! My ear(sometimes both) get really hot and red for about 1-2 hours almost every evening. When I described this in a mail to doctor he said that it could be a part of the carcinoid syndrome. So now they are investigating my levels of hormones(in the blood and urine)to check if I have carcinoid (slow growing malignant cancer) or not. The results should be ready the next week.
Parent comment
I find that when my ears go red I am usually tired or stressed. But if I hit the treadmill for about 20 minutes afterwards I notice that the red ears are all gone.
Replies
My mother is suffering from this hot ear problem for the last 2 months. And now it has become absolutely unbearable. She had advanced breast cancer 8+ years ago and responded to treatment. We are very worried if this is a case of remission. Can you update us on your check-up results. Regards.
jasmeet (new delhi, india)
Hi !
My results were good and I was feeling good all summer without any "flushes". Now they have tested me for systemic mastocytosis and the results were good. Now my ears and sometimes my face still gets burning red. It´s almost always my right ear and it triggers by temperature change and alcohol.
I also have red rashes beside my nose (rosacea like).
Try looking up erythromelalgia on the internet the symptoms you are displaying seem to fit with this. most people get in their hands feet or anywhere really but it is not uncommon to get facial flares. It is a very rare condition and most dr's dont know anything about it so you will not be diagnosed with it very easily. If you check out this on yahoo groups, "TEA" The erythromelalgia association, YOU WILL GET MORE USEFUL INFORMATION TO GO BACK TO YOUR DR WITH. It may not be this but it sounds like it could be, the burning is painful and can be cooled by cold water soaking if it is EM.
what is the web site for this? My son, 2 years old has this problem.
I am just seeking info about this red ear situation for my grandson...age 6. When he is tired (we think) in the evenings one or (rarely) both ears will turn bright red and get warm. Did you find out any more info?
My 6-yr-old son has the same problem. I started to notice it when he was a toddler, during bath time, in the evening. Usually it doesn't seem to bother him, but the other day for the first time it was very painful for him.
Wow - this is more common than I thought! I was just searching for the red, hot ear problem because my 7 year old has it. He's had this problem for almost a year. It happens at all times of the day...sometimes one ear, sometimes both.
Crazy, I just got online to check out why my son's ear (just one at a time) flares up every now and then. This has been bothering my 7 year old for about a year now. He has had the problem w/out pain for several years. I wonder why there are so many young boys with this problem?? I am definitely going to check out the TEA site.
I am stunned to see so many posts! I just got done holding a wet, cool cloth on my 7 year old son's ear. He has had red, hot ears for several years but it has just started to be painful. It comes on in the evening hours during all four seasons. Very strange that there are so many young boys with this problem!
I am strangely relieved that so many people have this. Tonight I have one hot, red ear (left), so I googled it and found this site. I do wish someone had a definite answer though...
i just came on here because my son has been having this problem for a year and he is only 3 now... I thought he might be getting ear infections.. but nothing on the internet says thats a sign,his ear doesnt hurt just bothers him because its hot... and now he makes me blow and it and we have to stick col
My 6 year old has one ear flaming hot, he has been having ear infections, and a cold. I actually wonder if it is chapped, it is below zero out for us lately and his face gets really chapped. I see a trend with 6-7 year old boys tho....weird
fantastic...who would have thought you were all out there..... its actually my husband that has one hot red ear and one cold ear in the evening...please tell me he should drink less alcohol and then it might help with the snoring later on !!
My son just asked me to go on-line and find out why his ears turn so red and hot at night....this is very strange to see so many kids with this same affliction. Has anyone talked to a doctorabout this? The one connection with cancer scares me to say the least! My son is 6 years old and just this past month the red ears have become painful
my six year old has this too and we go to the pediatrician soon. I have heard that food allergies can cause this, and I am allergic to wheat and suspect he might be too. It could also be swimmer's ear, which is a bacterial infection. hope you go to the pediatrician and we can both share answers. thanks!
Blair, oddly enough just this afternoon I drank about 4 oz of asparagus puree and right now I am experiencing my left ear very hot and red. I am 45 years old and never to the best of my knowledge experienced this before. Like everyone else I googled it to find out more. I don't even eat asparagus normally but was reading how asparagus has these amazing medicinal properties. My interest and reason for trying it revolved around busting kidney stones. I still have about 10 oz in the refrigerator, boy is it nasty. You may be correct about the food allergies. I have allergies to almost everything outdoors and indoors for that matter. I know I am allergic to tomatoes and suspect allergies to some corn product. Perhaps I'm having a reaction to the asparagus.
Hi Ive had hot ears, back of neck associated with anxiety at random times for a few years. Usually after wine, beer, prawns, salmon, etc. It responds to antihistamine tablets after 40min-1hr. It began to get worse and even though Im a doctor myself I couldnt figure it out. Initially my allergy team thought I had systemic mastocytosis, but it turned out in the end I had an intolerance to Sodium Metabisulfite and suddenly everything made sense. This preservative is in everything and your reaction to it depends on how much you expose yourself-even up to 48hrs later. See these links:
http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/factsheets/Factsulphites.htm
http://www.learningtarget.com/nosulfites/index.htm
http://www.allergy.org.au/content/view/128/1/
thanks a LOT. My EARS ARE HOT AND RED and patches on the neck too. I have eaten takout. This is agony.
hi, my 8year old daughter same issue withnher left ear becoming hot and turning red. recently i asked a doctor and she seemed very dumdfounded without an answer.I think u mentioned the possibility of a food allergy.
Hi Sue, March 2nd, 09
My mother has had the hot ear her whole life. (Left ear) I am 41 and have had it my whole life same ear. Now my 12 yr old son had his first hot ear also left ear. I have never found any Dr that knows why. I am in good health no problems. My mom the same way. This is my second hot ear today. My ear burns red and is so hot to the touch. I put ice on it and it doesn't even help. The only thing that we can figure is we seem tired when this happens.
hello i have had this problem since i can remember and my 6 year old has the same problem so much so that he has to put ice on it too one burning hot red ear i usually get the burning ear and cheek when i get out of a hot shower or have alcohol sometimes i get it for no reason my mom has this saying that when your ear is burning it means someone is talking about you lol. i wish it was that simple i have looked all over the internet for the reason and haven't found one i guess this is it at least its good to know that there are other people out there who have the same thing and im not alone
If you ever find out what causes this, LET ME KNOW! Sometimes my face will get hot and a burning sensation and red, then that will go away when my right ear gets red and hot, then it moves to my left ear.
It is SOOO good to learn that so many other people (of all ages) have the RHE (red hot ear) syndrome. Mine is always the right ear. I am 59 years old. The first tiime was last year when I was getting my hair done. The beautician thought it was the blow dryer. It doesn't happen frequently, but when it does - it is uncomfortable and embarassing! My doctor is watching my blood pressure. When I told him about my RHE - he said he had never heard of that!
This is usually from an allergic reation to a chemical. As a hair dresser, I have seen & experienced this many times. Try & use a different type of color, see if it doesnt change. It may also be a sensitivity to heat or chemical also. (Not necesserrily allergy).
Thank you for responding, and thank you to the masters of this site for letting me know you had done so!
I don't seem to be having the RHE too frequently (right now!) I will ask my beautician when I see her next week if she changed chemicals!
Hi Suzanne,I just read your story it is simmilar to mine exept in my case it is my nose.it swells up is deep red painfull to touch an i also have a tremendous headach too sometimes and feel powerless.i consulted different doctores and finally im seeing a doctor for rheumatism.He is cecking me for relapsed polychondritis and morbus wegener now.both not good but i hope i will get a diagnose and treatment.:(
.
Hi, I wanted to reply because you mentioned pain. I have severe migraines since I was a kid. I'm 47 now and I get the hot, red ear. Almost always the right ear. Then the headache comes on the left side. Occasionally my right ear will get hot and red, but I never get the headache wen that happens.
In the last 3 years this has been happening to my son. It's the same thing with him. Right ear, left headache. He does not however get the heat/redness in the left ear.
The weird thing is that it will happen on the same day to both of us. Even if we eat different foods, etc. I think it is the weather. The change in barometer, it's Gonna rain, or an extreme change in the weather.
Like a 20 to 30 degree difference in the temperature.
Another interesting correlation is that Auto-Immune diseases run in my family. My grandma had Multiple Sclerosis, my sister has Lupus, Sjrogens Syndrome, my mom has Rheumatoid Arthritis, I have Lupus, mad my oldest sister has an Ataxia disease. All autoimmune. Your body is literally attacking itself. Thinking your good cells are defected, diseased etc.
I just read that they think Migraines are an Autoimmune disease. Migraines are not a headache. They are a neurological diseases from the brain. There are many symptoms, headache is one, and so is vascular disruptions. Veins and arteries that increase or decrease in size, thus affecting blood flow! Thus affecting oxygen to your body, which is why oxygen helps some people. I use a nice pack on my ear and try to help the blood flow to regulate.
Have you noticed any other strange symptoms when this happens to you? No matter how stupid they sound?
Write down everything. Does this happen during weather changes? What is different.. Etc?
Good luck
Let me start by saying that my intent is to inform and not to frighten. I suffered severe chemical Truma to my ears, and shortly thereafter I started to experience RES. After some time the problem dissappeared. My left ear was the one to get hot and red, and it would last for about an hour or so. The problem returned, but very sporadically. It's important to note that the ear lobe does not get red as there is no cartilage In the lobe. I have researched this problem, and The results are frightening. Red ears, or red ear, is a marker for a serious autoimmune desease, Relspsing Polychrondritis. When Coupling the red ear with cartilage issues, mainly joint pain, my concern level went vertical. RPC is a very rare desease. It is difficult to diagnose, and little is known about this desease. Only 3.5 people out of a million are diagnosed with RPC: there is no cure, treatment options are limited to NSAIs, and steroids, and the complexion of the desease changes with regulalarity. I have had a sed rate, & C- reactive test done. The sed rate is slightly elevated, but the c- reactive is normal. I will discuss this with my GP to determine where to go from here.
My 6 year old has had this problem for the last 4 years. I was told it was allergies and that it happens when he eats anything with soy, tomatoes and chocolate. He is now getting the red burning ears when he runs around and plays hard. Now I am not so sure it is food related???????
Hi Lisa, My 7 year old also his this problem, usually just in one ear. Sometimes it turns red for no apparent reason, other times it's while he's doing his homework or reading to me. It makes me wonder if it's a physical symptom of stress or anxiety. Has anyone else noticed this connection?
Wow I too am in shock over how many people are trying to get info on the red hot ears. My seven year old has just started having this problem. He does not have any pain on the inside of the ear, but the outsides get red and hot.... What is causing this??? any ideas???
i have not been able to find anything else out,though recently my sons ear is getting worse and i noticed that his cheek is doing it as well only stay for about a 1/2 usually its been happening since he was 2 and starting happening more recently sinced we moved into our house,but his does seem to do it more when he runs around the house or jumps on the bed,so I dont know... I didnt know there were so many kids with this problem,I havent talked to his dr. yet
Well you guys don't have to feel to bad, I'm going on 32 and I've had it from time to time for years. In the last week or so almost every day I have had my cheeks feel warm, my wife says they are a little red but not much. (I'm white but the like 1/64 indian I am keeps me pretty tan if I'm in the sun at all) So I wouldn't call me fair skined. Anyone have an awnser?
I am 32 also and seem to have one red hot ear (left). It usually occurs during mid-late afternoon and/or evening. It typically happens either when I'm stressed, tired, or both it seems. Some weeks are better than others but the red ear happens least once a week. I've probably had it for a couple of years now. Not really painful but just uncomfortable. I don't suffer from ADHD and consider myself in good health. I don't seem ot be allergic to any foods.
I noticed that you mentioned that you do not have ADHD. Is the red ear a symptom of ADHD? My 7 year old son has just been diagnosed with ADHD and also has one red ear on a regular basis.
My four year old son also suffers from red ear syndrome, usually just one, his left and it seems to occur in the evening or when he is tired. We just assumed he got this from my husband as he also gets red ears, especially when he gets angry or has a few drinks. I am surprised how many people suffer from this and will keep reading this website on a regular basis.
This just started happening to my son (usually left ear, sometimes both), he is two. I am very concerned about it. He is allergic to dairy. His cousin who is almost 4 also has this, he is autistic and allergic to practically everything.
This happens to me a lot too ... the good thing is that normally it doesn t happen at school =D
My 5 year old son is experiencing this same hot ears. He is very smart and understands things around him that will be cool to his ears. He started a few weeks agao and it was after he ate White Tortilla chips. You can see them get flaming hot and they are hot to the touch. The only ingredients are white corn, soybean oil, sunflower oil and salt. He will now not eat white chips since it is so painful. But he is still experiencing the symptoms especially around bedtime.
Intresting to hear that he was eatting white tortilla chips, what kind were they? That's a type of chip I eat all the time. You mentioned his was painful though, Personally I feel no pain assosated with it, I just have warmth, does he has one ear hot the other cold?
My 13yo daughter has been getting the red, hot, painful ear for about 8months. She claims she started getting it when she started swimming lessons, but she has a weird memory.
Anyway, check out phenol allergy and the feingold diet. I am getting ready to try this with my daughter. Also, as for the phenol allergy, it is associated with a lot of our fav foods, such as tomatoes, bell peppers, oranges, etc...there seems to be an enzyme you can put on the food that will stop the phenol effect.
I am in the very early stages of investigating this, so sorry I don't have any definitive info on this.
Good luck!
BINGO! reading up on phenol allergy and food intollerance seems to answer both my mother's Red Hot Ear and my son's systemic mastocytosis symptoms (tests came back neg. for masto but the symptoms were right). The culprit in both cases seems to be tomatoes (and possibly an apple chaser). We will experiment with my mother's diet. We will not take any chances with my son, he goes straight to anaphylaxis.
So I just finished up reading quickly and noticed several common things, and wonder if any one has input. Mostly Boys! Neck Issue. ADD or ADHD, eczema, asthma. My son has all of it. Has anyone had good results with Chiropractic? Maybe we need a new one....
my son has ADD, asthma and allergies and is lactose intolerant he gets this in both ears and get very hot in the face he is 13, I thought this was a new problem but looking back he has always gotten really hot and red in the face, with so many other issues he tends not to complain until lately when he plays his drums or gets overheated his ears burn bad and he peels his shirt off when its cold out he will play basketball with a thin tank top, to control the burning.
Interesting....I am a 53 year old woman and it seems that every fall I get a red, itchy ear....usually the right ear but sometimes the left, and sometimes both! This fall it has been almost constant. l First the right ear...(the pinnea), that cleared, then it was the left ear lobe, now, it's both. The itch is so intense, and almost internal...the little scratch now and then is gratifying but quickly intensifies redness, swelling, and spreading. It would probably only last a couple days if I could just leave it alone. I alternately apply hydrocortisone cream and benadryl topical spray...some relief. The main reason I am commenting is that I had severe childhood asthma, had occasional eczema and have been diagnosed with ADD. Good Grief! Could this all be intertwined? Additionally, I had chili last night for dinner.... tomatoes? I've always figured that it was some type of allergen in the environment, hair spray or different pillow....foam? feathers? Don't know, but it is very irritating for sure. Hanna
Debbie, My son has the red ear syndrome which flared up tonight. As we were reading your comments we realized that my son had eaten tomato soup and an apple. Have you found anything else out about this combination of food and the correlation to the red ears?
Tamara, My mom has been watching her diet and so far no more "Red Hot Ear". I talked to my son about it and he hasn't had an "attack" for a couple years, but he will be watching his diet. I knew when he was young that he was sensitive to tomatoes (his face would break out in a rash whenever he ate spaghetti). Good Luck
wow! My son is 4, and has been having this problem for a couple of months now, had a flair up tonight, and had eaten salsa, and tortilla chips... maybe there is something to this...
My son also has this issue with his ears. Tonight was extreme. By any chance did the Feingold Diet work? If not has anything seemed to help? Would greatly appreciate any direction.
thanks
Leigh Ann
Hello, Did you ever find anything out on the swimming and what type of water was she in. My son started to get hive after going to the YMCA pool, which is saline water. Now he has hot ear. Just happened first time tonight. could anyone please tell me what they have learned.
I was just at my friend's house when I noticed that one of my ears was bright red. I had not been touching it or anything. She said that, for years, she had noticed that when she, her husband, or one of her 3 kids had a fever, the one in question always had one red ear. So I asked her to take my temp. and, sure enough, it was elevated. I had never heard of this and don't know if it will help anyone, but I thought I'd share. I could not find anything to support this theory on the net.
I will have to check my temp next time I have an "episode" have not had one for a little bit, very strange that I had it so much for a little bit and it went away. Crazy stuff. Have fun guys and keep me posted. Will let you know about tempp next time it happens.
So funny! I have been experiencing red, hot ears for as long as I can remember. All of my siblings and my mother have the same problem. Sometimes it happens when we have had alcohol, are stressed, hot, and sometimes when we are completely relaxed. It's not painful at all. I can't figure it out. My mother and sister are European. My brother and I are European decendant. I've mentioned it to my Doc and he has no idea. I've never done a temp check. Will do next time.
Do any of you have joint pain?
I actually do. Most recently in my hips. But I have experienced joint pain off and on in other areas. Why do you ask? RA maybe? I had a lot of foot pain and had x-rays that came back completely normal...
Yes I have joint pain but not related to the ear thing, just old age. (32 years old :-) ) Ok so not old age just feel old. :-) Had quite a spell there for a little while of Flush face and one ear thing (not always at same time) but not so much lately (sorry, spelling). Nothing intresting to report. Have not check temp due to not having one.
My son had the flu a few months ago and then a problem where the virus moved into his hip causing intense pain. He also has eczema. Yesterday morning he woke up with a red hot itchy ear. I thought it was where he had slept on it, but it was still there at bed time tonight.
I have joint pain,muscle pain, i hurt all over cant slee most of time,doc. has no clue. my ear burns like it is on fire it hurt extremly bad. HELP
look into RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS OR CHONDRITIS, it is very rare but affects cartilage and joints it is usually painful and just check with your Rheumatiologist, it usually affects people in the 50's but my 6 year old was just diagnosed with it. All my 6 year old has is continuous red swelling of right ear and redness of left ear. rarely a fever, high energy and it just seems odd for a child to have this but, he was just diagnosed so i am looking into it more. I just came across this web site. good luck.
Are you taking nexium or some other type of PPI drug for GERD?
Hot red ear gives me a migraine on the opposite side of head. Not my own dx of migraine, but the neurologist. My son gets same thing, red, hot ear then migraine.
I just read in a medical journal that doctors think migraines are an. Autoimmune disease. Remember, you do not have to have a headache to have migraines. That is 1 symptom. Usually people do, but not always. You mentioned joint pain. Possible RA?..
If so, maybe the read ear is from migraines.
My daughter has joint pain all over & the one hot ear. She also has eczema (sp?). She has not been in to see the Rheumatologist yet, but I wonder if it's simply a form of eczema. I hope it is not arthritis of any kind for you.
Interesting, my son(5) has had eczema for a number of years and for the last few weeks he is now complaining of a hot ear???
I first noticed my red ear issue when I was in my mid 20's (now 44). It seemed to happen when I was extremely stressed or angry (which was often, at least when I worked for Walgreen's as a Pharmacist in Milwaukee). The ear (rarely both) turned bright red, began to throb, and was hot to the touch. No sweating occurred. Friends and co-workers found it highly amusing, but the severe unilateral headache that followed was nothing to laugh about.
I have had classic migraines since the age of 7, and Chronic Paroxysmal Hemicrania (CPH) since 27 years of age. I have severe cervical disc disease and believe that nerve impingement has a lot to do with my difficulties.
What a mess! It's a rare day that I DON'T have a headache of some sort. I feel sorry for the loved ones who feel sorry for me!
I was diagnosed by a nurologist with red ear syndrome about 5 or 6 years ago. At that time about 37 reported cases..people with history of migraines, TMJ and cervical disc problems. Triggers include cool breeze (bad with air conditioner) Causes severe trigeminal pain...left side of my face. Treatment with gabapenten helped but side effects...treatment with ibuprophen worked but developed an ulcer. I find blocking the stimulus to be the best treatment. I use a single ear muff. My doctor co wrote a paper with physician at Mayo Clinic.. was loking for it tonight ..his name Dr Purdy.
Betty
N.S, Canada
Hi Betty,
I get migraines, red ear syndrome and have lupus. But I never thought about my neck. I have a compressed disk and no curve in it.
My co-worker just today mentioned that both my outer ears/lobes/rims were bright red. I thought he was joking til I looked in the mirror. The are quite warm/hot to the touch. This is a first for me at 45 yrs. of age. You know, a few days ago I started bleeding from my uterous(mis-carraige? change of life?)but not sure yet what the exact cause is. More tests to be done. Anyway, they put me on ALPROLOZAM (?) for anxiety. Do you suppose all these things could some how be connected? Weird.
My son has been getting red hot ears (usually one) for years. It is due to a sensitivity to salicylates. Any tomatoes, berries, oranges and others will cause it. Salicylate sensitivity can also cause eczema too. Go to feingold.org and you can read more about it.
how do you know its salicylate sensitivity? any form of testing?
We kept a food diary and whenever he ate something with a high salicylate content his ear would get red hot and swollen. Since eliminating them he has been fine. He also no longer has to take meds for ADHD. The salicylates cause hyperactivity too.
Yeahh, me and my dad have it, and it doesn't hurt it just feels like it's burning and sometimes itchy, and I get joint pain in my knee sometimes. But it doesn't hurt and I can handle it, I just need ice held to it! Glad I'm not the only one
I too have this problem. Had it quite a bit more in my late teens(now 30). Back then, quite a few girls I talked with had it also. None of the guys I knew did though. Alcohol may have been the factor back then. Now I have noticed that it happens when I am exposed to chemicals or paints. Any time I paint (even low VOC) it would happen. I used to remodel houses and so this happened quite regularly. My husband thinks I am crazy, but obviously he can see the bright red ear! 2 weeks ago our basement flooded. In the process of drying it out, we got a mildew smell. So I sprayed the floors with bleach. Not sure if it was the bleach or mildew. But the red ear lasted on and off for several days. This time my ear was itchy (never happened before) and started to get dry, to the point of having to put lotion on it. I haven't read of anyone else here, although I didn't read all posts, who had the reaction to chemicals and paints. Anyway I try to stay away from toxic stuff, seems to help!
I get this too, very often. I have discovered that I have a sulfite intolerance. Ingestion of sulfites makes my whole face, ears included, turn red and hot. Even now that I'm watching sulfites, though, I am often plagued by one or both ears turning bright red and hot.
Sulfites are in most corn-containing products, as well as soy containing products. Modified corn starch, corn syrup, etc.: all sources of sulfites. They are an ingredient, of ingredients; they are not normally listed anywhere on the food labels.
It's entirely possible that, in spite of my efforts, I'm still getting some sulfites at least 3 or 4 days a week. I have noticed that, on those days I thrown sulfite cautions to the wind, I typically suffer the hot ear(s) to a far greater extent--painfully so--than I do on days where I'm careful.
Children can develop sulfite intolerances, some theories claim, by sulfite containing foods that have not been fully digested entering into their circulatory system. The food requiring more breakdown is considered an invasion and the body mounts an immunoresponse. This leaves the child with antibodies to sulfites, similar to the mechanism used to inoculate against other types of infections.
An interesting connection that someone drew between these facts was that all soy based baby formulas he researched, contained sulfites. Children given soy based baby formula are typically given it due to digestive difficulties, making it all the more likely that some of the food may not be digested fully.
I was raised on soy milk because of stomach problems resulting from the constant antibiotics taken for ear infections. Of course, I also have severe ADD...
Marybeth, I started having panic attacks/anxiety issues about 4-5 years ago. Since then I have noticed the issue with one ear getting warmer than the other. It also happens if I get tired/sleepy at night and then stay up anyways- sometimes because I'm drinking with friends.
I've always associated it with a jump in heart rate, either from getting my 'second wind' or from a panic attack.
I have your same symtoms as you do and was wondering if you have found any causes yet? I have been to sooooo many doctors and they don't know what it is.
I just recently started noticing my ears would starting feeling warm and would be red...then I would get really bad migraines. I have always had migraines but it was odd how after my "left" ear would go thru this phase I would get a migraine. I started noticing this probably about 6mths now. I asked a lady at work about it and she was like oh it's probably just stress, but the fact was I was under no stress at the time!! I am going to ask my neurologist about the burning ear to mirgraine scenario when I go for my check up in February '08 & let you guys know if she says anything...or if she just looks at me like I'm a nut! hah
Do you take Niacin? I tried all the prescription high cholesterol medications and my legs felt so weired like numbing sharp little pains,strange pains in different areas of my leg through out the day. I stopped all of them! I started taking Niacin over the counter because I researched for a natural cure, Niacin was effective 250mg a day without the pain in my legs. Within six months my cholesterol dropped from 252 to 196. We went out for Hot Wings and beer one night, when we I started drinking a few beers my face, ears and the top of the upper part of my legs were red hot, burning real bad. For a few moments I didn't say anything, didn't want to alarm anyone, my friend across the table ask me what was wrong
because my face was fire red, long story short I traced it to the Niacin. You can not have alcohol when taking Niacin.
Now, I take it at night before bed, and will skip the dose if I am going out to have a few beers. I will not take it the night I have had any alcohol and everything is fine.
Hope this helps some of you.
Hello,
I have had this hot ear problem in the past usually both ears. But for the last week or so it has just been on my left ear. Along with head, neck, shoulder, back and body pain all on my left side. I also have Rosacea, it usually shows up after a shower.
Hi,
My botfriend has had hot red ears for years. It seems to start in the evening and usually after a shower. It can sometimes be quite painful. It baffles me that after all these posts no-one seems to have any diagnosis, or any idea what could cause it.
Dear Friend
I readr your article about red hot ears
so do u got the tests and wht are the results kindly mail it to me
do they occure when u think or pass through mental stress or anger.
Thanking you
IAnonymous - 13th May 2006
Hello ! My ear(sometimes both) get really hot and red for about 1-2 hours almost every evening. When I described this in a mail to doctor he said that it could be a part of the carcinoid syndrome. So now they are investigating my levels of hormones(in the blood and urine)to check if I have carcinoid (slow growing malignant cancer) or not. The results should be ready the next week.
Hi Rajnikant,
I have been tested for carcinoid (5HIIA urine collection) and for systemic mastocytosis (imidazole acetic acid urine collection) and all tests have been good. My doctor takes this seriously but they can´t find the cause.
Now it´s almost one year ago when I first noticed this. Regarding stress I can tell you that I have been in a very stressful situation since 1 1/2 years ago when they stared to investigate a cyst in my spleen. They didn´t know if it was malignant or benign. One year follow up of the cyst showed no change in size or shape so it´s benign but I´m still kind of stressed about it.
Hi Everyone. I have had a carcanoid tumour removed (1979) and did have the horrible flushing. I recently (2001) well I guess not so recently was diagnosed with relapsing polychondritis. It affects any cartilegde, so could affect the upper part of your ear but not your ear lobe as there is no cartiledge there. Hopes this helps.
I am 73 years old and have been having this painful, red ear problem for several years. Just last year an ENT doctor diagnosed it as relapsing polychondritis. It affects one ear or the other, sometimes both. When it happens, the ear is not only red but becomes very swollen and extremely painful. And it doesn't come and go in an hour or two as in some of the "red ear" cases here. Mine will last about ten days. It starts slowly, peaks for about 4 days and then starts, very slowly, getting better. There is no known cause or cure but it has something to do with the autoimmune system. It does just affect the cartilage and not the ear lobe. When I get an episode the only thing I can do is to take Advil for the pain and put an ice pack on my ear. I have learned to live with it. My husband has almost the same problem. But with him, the cartilage between the breast bone and the rib cage is affected and it is called Costochondritis.
Dear friend, It is possible that this apparent cyst is a Carcinoid tumor. This is a rare neurendocrine neoplasm. The test you should have done is a chromgranin-A, and an octeotide scan,
e-mail for more info.
It's a blessing to connect with others who suffer from the "red ear syndrome". Years I have researched - spoke to medical professionals only to face road blocks time and time again. My first flare-up was many, many years ago in High School when the school beauty queen had choosen to share my text book in class - as the class erupted that we were "lovers" I blushed and someone in the class remarked I had red ears...years went by without even a hint of that until a few years after graduating from College - what started off as an occasional flare up turned out to be like a well timed event - each day, usually an hour or two after lunch one ear would first start off like a tinglely sting and quickly develop into a fire engine red display. (felt like I could as just strapped on a blue-flashing light on my head for the same attention getting effect). Never both ears - and the effect like everyone else has described in here - usually for me an hour - sometimes 2 - but after my red ears I had a serious calming effect. Not that I was overwhelmed before but I do seem to suffer from "low" hypertension. I felt food played a role as maybe a allergic reaction (blamed on milk or byproducts)...but changing eating habits had some effect at first but never was the cure.
However - red ears was a rare occurance during the weekends when I was not at work or it ususally was a lesser effect and later during the day.
My wife reassures me that its more in my head ... that red ears isn't so terrible but the truth that I have lost or bypassed promotions or career changes due to my burden. I dread hot days as it ususally ignites red ears - a hot car in the middle of the afternoon is a almost sure bet of another rush of hot blood hitting my ear. My ear usually is at its reddest at the upper part - usually the lower part (where woman have the ears pierced) stays somewhat unchanged. Cold water seems to do little to elevate the heat - but controlled breathing and chewing on gum has seemed to have some positive effects. I would chew gum ususally 2 hours before my timely occurance and it really seems to work.
I felt I had pinpointed the problem when years ago I read a article about red ears and those who suffer from "Fragile X"..those who suffer mild effects go through life never knowing they have this gene defect. There are obvious serious physical cases that are immediately diagnosed.
Red ears has played through much of my adult life - I have hoped it would be a passing fad - but even after nearly 15 years it makes it presence at the least opprotune time. Alcohol is a definate factor as during my wedding it flared like a 2 alarm blaze. I hope there will be a day I find out exactly what makes this happen - but it is comforting to know that I am not the only one who suffers from this. I Keep telling myself that only the truly blessed are actually given this "gifted" occurance....it has major powers when using the energy correctly. I wonder if most who suffer from red ears are overly sensitive ( I am) to the environment - people -noise - and have a strong tendancy towards artsy things. So I sign-off thanking this site for being my comfort blanket.....best of luck to all!!
If you meant hypotension when you said low hypertension, you might ask your allergist to to test you for mastocystosis. The lab test that evaluates one for this is called total serum tryptase. Not that you have this, but some of the symptoms for mastocytosis can be flushing (redness episodes) as well as episodes of hypotension (of course, hypotension is a more severe allergic reaction). If you seemed calm after the redness left (not during) as you indicated but didn't feel faint it may be nothing. However, it probably would be a good idea to get it checked just to rule it out.
Hello all, Wow there is sure alot of red earred people up in here :) Well I too suffer from this effect and it it usually one ear and sometimes both. I am 36 and have dealt with this problem most of my life. When I was a kid I would flush easy. Being a man it was rather embarrassing to have hot flashes the same time my mother was as she went through menapause lol.
It usually occurs after I get hot like after physical excercise or get in any kind of hot weather. I thought If I would tan indoors maybe it wouldn't be that noiceable. However, after hitting the tanning bed my ear would be ablaze for about 10 hours straight and is aggrivating. Sometimes for no apparent reason what so ever, I can be working in doors as I usually do in a medical office where its about 65 degrees with air conditioning and then all of a sudden my left ear just goes fire red. I can feel its on fire without even touching it. Could this be hormonal? I have not checked for cancer with special test, but my CBC and Basic metabolic panel is perfect. Once again I have been suffering from this for pretty much most of my life so I doubt its cancer. It has got to be a genetic thing is my thinking.
I also suffer from Vasomotor Rhinitis. If you do not know what this is, I would encourage you to look this up. I would like to make an educated guess here (been in the medical field for 13 years as a R.N. and Paramedic). I would probably guess that most of us have this condition (Vasomotor Rhinitis - hypersensitivity towards odors like perfume, cologne, candles, exhaust fumes, cold weather changes, cigarrete smoke etc.) You do not have to have all of these, as sometimes I can actually wear cologne and be around certain scents, but sometimes my body goes crazy. There is medication called Astelin that really helps with Vasomotor Rhinitis, but unfortunately I can't see how it could really help the entire body of a hypersensitive individual. Wish someone can help with this. Heck I would be willing to take an injection 5 times a day if it would help!
I have the same problem, almost everyday at about the same time. some days i get luck and nothing happens. I have had this problem for years. In my younger days I that it was the alcohol, but know I havent drink in 3 years. For a few years it didn't seem as bad but now it is back and seems worse in the winter months. I also hate a hot car or even worse my office at work is hot sometimes and it will just set it off. I wish there was a cure. I have been the the doctor 3 times this year and they don't know. Please keep me posted.
Hi.
Could you solved this problem? i have EXACTLY your same condition, in my case only happens in winter
thanks in advance!
Agustín
I also suffered from this problem - I am SOOOO sick of people commenting on it - ANYWAY - I eat porridge - rolled oats - every morning and they stopped after a few weeks - Of they start to come back I just eat some more and they go - I am very relieved!!!
eatting how MUCH and for how long.....plz help./...hope you r not joking
I take 1000 mg of cinnamon per day after lunch, I cut down on the sugar & salt and my red ears were gone in 2 days and have not return.
so 1g would do the trick ??
Oh my, I didnt read further just yet to find your results, i had to first pick my mouth up off the floor...i never mentioned it to my doctor about my red hot ears....mine started about 2 yrs ago, it was always the right ear...now its either ear and occassionaly both....i thought it was a blood pressure symptom....until my ears or ears got hot when my blood pressure was normal....like right this minute.
I sure hope its nothing serious...I considered hot flashes, but it doesnt seem to be the hot flashes associated with menopause.
Hi !
My doctor (endocrinologist) is amazed about the fact that I get this red ear every afternoon/evening (never had it before lunchtime)and they can´t find the reason in spite of very thourogh investigations. It often appears when I lay down or when it´s hot in the room. What triggers your hot ears ?
I also had a red hot ear problem. It is always the left ear. It has been happening for almost an year. I tried to investigate the reason. I have concluded that I have a habit of turning to my left when I am sleeping & I sleep with my left ear touching my pillow. I tried to change my sleeping direction to my right side & it seems to work. I have not had this problem for a week now after changing my sleeping style.
I also get hot red ears most often in the afternoon and evening but I do get it in the morning just not as bad. The worst time is laying down on my pillow or if the blanket is on my face, on either side. I dont just get it on my ears though I get it on my cheeks and ears first and it spreads to my arms. I get it when its hot or cold there arent many consistencies with it. I have thought it was anxiety (I have anxiety really bad), but I get it whenever. I thought I was allergic to certain medicines, but I stopped them and its still there. I have thought it could be a thing with fair skin but I dont think so. I thought hot flashes like menopause, but im 16 so I dont think its that. I have looked up the symptoms of mastocytosis like someone said it could be (my cousin had it when he was a baby), but I dont fit that. I have read that skin mites can do it and I had scabies years ago but I doubt its that. I looked into all the things ive seen on here that it could be but I dont fit any and I know my doctor will say its anxiety or something. my doctors have given me a different diagnosis for everything that cant be from anxiety and now I have so many diagnosises I have to think im either a hyperchondriac or have something really wrong that they cant find. I am going to see her but she doesnt ever help. oh ya another thing thats been worse lately is that I have a headache constantly but ive had bad headaches for years and these arent bad just annoying.
If anyone has any ideas let me know it just might help.
I am 53 years old and have had this syndrome since as long as i can remember and finally just found out that it was a syndrome... I doubt that this has any relation to cancer since i have never been sick except for an occasional cold all my life. I wouldn't worry about it.
Please let me know when you find out. I also have the same problem. My left ear gets so red it hurts. Sometimes my heat rate speeds up.
WHAT WERE THE RESULTS OF THE TESTS FOR SLOW GROWING CANCER? My ears get red, swollen and painful.
why would you post a comment like this
everybody who reads this with "hot ears" is going to think they have cancer
GOSH MIKE YOU ARE SO RIGHT SOON AS I SAW THAT POST BY MIMIRECO I THOUGHT THATS IT MY LIFES OVER I HAVE CANCER BUT I UNDERSTAND HE OR SHE WAS JUST FRIGHTEND BY THE POSSIBLITY I KNOW I AM..
did you find out why your ears were doing this? this has been happening to me and basically at the same time of day...one of the doctors i work with said something about carcinoid syndrome. Just wondered what you found out
DID YOU GET YOUR RESULTS?