Wierd smell behind my ears
aberrob posted:
Hi everyone, I'm new here. I've been looking for help with this but haven't been able to find anything yet.
I'm a long time sufferer of dandruff. Also, over the past couple years, I've been getting itchy, flaky skin on my face, which I think from researching online is related to a tinea fungus. I get it mainly on my eyebrows and when i have facial hair. Lately, after a lot of sweating (sometimes no sweating required) I get a weird smell and occasional itching behind my ears. If I wipe behind my ears and smell it, it's not pleasant
Sometimes I can even smell it without touching the area. It's embarrassing and I would like to do something about it.
I consider myself a very clean person, I shower at least once a day and wash my hair with head & shoulders daily. I've also used Nizoral AD. While Nizoral AD worked well for dandruff and better for the flaking on my face, it seemed to actually make the smell behind my ears worse.
Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.
I'm a long time sufferer of dandruff. Also, over the past couple years, I've been getting itchy, flaky skin on my face, which I think from researching online is related to a tinea fungus. I get it mainly on my eyebrows and when i have facial hair. Lately, after a lot of sweating (sometimes no sweating required) I get a weird smell and occasional itching behind my ears. If I wipe behind my ears and smell it, it's not pleasant
Sometimes I can even smell it without touching the area. It's embarrassing and I would like to do something about it.
I consider myself a very clean person, I shower at least once a day and wash my hair with head & shoulders daily. I've also used Nizoral AD. While Nizoral AD worked well for dandruff and better for the flaking on my face, it seemed to actually make the smell behind my ears worse.
Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.5 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Wierd smell behind my earsHi everyone, I'm new here. I've been looking for help with this but haven't been able to find anything yet. <br><br>I'm a long time sufferer of dandruff. Also, over the past couple years, I've been getting itchy, flaky skin on my face, which I think from researching online is related to a tinea fungus. I get it mainly on my eyebrows and when i have facial hair. Lately, after a lot of sweating (sometimes no sweating required) I get a weird smell and occasional itching behind my ears. If I wipe behind my ears and smell it, it's not pleasant <img src="http://img.webmd.com/community/images/eek.gif" align="top" border="0"> Sometimes I can even smell it without touching the area. It's embarrassing and I would like to do something about it.
I consider myself a very clean person, I shower at least once a day and wash my hair with head & shoulders daily. I've also used Nizoral AD. While Nizoral AD worked well for dandruff and better for the flaking on my face, it seemed to actually make the smell behind my ears worse.
Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.
Sparky23456 responded:
Dear aberrob: The odor behind your ears is due to oil-producing glands that we all have. This, in and of itself, is capable of producing an odor. Sometimes bacteria joins in the mix, and the odor may become quite unpleasant. This is why it's never advisable to rub perfume or cologne behind one's ears (even though we see it done time and again in the movies and and on tv). The oils and bacteria behind your ears can change the chemistry of the perfume...and NOT for the better. I would suggest that you carry pre-moistened wipes with you so that you can wipe behind your ears more frequently during the day. If that's not sufficient, try a little rubbing alcohol to keep the oil and bacteria levels down. Hope this helps. May God bless.
Report This| Share this:Wierd smell behind my earsDear aberrob: The odor behind your ears is due to oil-producing glands that we all have. This, in and of itself, is capable of producing an odor. Sometimes bacteria joins in the mix, and the odor may become quite unpleasant. This is why it's never advisable to rub perfume or cologne behind one's ears (even though we see it done time and again in the movies and and on tv). The oils and bacteria behind your ears can change the chemistry of the perfume...and NOT for the better. I would suggest that you carry pre-moistened wipes with you so that you can wipe behind your ears more frequently during the day. If that's not sufficient, try a little rubbing alcohol to keep the oil and bacteria levels down. Hope this helps. May God bless.
GJRuss responded:
You may want to go to the dermatologist. For years I have been treated for tinea corporis (ring worm) diagnosed by my family physician, but after I started getting bad patches on my leg that would not go away with treatment (after over a month) and then it got into my scalp, behind my ear and the last straw, my eyelid. I went to a dermotogist to find out I have psoriasis, not ringworm and they started me on meds totally different from what I used for RW. This has cleared my scalp and face and the bad patch is now getting better in only a week's time. You sound like you may have this as well. Wouldn't hurt to go get it checked out and after all the drandriff shampoos and Lamasil I've bought in the past years; the expensive for an office visit is minor.
Report This| Share this:Wierd smell behind my earsYou may want to go to the dermatologist. For years I have been treated for tinea corporis (ring worm) diagnosed by my family physician, but after I started getting bad patches on my leg that would not go away with treatment (after over a month) and then it got into my scalp, behind my ear and the last straw, my eyelid. I went to a dermotogist to find out I have psoriasis, not ringworm and they started me on meds totally different from what I used for RW. This has cleared my scalp and face and the bad patch is now getting better in only a week's time. You sound like you may have this as well. Wouldn't hurt to go get it checked out and after all the drandriff shampoos and Lamasil I've bought in the past years; the expensive for an office visit is minor.
susiemargaret responded:
hello --
in addition to a visit to the dermatologist, i would suggest a visit to the neurologist to investigate the Q of smelling things that are not there. most of mine occurred in the evening. most were pleasant, such as cinnamon or vanilla, but some were unpleasant, such as cold ashes, acrid cigar smoke, cigarette smoke. onset and duration were unpredictable.
in consultation with my psychiatrist -- i have a lot of drs! -- we decided that perhaps it was a series of very, very small strokes, so we increased my lamictal, which is an antidepressant but has anti-seizure properties. since then, no more smells.
-- susie margaret
in addition to a visit to the dermatologist, i would suggest a visit to the neurologist to investigate the Q of smelling things that are not there. most of mine occurred in the evening. most were pleasant, such as cinnamon or vanilla, but some were unpleasant, such as cold ashes, acrid cigar smoke, cigarette smoke. onset and duration were unpredictable.
in consultation with my psychiatrist -- i have a lot of drs! -- we decided that perhaps it was a series of very, very small strokes, so we increased my lamictal, which is an antidepressant but has anti-seizure properties. since then, no more smells.
-- susie margaret
Report This| Share this:Wierd smell behind my earshello -- <br><br>in addition to a visit to the dermatologist, i would suggest a visit to the neurologist to investigate the Q of smelling things that are not there. most of mine occurred in the evening. most were pleasant, such as cinnamon or vanilla, but some were unpleasant, such as cold ashes, acrid cigar smoke, cigarette smoke. onset and duration were unpredictable. <br><br>in consultation with my psychiatrist -- i have a lot of drs! -- we decided that perhaps it was a series of very, very small strokes, so we increased my lamictal, which is an antidepressant but has anti-seizure properties. since then, no more smells. <br><br>-- susie margaret
LACal responded:
I noticed a bad smell behind my ears about 10 years ago. Even after I used shampoo, even with Selsun, the smell was still there somewhat. It was very frustrating. The smell starts around the area where my glasses touch the sides of my head & continues down to the bottom of the ear & the lobe. Even my ear piercing can get this smell. I use rubbing alcohol to remove the smell from all areas behind & on the external part of the ear. It's only temporary, but I only have to do it every other day or so. I use the alcohol after I shampoo so that I'll be totally fresh. So far that's been the best way to deal with it for me. I carry sealed individual alcohol pads in my purse in case I need a quick touch up while I'm out. It only takes a minute & it works!. I've used it under my breasts to freshen up as well if an odor develops.
Report This| Share this:Wierd smell behind my earsI noticed a bad smell behind my ears about 10 years ago. Even after I used shampoo, even with Selsun, the smell was still there somewhat. It was very frustrating. The smell starts around the area where my glasses touch the sides of my head & continues down to the bottom of the ear & the lobe. Even my ear piercing can get this smell. I use rubbing alcohol to remove the smell from all areas behind & on the external part of the ear. It's only temporary, but I only have to do it every other day or so. I use the alcohol after I shampoo so that I'll be totally fresh. So far that's been the best way to deal with it for me. I carry sealed individual alcohol pads in my purse in case I need a quick touch up while I'm out. It only takes a minute & it works!. I've used it under my breasts to freshen up as well if an odor develops.
Malex08 responded:
Hi aberrob;
I'm famaliar with the smell behind the one ear, especially when I take off my sun glasses, that's when I always catch a swift of the strong smell, avoid touching it with your finger as the smell will linger and it stays on your finger until you wash or santitize your hands. Washing the ear helps some, but the smell comes right back before the day is over. I've also tried various techniques of dabbing behind my ear with essential oils like tea tree, lavender, peppermint, and sometimes alcohol or use peroxide, but the smell eventually returns. I did find something that seems to work really well, I used it for the first time and the smell never returned for the entire day. I used grapefruit seed oil (GSE), just a drop on your finger, just rub it in behind your ear where the smell is and you're done. I usually rub it in the morning after leaving home for work and it really keeps the smell away. If it irritates your ear a little, mix it with a drop of carrier oil, I use almond oil or any will do. It's really potent and wonder for bacteria culprits. Also, check out some of the health benefits GSE has, hope this helps!
I'm famaliar with the smell behind the one ear, especially when I take off my sun glasses, that's when I always catch a swift of the strong smell, avoid touching it with your finger as the smell will linger and it stays on your finger until you wash or santitize your hands. Washing the ear helps some, but the smell comes right back before the day is over. I've also tried various techniques of dabbing behind my ear with essential oils like tea tree, lavender, peppermint, and sometimes alcohol or use peroxide, but the smell eventually returns. I did find something that seems to work really well, I used it for the first time and the smell never returned for the entire day. I used grapefruit seed oil (GSE), just a drop on your finger, just rub it in behind your ear where the smell is and you're done. I usually rub it in the morning after leaving home for work and it really keeps the smell away. If it irritates your ear a little, mix it with a drop of carrier oil, I use almond oil or any will do. It's really potent and wonder for bacteria culprits. Also, check out some of the health benefits GSE has, hope this helps!
Report This| Share this:Wierd smell behind my earsHi aberrob;<br />I'm famaliar with the smell behind the one ear, especially when I take off my sun glasses, that's when I always catch a swift of the strong smell, avoid touching it with your finger as the smell will linger and it stays on your finger until you wash or santitize your hands. Washing the ear helps some, but the smell comes right back before the day is over. I've also tried various techniques of dabbing behind my ear with essential oils like tea tree, lavender, peppermint, and sometimes alcohol or use peroxide, but the smell eventually returns. I did find something that seems to work really well, I used it for the first time and the smell never returned for the entire day. I used grapefruit seed oil (GSE), just a drop on your finger, just rub it in behind your ear where the smell is and you're done. I usually rub it in the morning after leaving home for work and it really keeps the smell away. If it irritates your ear a little, mix it with a drop of carrier oil, I use almond oil or any will do. It's really potent and wonder for bacteria culprits. Also, check out some of the health benefits GSE has, hope this helps!
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