ear, nose, and throat disorders
Dermatitis of the Ear Canal (Chronic Otitis Externa)
Treatment of Chronic Otitis Externa
Avoidance of triggers and/or irritants, including water and cotton-tipped applicators Usually topical corticosteroids Contact dermatitisof the ear requires avoidance or withdrawal of allergic triggers, especially earrings. Trial and error may be needed to identify the offending agent. Topical corticosteroids (eg, 1%hydrocortisonecream or a more potent 0.1%betamethasonecream) can decrease inflammation and itching. Patients should avoid using cotton swabs, water, and other potential irritants in the ear, because these will aggravate the inflammatory process. Recalcitrant cases can be treated with a short course of an oral corticosteroid (eg,prednisone). cream). If Treatment ensues, careful debridement of the ear canal and topical antibiotic therapy (eg, 1.Kesser BW: Assessment and management of chronic otitis externa.Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg19(5):341-347, 2011. doi: 10.1097/MOO.0b013e328349a125. 