2 Responses

1. Old School

   July 12th, 2009 at 1:18 pm

   1

   First, washing her hair and the pimples likely has nothing directly to do with the swelling and pimples unless this is a very unusual localized skin allergic reaction (very unlikely). The most common problem around the outer ear with symptoms of swelling and pimples is infection. The most common localized outer ear infection is from bacteria, but what you are discribing (pimples) sounds more like viral than bacterial. Bacterial has a prodromal redness and swelling followed by an oozing and a crust formation where as viral tends to have a primary pimple followed progressively by enlargement of the pimple to a watery vesicle. This may progress to a cluster of vesicles. Sometimes the spot will itch at onset even though it is a viral or bacterial infection. The person thinks that the problem is an allergic reaction and scratches the area and drags the infection to other places on the body or transfers it to another person. If it is a bacterial infection then Staph or Strep is the most common type. It is also very simple to get rid of. Start with hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol (this hurts more) and clean infected area really good. If this is all that is done twice a day the infection will 99.9% go away. If you want, you can use OTC brand of triple antibiotic ointment applied sparingly to area after the hydrogen peroxide. If this problem area is a viral infection it will take two weeks to go away where as the bacterial infection will be remarkable improved in two days.

2. Nabeel M

   July 12th, 2009 at 1:18 pm

   2

   go see a doctor