How can your ears bleed

Below we review the common causes of a bleeding ear, treatment options and when to see a doctor. The most common cause of a bleeding ear is a ruptured or perforated eardrum. The eardrum is the thin membrane between the ear canal and the middle ear that vibrates in response to sound waves passing through.

A hole in the eardrum can let water get in ear and lead to more serious otitis media. Wounds in the ear canal area can become infected, which in the worst case can lead to severe chronic ear canal inflammation.

Medical News. What does it mean if your ear is bleeding? Last update on Jun, 24, Ear bleeding with and without pain. Why is your ear bleeding? A small sore is one of the most common causes of ear bleeding, most commonly caused by cleaning the ears with objects such as cotton swabs.

The perforation of the eardrum or severe head injuries caused by blunt force from impact, blow or extreme pressure, such as a bang or an explosion, are less common.

Water pressure or a violent side impact with the head on a water surface can also lead to ear bleeding. Ear bleeding after cleaning with cotton bud If a cotton bud penetrates too deeply into the ear while cleaning the ears, it can lead to a small injury with blood. This can happen because frequent use of cotton buds puts a lot of strain on the thin skin deep in the ear canal.

Small cracks in the skin form quickly, which can bleed profusely due to the good blood circulation in the ears and only heal very slowly, as the thin skin regenerates very slowly due to the non-existent layer of tissue under the skin.

It is therefore important to remove the wax carefully so that the ear skin is not damaged. With purulent otitis media , blood often collects in the ear after a ventilation tube operation. It is a surgically guided incision that the doctor makes on the eardrum to drain pus in the middle ear through the ear canal. Wound secretions and blood then mix with one another.

Your eardrum is a natural barrier between your middle ear and germs, water , and other objects. Without the eardrum in place to protect the inner workings of your ear , you could develop an infection. This could lead to permanent hearing loss if the infection is not properly treated. Read more: What you need to know about chronic ear infections ». When you visit your doctor after you notice ear bleeding, your doctor will first perform a physical exam and inspect your ears, neck, head, and throat.

If you recently had a fall or accident, your doctor may feel confident that your bleeding is the result of an injury. Your doctor may order imaging tests or lab tests to confirm the diagnosis or check for additional damage. In severe cases, this is considered an emergency.

Your doctor may send you to a hospital or emergency care facility for further tests where healthcare providers can closely monitor you for changes in consciousness. Your doctor could use an otoscope to see inside your ear and look for possible damage, debris, or another cause.

If that test returns nothing obvious, additional imaging tests like an X-ray or CT scan may be helpful. Lab tests may also be done to evaluate for infection. Keep reading: What to expect from an ear examination ». Treatments for ear bleeding address the underlying cause. When the cause is treated, the bleeding will stop.

These treatments include:. What causes bloody ear wax? Learn the causes, how it's diagnosed and treated, and when you need to seek immediate medical attention. An eardrum rupture is a small hole or tear in your eardrum, or tympanic membrane. The tympanic membrane is a thin tissue that divides your middle ear…. An ear infection occurs when a bacterial or viral infection affects the middle ear — the sections of your ear just behind the eardrum.

Symptoms of an ear infection include ear pain, stuffy nose, slight hearing loss and fever. In some cases, clear or bloody drainage may come out of the ear is well. Most ear infections resolve in a week or two without treatment. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be taken to reduce pain and fever.