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Original poster

Skin issues behind toddler ear - pictures included!

85 replies

pinkcow123 · 28/01/2025 20:46

My toddler has had an issue in the skin behind their ear. It is cracking, sore, crusty and weeping - along the line behind the ear.

Previously tried hydrocortisone cream.

They have reacted to Epaderm and epimax and this has caused further rash.

Another GP request has been made, but I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this? Any other creams that have worked?
Sudocreme doesn't seem to do anything other than clog it up!

Any ideas what it could be as well?

OP posts:
Hollybelle83 · 28/01/2025 22:30

My daughter has had that a few times. It was a fungal infection. Dr prescribed some anti-fungal cream, it disappeared very quickly.

Ineedsleepnotsugar · 28/01/2025 22:26

Has child got wheat allergy/intolerance?

Original poster
pinkcow123 · 28/01/2025 22:05

WhySoManySocks · 28/01/2025 22:03

You need to get it swabbed, as it could be fungal but it could be bacterial and the treatments are different.

Not to drip feed, but they recently had fucibet prescribed for the top of their bum - probably came around the same time if I'm honest. Maybe ear slightly before.
Fungal cream tried for the bum area first, without success...

Could they be linked?!

OP posts:
Flustration · 28/01/2025 22:05

Greyish2025 · 28/01/2025 21:39

After it is healed a bit by putting sudocream on it, you can walk with Nizoral, it’s an anti dandruff shampoo but can be used on skin for fungal infections

I was also going to recommend Nizoral if all else fails!

DS had this on and off for years. The only thing that's kept it at bay is keeping a bottle of Nizoral in the shower and having him rub it behind his ears at the first sign of a flare up. He also uses a non-steroidal cream called sebclair on the area.

I also used to struggle with what I thought was perioral dermatitis and the Nizoral / Sebclair combo works on that too.

BunfightBetty · 28/01/2025 22:05

Could be a staph infection, or possibly fungal. Get it swabbed and then you’ll know and can treat properly.

WhySoManySocks · 28/01/2025 22:03

You need to get it swabbed, as it could be fungal but it could be bacterial and the treatments are different.

justasmalltownmum · 28/01/2025 22:01

my son has this. It's eczema. I put coconut oil on it after a bath.

Onlyconnection · 28/01/2025 22:00

I have psoriasis and it looks exactly like that. Mainly occurs behind my ears but also on my scalp. So I think you need a gp advice for him.

SnowSnow · 28/01/2025 21:59

I get eczema like this. I must say for me hydrocortisone has never done a lot (I do have severe eczema and psoriasis though, currently well controlled). A stronger steroid cream may well be all that is needed.

Ineedanewsofa · 28/01/2025 21:55

I used to get something that looked like this as a child, I definitely had some sort of steroid cream prescribed but the thing that was drummed into me was I had to keep it dry (I’m assuming it was fungal and dampness was keeping it going!)
I showered from the neck down, mum washed my hair tipped over the sink for weeks, the area was immediately dried and the cream applied, I slept with a dressing behind my ear to absorb any moisture with a wall of pillows to make sure I slept on my ‘good’ ear.
Fingers crossed it clears up for your little one as it was not pleasant

VeryStressedMum · 28/01/2025 21:49

I would forget about over the counter creams when it looks like this. Either an anti fungal or antibiotic cream from the doctor so it's good you have contacted the doc.

bloodredfeaturewall · 28/01/2025 21:47

when dc had this it was a staph infection.
needed an antibiotic cream (prescription only) to clear up.

Strugglingmumof3 · 28/01/2025 21:45

My little one had this for a year. He then got tonsillitis and antibiotics cleared it up! I told the GP and they said they should have swabbed it. So might be worth asking for a swab just in case. I tried everything!

MassiveSalad22 · 28/01/2025 21:44

Aw yes poor little DS1 used to get that too, the full length of his ear. Seems to have grown out of it, except right where lobe joins head still gets sore sometimes (he’s 10). Cant remember what creams he had, often slapped on some germolene or canesten but also wanted it to dry out! Often wondered if he was getting sweaty in the night or something ?

Greyish2025 · 28/01/2025 21:39

After it is healed a bit by putting sudocream on it, you can walk with Nizoral, it’s an anti dandruff shampoo but can be used on skin for fungal infections

Greyish2025 · 28/01/2025 21:37

Sansan18 · 28/01/2025 20:55

Just to add that we had to clean the sudocrem off every morning and reapply so it didn't get clogged up.

Agree with this and after it is healed make sure the crevice is cleaned regularly as sometimes you can get fungal infections there if dry skin builds up etc

Baneofmyexistence · 28/01/2025 21:28

My DD gets similar to this a lot! We’ve seen a few doctors about it, some have said it’s fungal some have said it’s impetigo. Either way, we use daktacort cream and it clears it up within a few days to a week.

Olika · 28/01/2025 21:08

If it turns out to be eczema and they give you something to take the worst off you could continue with calendula lotion. My DD had infected eczema and she got antibiotics and cortisone and after those I got rid of the rest with calendula lotion.

Original poster
pinkcow123 · 28/01/2025 21:07

Gettingbysomehow · 28/01/2025 21:03

Could anyone have pulled his ear really hard? That looks like a pull injury.

I hope not! But they do go to nursery - could another child have pulled it?
I imagine they would have been distressed at the time?

OP posts:
Arglefraster · 28/01/2025 21:06

I get eczema like that behind my ear. It's like having a paper cut there 🙁

I clean with soap & water & treat with regular hydrocortisone until it settles.

Hope your wee one heals up soon

Macrodatarefiner · 28/01/2025 21:04

I think it's perhaps fungal

Macrodatarefiner · 28/01/2025 21:03

Sudocreme, my dd had this as a baby and small child. Sudocrem always fixed it

Gettingbysomehow · 28/01/2025 21:03

Could anyone have pulled his ear really hard? That looks like a pull injury.

Original poster
pinkcow123 · 28/01/2025 21:03

Thank you for all the advice! I am reading them all even if I'm not replying!

OP posts:
Original poster
pinkcow123 · 28/01/2025 21:02

Needspaceforlego · 28/01/2025 20:57

I'd see a pharmacist with that. Looks sore potentially fungal to me.

The pharmacist redirects us to the dr - maybe because of their age?

But hopefully will hear from the docs tomorrow! 🤞🏻

OP posts: