Why might my ears be red hot?

[Laggartha]

Has anyone else had this? Since yesterday afternoon the tops of my ears have been uncomfortably red and hot.
Dr Google mainly talks about ear infections, but that's when the inside of your ear is affected. I found one reference to the menopause - is this an as yet undiscovered joy of my perimenopause?

(Yesterday morning I completed a course of antibiotics for sinus infection causing dental pain. I can't remember taking antibiotics before and have had quite a few unpleasant side effects. Not sure if that's at all relevant).

Someone is talking about you!!

My younger brother used to get this a lot when he was younger. We never actually found out why he was getting it. Possibly could be hormones? Or is there any possibility that they're sunburnt?

Do you wear iPods?

Are there any little spots or blisters along the top of your ears? I only ask because DS2 came home from school yesterday and the tops of his ears were like strawberries - red and hot, with itchy hives on them. I washed him thoroughly including his hair, gave him antihistamine and rubbed hydrocortisone on it and they went down overnight. Apparently he'd been playing at school near a laurel hedge that had been recently cut, as had the grass so I'm guessing some kind of allergic reaction.

DH has been sneezing up a storm for a few days with hay fever as well so I think there's a lot of pollen and stuff about.

I'd try washing your hair well (in case there's something in your hair that's setting your ears off), taking an antihistamine and seeing if that helps at all.

Sunburn? My son was playing outside last week, it was cold and windy but the sun was out and when he came back in the tips of his ears and nose were bright red!

Or maybe an allergic reaction to the antibiotics...? But you say you've just completed a course, if you were allergic to them you probably would have noticed a week ago.

I wear earbuds a fair amount, but nothing that goes around the lobe.

I guess they may be sunburnt. It hasn't been particularly sunny the last couple of days, but I don't think to put my daily spf on my ear tops. It could be that, combined with a recent post-lockdown hair cut..?

I'm erring towards hormones.

At least nobody has said, "my cousin had that and she died".

But you say you've just completed a course, if you were allergic to them you probably would have noticed a week ago

I was really bad on them. They only lasted five days. The dentist explained that doctors tend to do low dose over a longer period, for dental pain it's a higher dose over a shorter period.

Thanks @Xiaoxiong, I missed your post there. I will stop using hair products and go back to a mild shampoo for a few days. It's itchy and driving me to distraction.

You've not been out in the sun have you? Sometimes this happens when I've been out in the sun as you can guarantee I won't be remember to put cream on my ears!

I get this when eating/drinking something containjng sulphur (wine, dried fruit etc)

Well my son's ears have just been seen by his school nurse who has diagnosed polymorphic light eruption!! Apparently 15% of women in the UK get it? It's like an allergic reaction to sunlight/sunburn. I'd never heard of it but now that I look at the pictures and symptoms it's textbook. I guess lots of suncream on his ears in future!!

www.pcds.org.uk/clinical-guidance/polymorphic-light-eruption-and-juvenile-spring-eruption

I’ve treated it as sunburn, and I reckon it might be that. A result of walking for four hours in cold sun yesterday and newly cropped hair.

@Aprilshowersandhail

Someone is talking about you!!

My son hears that as "Grandma is talking about you" (probably true). One time he only had one ear burning. DD said "Grandma's talking about you but Grandad isn't listening".

At least nobody has said, "my cousin had that and she died".

Seriously though OP, my neighbours, friends, cousin's boyfriend had that and his ears fell off altogether.