To ask for your help with DD’s ear?? Pic attached.

[CustardPiess]

DD’s ear suddenly looks awful.

it was sore around the bottom, so I popped some sudacrem on it, but she then picked it, and I tried the same again. I have just looked at it and it looks awful. Have now bathed in salt water. Pic of before and after bathing.

I don’t know if it’s just like this from being picked, and if it’ll heal up providing she doesn’t do that again. She initially hurt it whilst pulling a tight T-shirt off. At least that’s when she first noticed it and showed me. Any advice appreciated. Think I’ll also pop to the pharmacy tomorrow.

After bathing

She does also suffer from dry skin around that area, as she has flare ups of eczema.

I can't see your pics. Is it like a cut or an infection ? I think you are probably doing the right things, bathing with salt water and putting antiseptic on it is sensible, the picking won;t have helped so if she can leave it alone it may look better by morning. I think calling into pharmacy is a good idea tomorrow, take her with you so they can see the ear.
If she has an infection or something like impetigo (which is a skin infection common in children) the pharmacist can give you anti biotics. Maybe it started as a bit of eczema and got infected.

Ah I can see the pics now. That does look sore, I'd definitely go to the pharmacy tomorrow, is that pus at the back where it is whiteish or is that just the light? Maybe a little infection there, is it hot ? Anyway trip to the pharmacy seems the best course of action.

If it's pus then soak with a warm flannel and sudocrem. If no pus then just sudocrem.

I wouldn't bother a pharmacist for that but then I have 3 boys, all of whom would need to be watched like hawks to prevent picking so am probably more used to icky cuts.

It's eczema. I get it there just like that.

Some over the counter strength hydrocortisone cream will sort it.

For a child you might need a prescription though.

Oh really??? I hadn’t considered that! It’s the little bit at the bottom of her ear, where the ear connects to the face, that’s really sore.

My son gets it occasionally, I think linked with his eczema, and it hurts when his ear then gets koved eith tshirts in and off as the skin cracks.

I would suggest using lots of vaseline or cetraben moisturiser. I wouldn't suggest jumping straight to steroid cream, as although it can be beneficial, it would be best to try moisturiser first. Steroid cream thins the skin, is great as a last resort but then you have to wean off it or your skin can flare up again. Then there is the overuse of steroid cream which is a whole other topic.
Moisturise 4-6 times a day, keep it clean and dry, and be gentle putting tops on, etc. If it gets redder, oozes or becomes warm then you may need an antibiotic cream or steroid cream.

Yep, eczema, my daughter used to get it exactly there, especially in the colder weather. Sudacrem will be good.

My son has that, it was eczema. We got something called epederm (sp?) which cleared it up very quickly

Yep, I’m in my 50s and this is the only place I now get eczema, and have it right now. Hydrocortisone 1% should be enough to clear it up. Make sure to dry the area thoroughly after a wash or shower, too.