Bushra Griffith
The foul smell that often comes from ear piercings is caused by a build-up of bacteria, dead skin cells, oils, sweat, and products, which has been nicknamed ear cheese. This is a common issue, especially for those who don't change their earrings often, have a new piercing, or wear their earrings for extended periods. To get rid of the smell, you can remove your earrings and clean the area with antibacterial soap and a warm saline solution. It is also recommended to clean your earrings and avoid wearing them during physical activity or exercise.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cause of ear cheese | Build-up of bacteria, dead skin cells, oils, sweat, and products |
| Smell | Funky, cheesy, foul |
| Prevention | Clean earrings and piercing regularly, avoid tight earrings, avoid earrings with large backs, avoid plated metal earrings, avoid earrings made of nickel, wash hands before handling earrings, avoid harsh chemicals when cleaning |
| Treatment | Remove earrings, clean the piercing with antibacterial soap and warm water, clean earrings |
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What You'll Learn
Remove earrings and clean the area
If you're dealing with ear cheese, the waxy, oily buildup that can form on your earrings and in your ear piercings, it's time for a thorough cleaning. Start by removing your earrings and giving the area a good clean. Here's a step-by-step guide:
Gently remove your earrings: Take your time and be gentle to avoid irritating your ears further. Unscrew or unlatch the earring back and slide the earring out of your piercing. If your earrings are stuck or difficult to remove, soak a cotton ball in warm water and hold it to your ear for a few seconds to loosen any dried discharge or debris that might be holding the earring in place.
Clean your hands: Before touching your ears or earrings, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water to avoid introducing new bacteria to the area. Dry your hands well with a clean towel.
Wipe down your earrings: Use a soft, damp cloth to gently wipe down your earrings, removing any ear cheese, oil, or discharge. You can also use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently brush away any buildup. Be sure to dry your earrings thoroughly with a soft, clean cloth before putting them back in.
Clean your ears: With a mild soap and warm water, wash the area around your piercing, being careful not to get soap inside your ear canal. You can use a cotton swab, but be gentle and avoid pushing any ear cheese or debris further into your piercing. Rinse the area well with warm water, ensuring that all soap residue is removed.
Dry the area: Use a soft, absorbent cloth or tissue to gently dry your ears and piercing. Be sure to get the area completely dry, as moisture can promote bacterial growth and lead to infection.
By following these steps, you can effectively remove ear cheese and prevent it from building up again. Remember to clean your earrings regularly and give your ears a break from time to time to allow the piercings to breathe. With proper care, your ears will be healthy and happy!
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Use antibacterial soap
Ear cheese, a foul smell emanating from the back of your ear piercings, is caused by a build-up of bacteria, dead skin cells, oils, sweat, and products. This mixture of substances provides an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, resulting in an unpleasant odour.
To effectively address this issue, it is recommended to incorporate antibacterial soap into your ear-cleaning routine. Here are some detailed steps to guide you through the process:
Step 1: Choose the Right Antibacterial Soap
Select a mild, fragrance-free liquid antibacterial soap. Avoid using harsh chemicals, such as alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, as these can irritate your skin and piercings.
Step 2: Prepare the Soap Solution
Mix the antibacterial soap with warm water to create a gentle cleansing solution. You can do this by pouring a small amount of soap into a cup or bowl and adding warm water, stirring gently to combine.
Step 3: Cleaning Your Ears and Piercings
- Using clean hands, gently lather the antibacterial soap mixture onto your hands.
- Proceed to clean the area around your piercing thoroughly. Pay close attention to the back of your piercing, ensuring that you carefully cleanse the skin and jewellery.
- If you have earrings with tight or large earring backs, be sure to clean them thoroughly as they tend to accumulate more sweat and sebum.
- Rinse the soap off your ears and piercings with warm water.
Step 4: Dry and Care for Your Ears and Piercings
- After cleaning, gently dry your ears and piercings with a soft, clean cloth or cotton pad.
- If you have a fresh piercing, consider using a warm saline solution to soak the area once daily, as recommended by the Association of Professional Piercers. This helps maintain proper aftercare for new piercings.
- For old piercings, it is essential to allow air circulation. Remove your earrings periodically, especially when lounging around the house, to give your ears some breathing room.
Step 5: Preventative Measures
To prevent the recurrence of ear cheese, adopt the following habits:
- Regularly clean your ears and jewellery before putting your earrings back in, especially after physical activity or exercise.
- Avoid wearing earrings for extended periods, giving your ears a break from constant coverage.
- Opt for earrings made with hypoallergenic materials, such as surgical-grade stainless steel, pure sterling silver, platinum, or 18- to 24-karat yellow gold.
- Ensure your earrings fit properly and are not too tight or loose, as this can cause irritation.
By incorporating antibacterial soap into your ear hygiene routine and following the preventative measures outlined above, you can effectively eliminate and prevent the unpleasant odour of ear cheese. Remember to be gentle and consistent in your ear care for optimal results.
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Avoid harsh chemicals
Ear cheese, or the buildup of dead skin cells, sebum, and other substances, is a common issue for those with pierced ears. To get rid of it, it's important to avoid harsh chemicals and opt for gentle, natural alternatives.
Firstly, it is crucial to clean your earrings regularly to prevent the accumulation of bacteria, which can lead to unpleasant odours. Use only gentle soaps, as harsh chemicals are not recommended. Antibacterial soap can help kill bacteria, but be sure to thoroughly rinse off any soap residue before reinserting your earrings. Avoid using lotions, as these can trap dirt particles, creating an ideal environment for bacteria growth.
If you suspect that the smell is due to an ear infection, consider using ear drops after consulting with your doctor. Over-the-counter ear drops are also an option, but be sure to follow the instructions on the package. You can also apply diluted essential oils, such as tea tree oil, peppermint oil, or grapefruit seed oil, behind your ears to cover the smell. These oils may also soothe your skin.
To prevent ear cheese, it is important to maintain proper hygiene. Wash the area behind your ears with warm water and mild soap, then dry thoroughly. You can also use diluted apple cider vinegar to fight odour-causing bacteria. Be sure to scrub behind your ears with soap and water every day, especially after excessive sweating, to remove any dirt and buildup that may cause a smell.
In addition to proper hygiene, it is important to avoid using products that trap moisture, as these can create breeding grounds for bacteria. This includes lotions, but also certain jewellery materials. Wood or poorly sterilized jewellery may attract bacteria and cause infection. Opt for jewellery made of non-porous materials, and ensure that your earrings fit properly. If your piercing feels too tight or loose, consult a professional piercer to avoid irritation.
By avoiding harsh chemicals and following these tips, you can effectively prevent and treat ear cheese without causing further irritation to your ears.
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Clean earrings with isopropyl alcohol
The smell of "ear cheese" is caused by a buildup of bacteria, dead skin cells, oils, sweat, and products. This occurs due to natural bodily processes and a lack of exfoliation in the area. To get rid of the smell, you can remove your earrings and clean the area.
To clean your earrings with isopropyl alcohol, follow these steps:
- Pour a small amount of 70% isopropyl alcohol into a glass or bowl, ensuring there is enough to completely cover the earrings.
- Place the earrings into the container and let them soak for about 15 minutes. If you are short on time, 5 minutes will also be effective.
- Remove the earrings from the solution using a pair of tweezers to avoid getting bacteria on your hands.
- Use a clean, dry microfiber cloth to wipe down the earrings and carefully rinse them with clean water.
- Air-dry the earrings on a clean cloth.
If you are cleaning earrings with a fresh piercing, avoid using isopropyl alcohol as it can cause the piercing to take longer to heal. Instead, use a sea salt and warm water solution to clean the area.
By regularly cleaning your earrings and the area around your piercings, you can prevent the buildup of bacteria and dead skin cells, reducing the occurrence of "ear cheese" and potential infections.
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Choose earrings for sensitive ears
If you have sensitive ears, choosing the right earrings can be tricky. Earring irritation is often caused by an allergy to specific materials in the earrings, such as nickel, cobalt, and copper. To avoid this, opt for earrings made from hypoallergenic and biocompatible materials such as gold, platinum, sterling silver, titanium, or stainless steel.
When selecting earrings, consider the following:
- Style: Choose styles that are less likely to irritate your ears, such as small gold hoop earrings or lightweight dangle earrings. Larger earrings or heavy styles can weigh down your earlobes and cause discomfort.
- Backing type: Flatback earrings are ideal for sensitive skin as they don't dig into the skin. Pushbacks are a standard backing type for stud earrings, but other options are available.
- Quality: Invest in fine jewellery from trusted brands to ensure the materials used are suitable for sensitive skin. Some brands specifically cater to sensitive ears, such as Tini Lux, which offers nickel-free earrings.
- Hypoallergenic options: Look for earrings labelled as hypoallergenic or nickel-free. While there is no standard definition for "hypoallergenic", these earrings are less likely to cause allergic reactions.
- Coating: If you have a favourite pair of earrings that irritate your ears, try coating the posts with clear nail polish. This creates a barrier between the metal and your skin.
- Titanium earrings: Titanium is lightweight, biocompatible, and unlikely to irritate sensitive skin. You can find titanium earrings at Pretty Sensitive Ears, Simply Whispers, or Tini Lux.
- Platinum diamond earrings: Platinum is inert, durable, and has a stunning appearance, making it ideal for sensitive earlobes.
- Gold earrings: Opt for 14K gold earrings, which are suitable for people with metal allergies. Yellow gold over sterling silver earrings is a more affordable option to test your sensitivity.
- Stainless steel earrings: These are affordable, dermatologist-approved, and lightweight.
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Frequently asked questions
Ear cheese is a buildup of bacteria, dead skin cells, oils, sweat, and products around your earring and piercing.
You can get rid of ear cheese by regularly cleaning around your piercing and the back of your earrings. You can also try removing your earrings before exercising and cleaning your ears before putting them back in.
You can use isopropyl alcohol to clean your earrings, but if they are more delicate, opt for antibacterial hand soap instead. For piercings, clean the area once a day with a mild, fragrance-free liquid soap and soak it once a day in a warm saline solution.
Ear cheese is caused by a lack of exfoliation and cleaning around the area. Sweat is also a major contributor.
