While winter weather often marks the start of an exciting holiday season, chilly temperatures can also bring painful conditions to your ears!
While winter weather often marks the start of an exciting holiday season, chilly temperatures can also bring painful conditions to your ears! With this in mind, it is crucial to protect your ears from cold temperatures, as these conditions are not only painful but can also damage your hearing if left untreated. As you are enjoying the holiday season this winter, be sure to protect your ears from these painful ear conditions in winter weather!
Hardened Earwax
Especially cold weather can lead to painful, hardened earwax in the ear. Not only does this hurt, but these blockages can also affect your hearing over time. If you have a hardened earwax blockage in the ear, you may be experiencing symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and an uncomfortable feeling of a stuffed-up ear. To safely remove hardened earwax, it is best to have it professionally removed so that you do not damage your hearing in the process.
Exostosis
Exostosis is a painful condition simply described as layered bone growth inside of the ear. This growth often occurs as the body’s attempt to shield the inside of the ear from wind and chilly temperatures. This condition can lead to painful ear infections that can cause additional hearing issues if left untreated. Exostosis is primarily caused by exposure to freezing temperatures and exceptionally high winds during winter activities, such as skiing.
Frostbite
Frostbite on the outer ear can be extremely painful! When this delicate skin is exposed to exceptionally cold temperatures in winter weather, it can cause severe damage to skin tissue. This damage can cause the skin to harden and appear blistered or severely discolored. Although frostbite is generally avoidable, frostbitten skin requires immediate medical attention to prevent serious infection.
Prevent these painful conditions around your ears by keeping your ears covered and protected from frigid temperatures, moisture, and high winds. Earmuffs, hats, and hoods on winter jackets are essential for protecting your ears from winter weather this season!
Trust the Experts at Clarity Audiology & Hearing Solutions
Need help with your hearing? Clarity Hearing can help. Clarity Audiology & Hearing Solutions is an independently-owned and operated clinic that focuses on quality of care and personalized friendly service. Our Doctors of Audiology are highly trained with advanced degrees and take the time to provide the personalized care and attention that you need and deserve. We provide advanced hearing aid options that personally calibrated with cutting-edge digital technology to fit your hearing loss, your unique ear anatomy, and your individual listening needs.
Come in for a walk-in appointment on Tuesdays & Fridays from 10:00am to 11:30am, or contact us to schedule an appointment by calling 410-698-6594 or visiting our contact page. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, and LinkedIn for more blog posts, news, and updates!