Sweat glands are found all over the body, including behind the ears. They secrete perspiration that begins to smell when it comes in contact with bacteria and oxygen. Sebaceous glands are also found wherever there’s skin. They secrete sebum (oil), a mix of wax and fats that can smell bad.
Also to know is, what does it mean when your ear stinks?
Ear infection
Ear infections usually occur in your middle ear. They can be either bacterial or viral. The infections are most often painful due to inflammation and buildup. An ear infection can cause drainage and you might notice a bad smell.
Herein, do fungal ear infections smell?
Otomycosis is a fungal infection in the outer ear. An otomycosis infection causes inflammation, dry skin, and a smelly discharge in the ear canal.
What are the symptoms of cholesteatoma?
Symptoms
- Constant sound inside your ear (tinnitus)
- Dizziness (or vertigo)
- Ear infection.
- Earache.
- Feeling of “fullness” in one ear.
- Fluid that smells bad and leaks from your ears.
- Trouble hearing in one ear.
- Weakness in half your face.
Can you get a yeast infection behind your ear?
Yeast infection
Yeast tends to grow in warm and moist areas. As a result, people who sweat a lot or those who do not regularly clean the area behind their ears may develop a yeast infection.
Why does my ear smell like cheese?
Sebum is secreted by the sebaceous glands in the skin. It’s an oily secretion meant to lubricate the skin and make it waterproof. Mix sebum with some dead skin cells and a little bit of bacteria, and you get some really potent smelling piercings! The discharge is semi-solid and smells like stinky cheese.
How do you check for ear wax?
Signs of earwax buildup include:
- sudden or partial hearing loss, which is usually temporary.
- tinnitus, which is a ringing or buzzing in the ear.
- a feeling of fullness in the ear.
- earache.
Why is my ear leaking clear fluid that stinks?
Pus or cloudy fluid coming from the ear can be a sign of an ear infection in the ear canal or middle ear. The ear canal is the tube that joins the outer ear to the middle ear. An infection of the middle ear, which doctors may refer to as otitis media, can cause fluid discharge from the ear.
