A red eardrum can be caused by infections, irritation, injuries, and allergies. A healthy eardrum will have a pearl-to-gray color. An eardrum that looks red is inflamed and may need medical treatment to get better.
This article will go over the causes of a red eardrum and when to see a provider if you have ear symptoms.
What Do Healthy Eardrums Look Like?
The eardrum (tympanic membrane) can be seen by your providing using an instrument called an otoscope. A healthy eardrum is usually a pearl-gray color. Changes in the appearance of the eardrum are often a sign of illness or infection.
In addition to color, your provider will look at the movement (mobility) of the eardrum. A healthy eardrum remains flexible while a rigid, stiff eardrum can be a sign of a problem such as fluid in the ears. Diseases of the ears can also cause the eardrum to appear bulging or retracted.
Causes of a Red Eardrum
Redness is often an indication of irritation or inflammation in the body. While many ear conditions can cause a red eardrum, if there are no other signs or symptoms, a red eardrum on its own is not always a sign of a problem.
Acute Otitis Media
Middle ear infections (acute otitis media) are a common condition that affects people of all ages but are much more common in small children.
Ear infections can cause a red eardrum that may also bulge and be immobile. A red-looking eardrum from an ear infection is almost always accompanied by other symptoms such as a fever, earache, or ear discharge.
Middle ear infections are usually caused by bacteria and can be treated with antibiotics.
Otitis Externa
Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa) is an infection of the outer (external) ear canal. As the name suggests, swimmer’s ear happens when contaminated water gets into the ear during water activities—for example, swimming in pools, lakes, or the ocean.
The infection causes redness and irritation of the external ear canal which can spread to the eardrum. Swimmer’s ear is commonly treated with antibiotic ear drops.
Injury
Trauma to the eardrum is another common cause of a red eardrum. A common injury happens when someone puts a Q-tip too far into their ear canal. In addition to redness, an injured eardrum can cause pain, drainage, or visible signs of trauma.
Barotrauma of the ear occurs when the tube that connects the middle ear to the nasal cavity (Eustachian) does not function properly and excessive pressure builds up behind the eardrum. In some cases, it can even rupture.
This kind of ear trauma usually occurs when you are participating in activities that involve sudden or extreme changes in atmospheric air pressure, such as scuba diving or flying in an airplane. It can also be the result of being exposed to a very loud noise such as an explosion.
Bullous Myringitis and Fungal Myringitis
Bullous myringitis is a condition in which painful vesicles form on the eardrum. These vesicles are sometimes filled with blood. You may develop bullous myringitis if you have a viral infection such as influenza.
Fungal myringitis is a similar infection of the tympanic membrane that is caused by a fungus.
Allergic Skin Conditions
Allergic skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis can also affect the skin inside of the ear and the eardrum.
In addition to redness, severe itching and flaking of the skin inside of the ear are other symptoms of eczema and psoriasis of the ear. Allergic conditions are often treated with steroid ear drops that help with inflammation.
Summary
A red eardrum can be caused by infections, injury, and allergies.
You won’t be able to see inside your own ear to tell if it’s red, but if you have symptoms like pain and discomfort, a provider can use a special tool to see inside your ear to check for signs of a problem.
Most causes of a red eardrum won’t cause long-term problems as long as they’re diagnosed and treated.
