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Occasionally my ears 鈥渂urn鈥�, becoming very warm to the touch and glowing red. It can be just the left or the right ear, or both that are affected. I suspect it is something to do with blood flow and cooling, but why the variation and what prompts it? And, of course, I do not believe the old myth that 鈥渟omeone is talking about me鈥�.
鈥� You do not state the times of day, nor whether you habitually blush vigorously at embarrassing thoughts. If you light up mainly in the cold season then perhaps simple cold damage to your skin or mild frostbite is the cause. You needn鈥檛 be exposed to severe cold to experience this; even in South Africa 鈥渨inter oor鈥� (Afrikaans for 鈥渨inter ears鈥�) are a common nuisance.
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In susceptible people exposure to temperatures below about 10 掳C may bring it on. Sandals or bare feet invite winter toes as well. may then infect cold skin, aggravating peeling and itching. These bacteria do poorly at normal body temperature, so keeping the affected area warm and applying antiseptic compresses at a temperature of about 45 掳C will generally clear things up.
Arterioles in some people鈥檚 extremities go into spasm for various reasons, especially in reaction to cold. This starves the skin of blood, most familiarly in the hands. This is known as Raynaud鈥檚 syndrome. When the blood vessels relax and the affected areas warm up the skin commonly flushes red and may become painful.
Jon Richfield, Somerset West, South Africa
