Just because you jump in the shower doesn’t mean you’re squeaky clean. It’s easy to miss smaller areas or not scrub hard enough in places where bacteria like to thrive. And there’s one place many people seem to always miss.
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Now, we’re not talking about the feet—though they are a body part crawling with millions of germs when washed incorrectly. Dermatologists tell Parade that this small area of the body is something that people constantly overlook.
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Prioritize This Area in the Shower
The next time you’re in the shower, don’t forget to scrub a little soap behind the ears. Dermatologists say it’s a small step with huge consequences if left unclean.
Dirt, skin cells the body routinely sheds and oil (sebum) can easily get trapped in the folds and creases of the skin. Behind the ears is no exception. Dr. Roger Kapoor, MD, a dermatologist and senior vice president at Beloit Memorial Hospital, says the filth builds up quickly behind the ears.
This worsens in the summer when you’re applying sunscreen and other lotions but not washing them off afterwards, says dermatologistDr. Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD. “As often as you wash other parts of your body, I would add behind the ears to the list of parts to clean,” she adds.
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What Happens When You Forget To Clean Behind the Ears?
The behind-the-ears area is an oily hotspot for unhealthy microbes. One study mapped out the germs in oft-forgotten body parts—behind the ears was high on the list—and found a diverse amount of infection-causing bacteria. Dr. Kapoor says the risk of skin irritation and bacterial infection is higher if you forget to scrub behind the ears and the area has any cuts or openings.
Another condition that can occur is ear eczema, which is formally known as seborrheic dermatitis. It is an inflammatory condition where people develop flaky, white to yellowish scales in areas with high oil gland activity. This is often accompanied by itchiness and mild redness.
Oily, unclean ears can also give off a foul odor. When oil is left to combine with sweat and dirt, Dr. Kapoor says it can leave your ears with a greasy smell. Over time, the oil build-up can block pores, causing painful pimples or acne breakouts.
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Does Shampoo Help Clean Behind the Ears?
Dr. Kapoor says shampoo can somewhat help with cleaning behind the ears because the ingredients in many hair cleaning products are designed to break down oil and bacteria. That being said, he doesn’t recommend relying only on shampoo to keep the back of your ears clean.
That’s because shampoos wash away when rinsing, so they don’t have prolonged contact with the skin behind the ears unless you directly scrub in the area. “I always recommend people wash the skin behind their ears intentionally and specifically to get into the creases of where the ear meets your skin, as it can always trap grime,” he advises.
There’s no special method to clean behind your ears. Use the same gentle soap you would lather on the rest of your body, and gently scrub the skin behind your ears for a few seconds with your fingers. Then, rinse the area with water and dry it well. If you wear glasses, Dr. Kapoor says to wash the arms of your glasses regularly since they rest behind your ears and can easily transfer bacteria to the skin.
Don’t forget to moisturize to avoid dryness and further skin problems.
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