The most common cause of a bleeding ear is a ruptured or perforated eardrum. The eardrum is the thin membrane between the ear canal and the middle ear that vibrates in response to sound waves passing through. A ruptured eardrum can be caused by an ear infection, sudden changes in air pressure like when taking off from Ft. Head injuries or inserting foreign objects into the ear can lead to a perforated eardrum. In addition to bleeding, head trauma or eardrum perforation can lead to symptoms such as hearing loss or a sensation of spinning, depending on the extent of the injury.
Yes, bleeding from the ear may originate from abnormalities of the skin of the outer ear or ear canal. Skin cancer on the ear may present with bleeding as it ulcerates. In this case, a white bump or scaly area may be visible. In addition, abnormal superficial blood vessels in the ear, or telangiectasias, can bleed intermittently [6]. These abnormalities can occur with the genetic disorder, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.
Bleeding may occur after ear tubes are inserted to treat chronic ear infections. The bleeding should not last for more than a couple of days. In addition, bleeding from the ear may occur with an ear infection in the middle ear while the ear tubes are in place.
Blood and fluid normally build up behind the eardrum during a middle ear infection. Part of the purpose of ear tubes is to relieve pressure from fluid buildup and allow drainage, so bloody discharge is possible. Self-diagnose with our free Buoy Assistant if you answer yes on any of these questions.
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Try our AI assistant here. Informed by current CDC guidelines. Skip to main content Skip to accessibility services Buoy Logo. Nav Close Icon. Nav Open Icon. Health articles Chevron Icon. Featured topics. Symptom checker. Editorial standards. Who we serve Chevron Icon. Brokers and Consultants. Solutions Chevron Icon. Care Navigation.
Sections Icon. Self-diagnose with our free buoy assistant. Buoy Chat Icon. Symptom Checker. Verified By Experts Icon. Verified by experts 8 min read. No Ads. Lauren Nadler, MD. Jeffrey M. Last updated October 6, Heart Icon. Speech Bubble Icon. The outer ear is composed of the pinna or auricle, which is the visible outside part of the ear.
The external auditory canal connects the outer ear to the middle ear. The eardrum separates the outer ear from the middle ear. The middle ear, known as the tympanic cavity, is composed of three connected bones called ossicles and a canal to the back of the nose known as the Eustachian tube.
The ossicles transmit sound waves to the inner ear. The Eustachian tube, which is lined with mucus, regulates the pressure in the middle ear so that sound can be properly transmitted.
The inner ear has three distinct parts. Two of the three parts, the vestibule, and the semicircular canals help with balance. The remaining part of the inner ear is the cochlea, which contains nerve endings that help with hearing. Bleeding from the outer ear usually occurs due to a superficial skin wound, such as a cut or injury. Bleeding from deeper in the ear can be caused by other conditions.
In this case, there will probably be no other symptoms other than minor pain at the site of the injury. A skin injury may also occur if a person uses a Q-tip or tries to clean out earwax aggressively.
An irritated or infected ear piercing may also cause bleeding. An object in the ear is often more noticeable to an adult than a child. It is not uncommon for small children to stick candy, toys, beads, and other small objects in their ears and not complain. Any object in the ear, including small insects, may cause bleeding, infection or discomfort. Typically, ear pain will resolve when the object is no longer in the ear.
More severe injuries or traumas to the head may cause bleeding from the ears. These types of injuries are often due to an accident, a fall, or a sports injury. In cases when bleeding from the ears accompanies a head injury, the person may have a concussion. Bleeding from the ears after a head injury may be the result of a skull fracture , severe trauma, or other serious injury, so a person will need immediate medical attention.
Below we review some common causes of a bleeding ear and how to seek proper treatment. Ear infections occur when fluid becomes trapped in the middle ear due to inflammation, usually caused by a cold or allergies. This fluid is the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. Symptoms of an ear infection include ear pain, stuffy nose, slight hearing loss and fever.
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