Published: Jun 15, 2023

Ear bleeding can feel scary.

Sometimes it comes from a small scratch in the ear canal. Sometimes it comes from an infection. Sometimes it can happen after a fall, a hit to the head, loud noise, a pressure change, or a ruptured eardrum.

Do not ignore ear bleeding.

A little blood after scratching the ear may not be serious. But bleeding after a head injury, bleeding with dizziness, hearing loss, fever, severe pain, or fluid leaking from the ear needs medical care.

This guide explains why your ear may be bleeding, what symptoms mean, what to do first, what not to do, treatment options, prevention tips, and when to seek urgent help.

For more help, visit our Lung & Respiratory Health Hub, First Aid & Home Remedies Hub, Infections & Immune Health Hub, Medical Tests & Screenings Hub, and Health Hub.

Medical note: This article is for education only. It does not diagnose or treat ear bleeding, ear infection, ruptured eardrum, skull injury, hearing loss, or ear tumours. Seek urgent care if ear bleeding happens after a head injury, fall, blow to the ear, loud blast, or accident. Also get urgent care for severe ear pain, hearing loss, dizziness, vomiting, confusion, severe headache, fever, facial weakness, clear fluid from the ear, swelling near the ear, or trouble staying awake.

Quick Answer: Why Is My Ear Bleeding?

Your ear may be bleeding because the skin inside the ear canal, the eardrum, or deeper ear tissue is injured or inflamed.

Common causes include:

• A scratch inside the ear canal
• Cotton swab injury
• Earwax removal injury
• Ear infection
• Swimmer’s ear
• Middle ear infection
• Ruptured eardrum
• Foreign object in the ear
• Pressure injury from flying or diving
• Loud noise injury
• Head injury
• Ear trauma
• Ear surgery or procedure
• Skin condition in the ear
• Rarely, an ear tumour

Ear bleeding should be checked if it is more than a tiny scratch, keeps happening, follows an injury, or comes with other symptoms.

When Ear Bleeding Is an Emergency

Get urgent medical care now if ear bleeding comes with:

• Recent head injury
• Fall or accident
• Blow to the ear
• Severe headache
• Confusion
• Vomiting
• Fainting
• Seizure
• Clear fluid from the ear
• Blood mixed with clear fluid
• Sudden hearing loss
• Severe dizziness or vertigo
• Facial weakness
• Trouble speaking
• Weakness on one side of the body
• Swelling behind or around the ear
• High fever
• Severe ear pain
• Trouble staying awake

These signs can mean a serious injury or infection. Do not wait.

First Aid: What to Do Right Away

If your ear is bleeding, stay calm.

Do these steps:

1. Sit upright.
2. Do not put anything deep into the ear.
3. Gently wipe blood from the outer ear only.
4. Use clean gauze near the outside of the ear if needed.
5. Do not pack the ear canal.
6. Do not use ear drops unless a doctor says it is safe.
7. Do not rinse the ear.
8. Call a doctor, urgent care, or emergency service if there are warning signs.

If bleeding happens after a head injury, get urgent care.

What Not to Do

These steps can make an ear injury worse.

• Do not push cotton swabs into the ear.
• Do not put tissue deep into the ear.
• Do not try to remove a stuck object with tweezers.
• Do not pour oil into the ear if bleeding is present.
• Do not use hydrogen peroxide unless advised.
• Do not use ear candles.
• Do not flush the ear if a ruptured eardrum is possible.
• Do not ignore bleeding after a head injury.
• Do not use leftover antibiotic drops.
• Do not scratch inside the ear.

The ear is delicate. Let a healthcare professional look inside safely.

1. Scratch Inside the Ear Canal

The ear canal has thin skin. It can bleed from a small scratch.

This may happen from:

• Cotton swab use
• Fingernails
• Earbuds
• Hearing aids
• Earplugs
• Scratching an itchy ear
• Trying to remove earwax

A small scratch may cause a small spot of blood. It may sting. It may feel itchy.

But if pain is severe, bleeding continues, or hearing changes, get checked.

2. Cotton Swab Injury

Cotton swabs can push wax deeper. They can also scratch the ear canal or hurt the eardrum.

Signs of cotton swab injury may include:

• Bleeding
• Sharp pain
• Ear fullness
• Ringing
• Reduced hearing
• Dizziness
• Fluid leaking

Do not push the swab back in to “check.” See a doctor if symptoms are more than mild.

3. Ear Infection

An ear infection can cause pain, fluid, pus, and sometimes blood.

Possible signs include:

• Ear pain
• Fever
• Fluid from the ear
• Bad smell
• Reduced hearing
• Ear pressure
• Tiredness
• Irritability in children
• Balance problems

Ear infections can happen in the outer ear or middle ear.

4. Swimmer’s Ear

Swimmer’s ear is an infection or inflammation of the outer ear canal.

It can happen when water stays in the ear. It can also happen after scratching the ear canal.

Symptoms may include:

• Itchy ear
• Ear pain
• Pain when pulling the outer ear
• Redness
• Swelling
• Fluid or pus
• Bad smell
• Temporary hearing trouble
• Small bleeding if the skin breaks

Swimmer’s ear often needs ear drops prescribed by a healthcare professional.

5. Middle Ear Infection

A middle ear infection happens behind the eardrum.

Pressure can build up. In some cases, the eardrum can tear and fluid may drain out.

Signs may include:

• Earache
• Fever
• Hearing loss
• Fluid from the ear
• Pus from the ear
• Blood-tinged fluid
• Pain that suddenly improves after drainage
• Child tugging at the ear
• Child crying more than usual

A doctor should check ear discharge, especially if it is bloody or linked with fever or hearing loss.

6. Ruptured Eardrum

A ruptured eardrum means there is a hole or tear in the eardrum.

It can happen from:

• Ear infection
• Cotton swab injury
• Foreign object
• Loud blast
• Pressure change
• Head trauma
• Slap or blow to the ear

Symptoms may include:

• Ear pain
• Blood from the ear
• Clear fluid from the ear
• Pus from the ear
• Hearing loss
• Ringing or buzzing
• Dizziness
• Nausea

Some ruptured eardrums heal on their own. Some need medicine, a patch, or surgery.

Keep the ear dry unless a doctor tells you otherwise.

7. Foreign Object in the Ear

Children may put small objects in the ear. Adults may also get earbud tips, insects, or objects stuck.

Signs may include:

• Ear bleeding
• Ear pain
• Bad smell
• Fluid from the ear
• Hearing loss
• Child pulling at the ear
• Buzzing if an insect is inside

Do not try to remove deep objects with tweezers. You may push them deeper or damage the eardrum.

Get medical help.

8. Pressure Injury From Flying or Diving

Fast pressure changes can hurt the eardrum. This is called ear barotrauma.

It may happen during:

• Flying
• Scuba diving
• Rapid altitude change
• Strong blast pressure

Symptoms may include:

• Ear pain
• Ear fullness
• Ringing
• Dizziness
• Hearing loss
• Fluid or blood if the eardrum tears

Get care if symptoms are severe or do not improve.

9. Loud Noise or Blast Injury

A very loud sound can damage the ear.

This can happen from:

• Explosion
• Fireworks
• Gunshot noise
• Very loud music
• Workplace noise
• Sudden blast near the ear

Symptoms may include ringing, pain, hearing loss, dizziness, or bleeding.

Sudden hearing loss after loud noise needs urgent medical care.

10. Head Injury or Skull Injury

Ear bleeding after head trauma is serious.

It can happen after:

• Car accident
• Fall
• Sports injury
• Fight or assault
• Blow to the head
• Blow to the ear

Get emergency care if ear bleeding follows head injury, especially with headache, dizziness, vomiting, confusion, sleepiness, clear fluid, or hearing loss.

11. Ear Surgery or Procedure

A small amount of bleeding may happen after some ear procedures or surgery.

But you should follow the instructions from your ENT doctor or surgeon.

Call your care team if you have:

• Heavy bleeding
• Worsening pain
• Fever
• Bad smell
• Dizziness
• New hearing loss
• Bleeding that does not slow down

12. Skin Conditions in the Ear

Skin problems can affect the ear canal and outer ear.

Examples include:

• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Dry skin
• Allergic reaction
• Infected skin

Scratching can break the skin and cause bleeding.

Do not scratch deep inside the ear. Ask a doctor about safe treatment for itchy ears.

13. Earwax and Ear Cleaning Injury

Earwax protects the ear. Too much wax can cause fullness, hearing changes, or discomfort.

Trying to dig out earwax can cause bleeding.

Safer steps:

• Do not push objects into the ear.
• Ask a clinician about wax softening drops if safe for you.
• Do not use drops if you may have a ruptured eardrum unless advised.
• See a healthcare professional for safe wax removal.

14. Blood Thinners and Easy Bleeding

Some people bleed more easily because of medicine or health conditions.

This may include people who take:

• Warfarin
• Apixaban
• Rivaroxaban
• Dabigatran
• Clopidogrel
• Aspirin
• Other blood-thinning medicines

Do not stop these medicines on your own.

Call your doctor if ear bleeding happens while taking blood thinners, especially after injury or if bleeding does not stop.

15. Rare Cause: Ear Tumour

Ear bleeding is rarely due to a tumour. But it can happen.

Warning signs may include:

• Bleeding that keeps coming back
• Ear pain that does not improve
• Hearing loss
• Balance problems
• Facial weakness
• A visible growth
• Bad-smelling discharge

Do not panic. Ear tumours are not a common cause. But repeated or unexplained bleeding should be checked.

Ear Bleeding in Children

Children may bleed from the ear because of infection, scratching, a cotton swab injury, a foreign object, or a ruptured eardrum.

Call a doctor if your child has:

• Blood from the ear
• Ear pain
• Fever
• Fluid or pus from the ear
• Hearing trouble
• Dizziness
• Object stuck in the ear
• Bleeding after a fall or head injury
• Swelling around the ear
• The child looks very sick

Do not put cotton swabs into a child’s ear canal.

How Doctors Check for Ear Bleeding

A healthcare professional may:

• Ask what happened
• Ask about head injury
• Ask about pain, dizziness, fever, and hearing loss
• Look inside the ear with an otoscope
• Check for infection
• Check for eardrum injury
• Remove an object safely if needed
• Order a hearing test
• Order imaging after trauma or serious symptoms
• Refer you to an ENT specialist

Do not try to look deep into the ear at home with tools.

Treatment for Ear Bleeding

Treatment depends on the cause.

Small Ear Canal Scratch

The doctor may advise keeping the ear dry, avoiding scratching, and watching for infection.

Ear Infection

Treatment may include ear drops, antibiotics in selected cases, pain relief, or follow-up.

Swimmer’s Ear

Treatment often includes prescription ear drops and keeping the ear dry.

Ruptured Eardrum

Many heal on their own. Some need antibiotic drops, a patch, or surgery if the hole does not close.

Foreign Object

A clinician removes the object safely.

Head Injury

Emergency care may include imaging, monitoring, and treatment for skull or brain injury.

Skin Condition

Treatment may include medicated drops, creams for the outer ear, allergy control, or infection care.

Pain Relief While Waiting for Care

Ask a doctor or pharmacist what is safe for you.

General comfort steps may include:

• Sit upright.
• Keep the ear dry.
• Use a clean cloth on the outer ear only.
• Use pain medicine only if safe for you.
• Avoid swimming.
• Avoid earbuds and hearing aids until checked to see if they worsen pain.
• Do not put drops in the ear unless advised.

Do not put oil, alcohol, peroxide, or herbs into a bleeding ear.

How to Prevent Ear Bleeding

You cannot prevent every cause. But you can lower the risk.

• Do not put cotton swabs into the ear canal.
• Do not scratch inside the ear.
• Do not use ear candles.
• Keep your ears dry if you get swimmer’s ear.
• Use earplugs for swimming if advised.
• Wear hearing protection around loud noise.
• Treat ear infections early.
• Do not fly or dive when very congested, if advised by a doctor.
• Use helmets for biking, sports, and risky work.
• Keep small objects away from young children.
• Get hearing aids or earbuds fitted well.
• See a doctor for ongoing itchy ears.

Safe Ear Cleaning Tips

The ear often cleans itself.

Safer ear care:

• Clean only the outside of the ear.
• Use a washcloth on the outer ear.
• Do not push objects inside.
• Ask a clinician about wax drops if needed.
• Get professional wax removal if the wax is blocked.
• Do not use drops if you have ear bleeding, discharge, ear tubes, or a possible eardrum tear unless advised.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

• What caused the ear bleeding?
• Is my eardrum intact?
• Do I have an ear infection?
• Do I need ear drops?
• Do I need antibiotics?
• Should I keep my ear dry?
• Can I swim?
• Can I fly?
• Do I need a hearing test?
• Do I need to see an ENT specialist?
• What symptoms indicate urgent care?
• When should I come back for a follow-up?

Simple 7-Day Ear Bleeding Safety Plan

This is a safety plan. It is not a treatment plan.

Day 1: Check Red Flags

Look for head injury, severe pain, fever, dizziness, hearing loss, confusion, or clear fluid. Get urgent care if present.

Day 2: Do Not Put Anything Inside

Do not use cotton swabs, drops, oil, or peroxide unless a clinician says it is safe.

Day 3: Keep the Ear Dry

Avoid swimming. Protect the ear from water until checked.

Day 4: Track Symptoms

Write down pain, hearing changes, dizziness, fever, discharge, and how much bleeding occurred.

Day 5: Book Medical Care

If bleeding happened more than once, lasted, or came with symptoms, book a visit.

Day 6: Follow the Treatment Plan

Use medicine only as prescribed. Finish drops or medicines as directed.

Day 7: Prevent Repeat Injury

Stop deep ear cleaning. Protect ears from loud noise, water, and objects.

FAQ

Why is my ear bleeding?

Your ear may be bleeding from a scratch, cotton swab injury, ear infection, ruptured eardrum, foreign object, pressure injury, loud noise, head injury, skin condition, or, rarely, a tumour.

Is ear bleeding serious?

It can be. A tiny scratch may be mild, but ear bleeding after head injury, with severe pain, fever, dizziness, hearing loss, clear fluid, or facial weakness needs urgent care.

Can an ear infection cause bleeding?

Yes. An ear infection can cause fluid, pus, and sometimes blood, especially if pressure causes the eardrum to tear.

Can a ruptured eardrum bleed?

Yes. A ruptured eardrum can cause blood, clear fluid, or pus to leak from the ear. It can also cause hearing loss, ringing, pain, or dizziness.

Should I put ear drops in a bleeding ear?

Do not use ear drops unless a doctor says it is safe. Some drops should not be used if the eardrum may be torn.

Should I clean blood out of my ear?

Clean only the outer ear gently. Do not put cotton swabs, tissue, or tools inside the ear canal.

When should I go to urgent care for ear bleeding?

Go to urgent care for ear bleeding after injury, severe pain, fever, dizziness, hearing loss, facial weakness, swelling, clear fluid, severe headache, vomiting, confusion, or trouble staying awake.

Can cotton swabs cause ear bleeding?

Yes. Cotton swabs can scratch the ear canal, push wax deeper, or injure the eardrum.

Can ear bleeding heal on its own?

A small scratch may heal on its own. But bleeding from infection, eardrum tear, object, or injury should be checked by a healthcare professional.

How can I prevent ear bleeding?

Avoid putting objects inside the ear, do not use ear candles, protect ears from loud noise, treat infections early, keep ears dry if prone to swimmer’s ear, and wear helmets during risky activities.

Related Reading

• First Aid & Home Remedies Hub
• Infections & Immune Health Hub
• Pain Management & Conditions Hub
• Medical Tests & Screenings Hub
• Health Hub
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Key Takeaway

Ear bleeding can come from a small scratch, cotton swab injury, infection, ruptured eardrum, foreign object, pressure change, loud noise, head injury, or, rarely, a tumour.

Do not put anything deep into the ear. Do not use drops, oil, or peroxide unless a healthcare professional says it is safe.

Bleeding after a head injury is urgent.

Also get fast care for severe pain, fever, dizziness, hearing loss, facial weakness, swelling, clear fluid, severe headache, vomiting, or confusion.

Prevention starts with simple habits: stop deep ear cleaning, avoid ear candles, protect ears from loud noise, keep ears dry when needed, and treat infections early.

 

Sources

• Cleveland Clinic — Ear Bleeding
• MedlinePlus — Ear Discharge
• MedlinePlus — Ear Emergencies
• MedlinePlus — Ruptured Eardrum
• NHS — Perforated Eardrum
• NHS Inform — Middle Ear Infection
• Mayo Clinic — Ruptured Eardrum Symptoms and Causes
• Mayo Clinic — Ruptured Eardrum Diagnosis and Treatment
• Cleveland Clinic — Ear Injuries and Trauma
• Cleveland Clinic — Ear Tumors