What Does An Eardrum Look Like?

What does an unhealthy eardrum look like?

What a Middle Ear Infection Looks Like – Despite its small size, the ear is a very complicated organ. The three main parts of the ear are known as the inner, middle, and outer ear. PhotoniCare focus their research and work on the middle ear. The middle ear is the area located directly behind the eardrum.

Most middle ear infections are caused by either bacteria or viruses. A common cold, the flu, or allergy symptoms that cause congestion and swelling of the nasal passages, throat, and eustachian tubes can sometimes lead to an infection. Anything that makes the nose stuffy has a tendency to cause swelling and blockage of the eustachian tubes.

Swelling from colds or allergies can keep the eustachian tubes from opening and this leads to pressure changes and the accumulation of fluid in the middle ear. This pressure and fluid will cause pain and sometimes persistent fluid can lead to an infection.

When a healthcare provider checks you or your child for an ear infection, they will typically use an instrument called an otoscope. An otoscope is basically a pen light attached to a magnifying glass, and this simple device has been used in medicine for the past 150 years. The otoscope comes with several pointed tips called specula.

A speculum is chosen based on the size of the patient’s ear opening. The healthcare provider will gently insert the speculum into the ear canal to look at the surface of the eardrum. The otoscope will allow the provider to look at the surface of the eardrum. Healthy Ear A healthy eardrum looks pinkish-gray. (Photo credit: WebMD ) Note: These are ideal, textbook images of the surface of the eardrum that you or your family healthcare provider rarely see because there may be wax blocking his/her view, or the patient may be uncooperative, which prevents proper positioning of the otoscope.

• These real-life impediments are what makes diagnosing AOM so difficult.
• When to Visit Your Healthcare Provider Ear pain and concerns about hearing are one of the most common reasons parents take their children to the doctor.
• If you suspect that your child has an ear infection, then the #EnginEarGuys recommend you contact your healthcare provider.

A provider will examine your child’s ear for an infection or if there is another issue causing your child’s symptoms and pain. If the provider does suspect an ear infection, antibiotics may or may not be recommended. Generally speaking, an ear infection has the potential to resolve itself without antibiotic treatment.

1. In the case of a severe middle ear infection with infected fluid in the middle ear, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the physician prescribe antibiotics.
2. However, the guidelines recommend the “watchful waiting” approach for non-severe middle ear infections in children over the age of two.

The overall goal is to reduce over-prescription of antibiotics,

Patients Clinicians PhotoniCare

Is it OK to touch your eardrum?

Why You Really, Truly Should Not Put Q-Tips Into Your Ears Notice the warning. (Carey Goldberg/WBUR) Brilliant. Just brilliant. Do you think I may qualify for one of those ? Here’s my sorry tale: Many a morning, my ears are still wet from my shampoo when I insert my phone’s earpieces into them. One recent morning, a little light bulb lit up over my head: “Hey! I’ll lightly swab the water out with Q-tips to speed the drying process! Sure, there’s some advice I’m vaguely aware of that it’s really not healthy to insert Q-tips — or anything smaller than your elbow — into your ear, but just look at the little cotton domeheads on sticks! They’re so clearly engineered to enter an earhole, aren’t they?” The swabbing felt good, and seemed to work. Dr. Jennifer Smullen (Courtesy of Mass. Eye and Ear) With my few remaining brain cells, I made the wise decision to stop using the Q-tips, and the sensation abated a few days later. And in hopes that others may learn from my mistakes, I spoke today with, an otologist and neurotologist (a specialist in surgery of the ear and nerves to the ear) at,

1. She was kind enough first to treat my sheepishness, and then to share wisdom that I hope spreads far and wide.
2. Our conversation, lightly edited: I am feeling very stupid at the moment.
3. Don’t feel stupid.
4. This comes up over and over.
5. I do not have a day that goes by that I do not address this issue. Sigh.

I’m feeling a little better. So why should I not have done what I did? Number one, you would like to have some wax in your ears. The ear canal makes wax for a purpose. The wax in your ear waterproofs the ear canal and keeps water from going in and getting stuck, sort of like wax on your car.

• If you clean your ear with a Q-tip, that strips the wax and lets the water stay in.
• So my trying to remove water with a Q-tip actually created a vicious cycle? Exactly.
• So number one, you should leave the wax in your ears because it waterproofs them.
• It’s also a natural antibiotic.
• It’s naturally acidic and it prevents infection in your ear.

So if you take away the wax, you’re more likely to get a swimmer’s ear infection. Third reason why you shouldn’t remove the wax with a Q-tip in particular is that at the end of the ear canal is the ear drum, and the ear drum is much closer to the outside than you might think.

If you put a Q-tip in your ear so the entire cotton has gone in, you’re probably touching your ear drum. People always say they didn’t go in that far, and they always do. And what’s the problem with reaching the ear drum? The ear drum is very delicate, so you can puncture it with a Q-tip, and I’ve seen that many times.

The other reason is that if you touch the ear drum you press on the little bones of hearing underneath — the hammer, the anvil and the stirrup. They’re the tiniest bones in the body and they’re right under the eardrum, attached to it. And if you press on those, it sends shock waves into the inner ear, and the inner ear is responsible for hearing and balance. (Wikimedia Commons) What’s a worst-case scenario? If you put a Q-tip into your ear you could puncture your eardrum and that may require surgery to fix it. It can even make you lose your hearing in your ear forever. The more common thing that happens is that the Q-tip is exactly the size of your ear canal, so when you put it in your ear, you push the wax in deeper and it gets stuck, and then you have to have some help to get it out.

How about getting water out? If you get water stuck in your ear, these are the best ways to take care of it: One is to take a hair dryer and blow it on a cool setting into your ear until the water evaporates. The other way is to put a couple of drops of rubbing alcohol in your ear. The alcohol will displace the water and then evaporate.

Brilliant! And what exactly was it, that weirdness that I felt? A form of vertigo? I can tell you what that probably was, if what you felt was that when you turned your head or tipped it back, you felt a kind of “catch-up.” There are some small calcium crystals inside of the inner ear called otoliths.

If you tap on your eardrum and that pushes on the little bones of hearing and sends a shock wave into the inner ear, the crystals can become dislodged, and every time you turn your head, you shift and you get that little ‘bu-bumbum.’ There’s a name for it:, You probably caused it by a little trauma to your ear by using the Q-tips, and it usually goes away on its own.

There are also certain amazing things we can do in the office; we put your head in certain positions and that makes it go away. Good to know. Really, my only defense is that the form of the Q-tip just so seems to suggest putting it into your ear. If you look at the box, it says not to put it in your ear.

The best way to clean your ears is to take a tissue and drape it over your finger, and anywhere you can reach with your finger, it’s safe to go. Readers, have you had any sort of experience like mine? And it’s true there are warnings on the box, but don’t you think they should be made bigger? This program aired on November 28, 2012.

The audio for this program is not available. : Why You Really, Truly Should Not Put Q-Tips Into Your Ears

What does a real life eardrum look like?

Ear Anatomy Images – Otorhinolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery Normal Left Ear Drum This is a left ear drum of a ten year old. The drum looks healthy and has a nice gray color to it. Eustachian Tube Opening The image is of a normal nasopharynx and the opening to the Eustachian tube. The Eustachian tube goes from the back of the nose (nasopharynx) to the middle ear. Normally the tube remains closed and opens when you swallow, yell or pop your ear with a Valsalva Maneuver. See appendix I: How to “pop” your ears. : Ear Anatomy Images – Otorhinolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery

Can you damage your eardrum with your finger?

What are the symptoms of a ruptured eardrum? – The eardrum, also known as the tympanic membrane, is a thin tissue that divides the ear canal and middle ear. A ruptured eardrum is the result of a tear or hole in this tissue. It is sometimes referred to as a perforated eardrum or tympanic membrane perforation.

Severe ear pain that may disappear as suddenly as it came on Hearing loss in the affected earDrainage (sometimes bloody) from the ear Tinnitus (ringing in the ear)A plugged-up feeling in the earDizziness or loss of balanceNauseaA whistling in the ear, especially noticeable when blowing the nose

There are many possible causes of an eardrum perforation. The most common include:

Ear infection, Pressure that builds up when fluid accumulates behind the eardrum can cause a tear. Ear trauma, Because the tissue in the eardrum is so thin, any direct blow can cause a hole. Inserting an object into the ear, It’s important to teach your kids to never stick anything in their ears. This includes fingers, cotton swabs, safety pins and pencils. Any of these can easily rupture the eardrum. Loud noise, Any loud noise can lead to a perforation in the tympanic membrane. Music, gunshots, firecrackers and even certain especially noisy toys can cause hearing loss or tinnitus for hours or days afterward. Sometimes, the condition can be permanent. Barotrauma, Any sudden change in pressure can damage the ear, causing the eardrum to rupture. This is known as barotrauma and is common in scuba divers and airline passengers. The Eustachian tube, an organ responsible for regulating pressure between the inner and outer ears, has difficulty keeping up with sudden changes in pressure; these can create a vacuum effect, stretching and pulling the eardrum with enough force to create a tear.

Can a damaged eardrum heal itself?

Your provider or an ENT specialist can often determine if you have a ruptured (perforated) eardrum with a visual inspection using a lighted instrument (otoscope or microscope). Your provider may conduct or order additional tests to determine the cause of your ear symptoms or to detect the presence of any hearing loss. These tests include:

Laboratory tests. If there’s discharge from the ear, your provider may order a laboratory test or culture to detect a bacterial infection of the middle ear. Tuning fork evaluation. Tuning forks are two-pronged, metal instruments that produce sounds when struck. Simple tests with tuning forks can help your provider detect hearing loss. A tuning fork evaluation may also reveal whether hearing loss is caused by damage to the vibrating parts of the middle ear (including the eardrum), damage to sensors or nerves of the inner ear, or damage to both. Tympanometry. A tympanometer uses a device inserted into the ear canal that measures the response of the eardrum to slight changes in air pressure. Certain patterns of response can indicate a perforated eardrum. Audiology exam. This is a series of tests that measure how well you hear sounds at different volumes and pitches. The tests are conducted in a soundproof booth.

Most ruptured (perforated) eardrums heal without treatment within a few weeks. Your provider may prescribe antibiotic drops if there’s evidence of infection. If the tear or hole in the eardrum doesn’t heal by itself, treatment will likely involve procedures to close the tear or hole. These may include:

Eardrum patch. If the tear or hole in the eardrum doesn’t close on its own, an ENT specialist may seal it with a paper patch (or a patch made of other material). With this office procedure, your ENT doctor may apply a chemical to the edges of the tear, which can promote ear drum healing, and then apply a patch over the hole. The procedure may need to be repeated more than once before the hole closes. Surgery. If a patch doesn’t result in proper healing or your ENT doctor determines that the tear isn’t likely to heal with a patch, he or she may recommend surgery. The most common surgical procedure is called tympanoplasty. Your surgeon grafts a patch of your own tissue to close the hole in the eardrum. This procedure is done on an outpatient basis. In an outpatient procedure, you can usually go home the same day unless medical anesthesia conditions require a longer hospital stay.

How do I know if my eardrum is OK?

There are a number of signs and symptoms that can indicate a ruptured eardrum. They include some of the following: a sudden increase or decrease in pain, bloody discharge from the ear with pus, hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo or a spinning sensation, and nausea and vomiting from the vertigo.

Why do Q-tips feel good?

Symptoms of a Blocked Ear – According to an article in The Independent in 2017, twisting cotton buds inside our ear canals is a much beloved activity due to a simple truth: “it feels great” 1, Ears are filled with nerve endings and stimulating these via cotton bud use can “trigger all sorts of visceral pleasure” as well as what dermatologists refer to as the “itch-scratch” cycle; once you start, it is difficult to stop! Our ears also likely feel good after cleaning because relief is gained from the that come with a blocked ear.

Hearing loss A feeling of fullness and blockage Itchiness A constant ringing sound Pain Discharge

Do Q-tips push earwax in?

Q-tips or cotton swabs, are commonly used as a quick way to remove wax from the ear. They are easy to use and convenient; but the truth is, they can actually cause more harm than good. Q-tips can push wax further into the ear canal, which can cause impaction, discomfort, or a rupture in the ear drum.

1. If the wax gets pushed too far into the ear canal, it could require surgical intervention.
2. If left untreated, long-term complications can even lead to infections or hearing loss.’ “Because of the shape of your ear canal, pushing a cotton swab into your ear will remove a small amount of wax, but push a larger amount further down the canal.

Over time, this causes cerumen to build up and eventually it can dry up and totally block the ear canal,” said Dr. Lindsay Bondurant, director of the Pennsylvania Ear Institute. What many people don’t realize is that ear wax is good for you. The wax lubricates the delicate skin in your ear, keeping it moisturized.

It can also stop debris like bugs or dirt from entering the ear. Additionally, studies show that wax has antibacterial properties that can help keep infections away from the ear canal. Most people don’t need to do anything to remove ear wax beyond their daily shower routine. It is important to note that some people do overproduce ear wax though and may need to have the wax professionally removed by an audiologist.

Wax is usually removed through one of three methods: irrigation, suction, or instrumentation. To schedule an appointment with one of our audiologists, please call 215.780.3180.

Is spraying water in your ear bad?

Complications – Irrigation of the ear can lead to otitis externa, vertigo, perforation of the tympanic membrane, and middle ear damage if the tympanic membrane is perforated. These complications are less common with the syringe and IV catheter technique than when compared to the pulsating water device technique.

Using a cerumen spoon to remove the remaining wax can cause damage to the skin covering the external auditory canal. Symptoms of complications include sudden pain, ringing in the ears, loss of the ability to hear, nausea, and dizziness. If a patient experiences any of these symptoms, the provider should immediately stop and examine the ear canal and tympanic membrane with an otoscope.

If the tympanic membrane is ruptured, prescribe the patient oral antibiotics to treat otitis media prophylactically. Refer the patient to an otolaryngologist for specialty consult.

Can you hear without a eardrum?

Can you hear without an eardrum? – Without your eardrum, everything would sound muffled. People with ruptured eardrums usually have some hearing loss until the membrane heals. A note from Cleveland Clinic Your eardrum (tympanic membrane) is essential for proper hearing function.

How far inside is the eardrum?

Details – The pinna is the part of the ear that everyone can see. It is made of cartilage covered with skin. In many animals the pinna is important in funnelling the sound into the ear canal and can be moved towards the direction of the sound. This function of the pinna is less developed in humans.

The ear cana l is about 2.5 cm long and is not straight but curved. The outer third is a tube of cartilage continuous with the pinna and extend upwards and backwards. The inner two thirds of the ear canal is a bony tube facing downwards and forwards. At the end of the ear canal is the ear drum. The ear drum is a thin membrane which separates the ear canal from the middle ear.

The ear drum is fixed to part of the first hearing bone which is called the malleus. The ear canal and the ear drum are covered with skin just like the skin on the outside of the body. The skin over the outer part of the ear canal is thick and has hairs and glands which produce secretions that mix to form wax.

These secretions keep the ear canal acidic and protect the ear from infections. The skin over the deep part of the ear canal is very thin and easily damaged by cotton buds, hairgrips, matchsticks or any of the other things people sometimes stick into their ears. You should never put anything into your ear canal.

The skin on your body is 5 layers thick. The skin over your body is continually growing and replacing itself. The new skin cells start growing in the deepest layer of the skin and move up to the surface layer where they are rubbed off by friction. The skin in the ear canal is different.

1. There is no friction in the ear canal so the continually growing skin has to clear itself in a different way.
2. It does this by a process called ‘migration’.
3. There is a continual movement of the top layer of the skin cells from the centre of the ear drum to the edge of the ear drum and then out along the ear canal.

If you put an ink dot on the ear drum and take regular photographs you will see the ink dot move from the ear drum onto the ear canal and out towards the opening of the ear canal where it sheds off and becomes mixed with the wax.

Can you feel your eardrum moving?

Eardrum spasms can be caused by many things. Depending on the cause, there are medications that can help. See an otolaryngologist (ENT) for the right treatment. It’s rare, but sometimes the muscles that control the tension of the eardrum have an involuntary contraction or spasm, similar to a twitch you may feel in a muscle elsewhere in your body, like your leg or your eye,

The tensor tympani and stapedius muscles in your middle ear are protective. They dampen the sound of noises coming from outside the ear, and they reduce the sound of noises coming from the inside the body, such as the sound of our own voice, chewing, and so on. When these muscles spasm, the result can be middle ear myoclonus (MEM), also known as MEM tinnitus.

MEM is a rare condition — occurring in about 6 of 10,000 people — in which tinnitus (buzzing or ringing in ears ) is produced by repetitive and synchronized contractions of the tensor tympani and stapedius muscles.

The tensor tympani muscle attaches to the malleus bone — a hammer shaped bone that transmits sound vibrations from the eardrum. When it spasms, it makes a thumping or clicking sound. The stapedius muscle attaches to the stapes bone, which conducts sound to the cochlea — a spiral-shaped organ in the inner ear. When it’s in spasm, it makes a buzzing or crackling sound.

According to a 2012 review of case reports and case series, there is no conclusive diagnostic test or treatment for MEM. Surgery on the stapedius and tensor tympani tendons (tenotomy) has been used for treatment — with varying degrees of success — when more conservative treatments have failed.

muscle relaxants anticonvulsantszygomatic pressure

Botox treatment has been used as well. Tinnitus isn’t a disease; it’s a symptom. It’s an indication that something is wrong in the auditory system — the ear, the auditory nerve, and the brain. Tinnitus is often described as ringing in the ears, but people with tinnitus also describe other sounds, including:

buzzingclickingroaring hissing

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders estimates that nearly 25 million Americans have experienced at least five minutes of tinnitus in the past year. The most common cause of tinnitus is extended exposure to loud sounds, although a sudden, extremely loud sound can cause it as well.

eardrum rupture earwax blockage labyrinthitis Meniere’s disease concussion thyroid abnormalities temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome acoustic neuroma otosclerosis brain tumor

Tinnitus is recognized as a potential side effect for about 200 nonprescription and prescription drugs including aspirin and certain antibiotics, antidepressants, and anti-inflammatories. Unwanted sounds in your ears can be distracting and irritating.

Would I know if I blew my eardrum?

Ruptured eardrum – A ruptured (perforated) eardrum prevents the proper transmission of sound waves to the middle ear and leaves the middle ear vulnerable to infectious agents, water and other foreign substances. Signs and symptoms of a ruptured eardrum may include:

Ear pain that may subside quickly Mucuslike, pus-filled or bloody drainage from the ear Hearing loss Ringing in the ear (tinnitus) Spinning sensation (vertigo) Nausea or vomiting that can result from vertigo

Call your health care provider if you have signs or symptoms of a ruptured eardrum. The middle and inner ears are made up of delicate structures that are sensitive to injury or disease. It is important to try to figure out the cause of ear symptoms and determine whether a ruptured eardrum has occurred.

What happens if earwax touches eardrum?

Earwax Build Up | Midwest ENT Centre Providers Location Services More Search Posted on June 7, 2021 by Midwest ENT Centre One of the most common questions asked of an ear doctor is how to prevent wax build up. The ear is designed to clean itself of wax and dead skin. The ear in most cases should be self-cleaning. Some people are more at risk for cerumen impaction. This can be related to thick wax, narrow ear canals, or hair in the ear canals.

• Many people habitually use Q-tips after a shower to get the water out of the ear and clean out wax.
• This can push wax further towards the eardrum.
• If wax touches the ear drum, it can be painful and cause muffled hearing.
• There are many products on the market to remove wax using oils, solutions, syringes, ear vacuums and candles.

These may seem to help in some instances, but can also cause bigger problems like damaging the ear canal or eardrum. If you have sudden hearing loss after using the shower, swimming or cleaning the ears, there may be wax obstructing the ear canal or covering your ear drum.

If there is also pain present, an ear canal infection (link otitis externa) may be to blame. The easiest and safest way to find out what is wrong with the ear is to see one of our doctors at Midwest ENT. If there is wax build-up, the most effective way to get it out is under a microscope so no damage is done to the ear.

For our other ear services, . Call Midwest ENT Centre at for more information or to schedule an appointment. : Earwax Build Up | Midwest ENT Centre

What happens if I poked my eardrum?

How Are Perforated Eardrums Treated? – Usually, a perforated eardrum will heal on its own within a few weeks. While the eardrum is healing, your doctor might suggest:

taking over-the-counter pain relievers using antibiotics to prevent infections or treat any existing infections (these could be given as a pill or as ear drops)

While your eardrum heals:

Don’t use over-the-counter ear drops unless your doctor tells you to. If there is a hole in the eardrum, some kinds of ear drops can get into the middle ear or cochlea and cause problems. Avoid getting water inside the ear canal. Your doctor might recommend that you keep your ear dry during water activities to prevent infection. Gently place a waterproof earplug or cotton ball coated with petroleum jelly in your ear when you shower or take a bath. Don’t clean your ear or forcefully blow your nose. Wait until the tear in your eardrum is completely healed.

If your eardrum doesn’t heal on its own, an ear-nose-throat (ENT) specialist may recommend surgery to place an eardrum patch. The doctor puts a paper patch over the hole after applying a special medicine to make the tear heal. Doctors may need to do this procedure a few times until the eardrum is fully healed.

Can you go deaf from a damaged eardrum?

Outlook (Prognosis) – The opening in the eardrum most often heals by itself within 2 months if it is a small hole. Hearing loss will be short-term if the rupture heals completely. Rarely, other problems may occur, such as:

Long-term hearing lossSpread of infection to the bone behind the ear (mastoiditis)Long-term vertigo and dizzinessChronic ear infection or ear drainage

Why does my ear feel blocked?

Why do my ears feel clogged? – Harvard Health April 1, 2023 By, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women’s Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor, and, Editor at Large, Harvard Women’s Health Watch Q. Over the past few days, my hearing seems muffled. What might be triggering this clogged sensation? A. It can be uncomfortable and a little jarring to feel like our ears are stuffed up, especially when it prevents us from hearing clearly. But it’s not always easy to identify why.

A common reason is impacted earwax, a sticky buildup of the otherwise normal secretions that keep the ear canal lubricated. While you may be tempted to try removing it with a cotton swab, this tactic can backfire, pushing wax farther in. Instead, try over-the-counter earwax removal drops to soften and loosen waxy buildup.

Clogged ears can also result from swollen or blocked eustachian tubes, which connect the middle ear to the back of the throat. This can happen for brief periods during air travel, but also due to allergies, sinus or ear infections, or other respiratory viruses (including COVID-19). Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women’s Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor Dr. Toni Golen is a physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, practicing in Boston. Dr. Golen completed her residency training at George Washington University Medical Center in 1995, and is an associate professor at Harvard Medical Hope Ricciotti, MD, Editor at Large, Harvard Women’s Health Watch Dr. Hope A. Ricciotti is Editor at Large of Harvard Women’s Health Watch. She is an associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School, and leads the department of obstetrics, gynecology, and As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Whether you get skin rashes, itchy eyes, wheezy airways, or a runny nose, an allergic response is no fun, and is sometimes dangerous. In Controlling Your Allergies, you’ll learn to identify your allergic symptoms, pinpoint your triggers, distinguish between intolerance and allergy, and choose the best treatment for your particular type of allergy.

Why does my ear sound like water but no water?

Tinnitus is often called ‘ringing in the ears.’ It may also sound like blowing, roaring, buzzing, hissing, humming, whistling, or sizzling. The noises heard can be soft or loud. The person may even think they’re hearing air escaping, water running, the inside of a seashell, or musical notes.

What does a collapsed eardrum feel like?

Sometimes, retracted eardrums don’t cause any symptoms. But if your eardrum pulls back enough to press on the tiny bones in your middle ear (ossicles), then you could develop retracted eardrum symptoms like: Earache. A feeling of fullness or pressure in your ear.

Why are my ears wet and itchy when I wake up?

Why Do My Ears Feel Wet in The Morning? Ever wondered why your ears feel wet at times, especially in the morning? The answer is simpler than you might think. The sensation is often a result of increased production of ear wax, scientifically known as cerumen. Far from being a mere annoyance, ear wax plays several crucial roles, such as moisturizing the skin, trapping dust, repelling insects, and boasting impressive anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties.

Why is there blood on my Q tip after cleaning my ears?

Blood on Q-tip after cleaning ears – If you discover that your ear is bleeding after using a Q-tip, there could many possible causes. First, look for a pimple or a small cut or wound that could be present in the outer ear. A Q-tip could puncture a pimple or aggravate a cut that could cause bleeding.

What does infected eardrum look like?

Signs of Infection A red, bulging eardrum. Clear, yellow, or greenish fluid behind the eardrum. There may also be some blood.

What do scarred eardrums look like?

What is tympanosclerosis? – “Tympanosclerosis” is the medical term for scarring of your eardrum ( tympanic membrane ). Your eardrum is a thin, translucent membrane that separates your outer ear from your middle ear. When your eardrum becomes damaged — by either injury or surgery — calcium deposits can cause your eardrum to harden, thicken and become rigid.