Purple Rash on earlobe

euronorris

Hi All!

One of my colleagues just noticed a purple rash on my left earlobe.

It looks like someone has given me a hickey on my earlobe! lol. It's not itching or sore. Although, I am starting to feel a little itchiness on the inside of my ear, but that could be pyschological (ie, I think that a rash should be itchy so my mind is now playing tricks on me).

It wasn't there this morning. I haven't knocked it or anything and there's no bite mark.

I have no idea what this is! It's not a major issue, just curious as to what the h'll it is! lol.

Anyone ever had this, or known someone who had this before?

The only thing different is that I started a new, stronger, hayfever medication today. I'm aware it could be an allergic reaction to that, but, I would've expected more symptons for an allergic reaction.

Any thoughts would be welcomed.

jenniewb

Please check it out with your doctor, rashes are a symptom of something else weather it be an allergic reaction or stress, either way its not something we are allowed to diagnose on here as we are not medics.

HannahIOW

I had that before and it just disappeared. Never worked out what it was.

euronorris

jenniewb wrote: »

Please check it out with your doctor, rashes are a symptom of something else weather it be an allergic reaction or stress, either way its not something we are allowed to diagnose on here as we are not medics.

I understand, but it is a small rash and it isn't causing me any problems as such, so I'd feel like a time waster if I went to the docs.

I'm not expecting a diagnosis. Just wondering if anyone else had experienced the same or not, and if it had been linked to something more serious so I wouldn't feel like such a time waster going to the doctor.

jenniewb

euronorris wrote: »

I understand, but it is a small rash and it isn't causing me any problems as such, so I'd feel like a time waster if I went to the docs.

I'm not expecting a diagnosis. Just wondering if anyone else had experienced the same or not, and if it had been linked to something more serious so I wouldn't feel like such a time waster going to the doctor.

NHS Direct? I always thought they would only speak to me if I had an actual diagnosis but I hurt my ankle last week, gave them the symptoms and they advised me on what to do- no doctors or a&e required (for once!) its worth a shot anyway.

Otherwise there are pharmacys where you can ask the pharmasist- I find the Lloyds versions better then the Boots pharmacies as they seem to actually advise, at Boots I find they are overly cautious and refuse to say what they think it is, just "I am not sure..." Though I'm sure its not the case for all Boots pharmacies it does seem to be quite a few operate on the'say nothing' mentality.

Do get it checked out, or at least keep an eye on it. Like I say it could be anything from a reaction to a product, jewellery, food...could be many things.

The reason I've advised getting help is I have had huge hiccups with my skin over the last 4 months, I worry about skin issues as I ignored mine and they got very much worse: one spot on my hand turned into over 100 molluscum within 6 weeks, now taking an age to get rid of! A patch of ezcema on my inner arm spread to Lichen Planus within the same period and repeated itself atleast 5 separate times over the rest of my body...I now know with my skin issues to get help before they get worse as they seem to escalate quite quickly on my skin, it does seem if I treat them immediatly they do not spread as intensly. I know you are unlikely to have what I did as what I have is apparently very rare but it doesn't hurt to keep them in check.

euronorris

jenniewb wrote: »

NHS Direct? I always thought they would only speak to me if I had an actual diagnosis but I hurt my ankle last week, gave them the symptoms and they advised me on what to do- no doctors or a&e required (for once!) its worth a shot anyway.

Otherwise there are pharmacys where you can ask the pharmasist- I find the Lloyds versions better then the Boots pharmacies as they seem to actually advise, at Boots I find they are overly cautious and refuse to say what they think it is, just "I am not sure..." Though I'm sure its not the case for all Boots pharmacies it does seem to be quite a few operate on the'say nothing' mentality.

Do get it checked out, or at least keep an eye on it. Like I say it could be anything from a reaction to a product, jewellery, food...could be many things.

The reason I've advised getting help is I have had huge hiccups with my skin over the last 4 months, I worry about skin issues as I ignored mine and they got very much worse: one spot on my hand turned into over 100 molluscum within 6 weeks, now taking an age to get rid of! A patch of ezcema on my inner arm spread to Lichen Planus within the same period and repeated itself atleast 5 separate times over the rest of my body...I now know with my skin issues to get help before they get worse as they seem to escalate quite quickly on my skin, it does seem if I treat them immediatly they do not spread as intensly. I know you are unlikely to have what I did as what I have is apparently very rare but it doesn't hurt to keep them in check.

Thank you for your suggestions.

Unfortunately, as I live outside of the UK now, I am no longer entitled to receive help from NHS direct.

I did try to use their symptom checker online, but it seemed to freak out at this rash and suggested that I have meningitis and should go to hospital! I have just checked the rest of my body, as a precaution (in the toilets! lol) and it isn't anywhere else on my body and I don't have any other symptoms so I highly doubt it's that. But....will keep an eye out for other symptoms, just in case.

I don't wear earrings, well not often and I can't remember the last time I did. Same necklace as usual, so don't think it's that.

It's a strange one.

My doctor is on holiday until 18th June, but I can see another one locally (who I saw yesterday about the hayfever), and he runs a walk in clinic from 7.30am. Soooo, if it gets any worse, spreads or I develop other symptoms, then I'll go see him tomorrow morning.

euronorris

Well, it didn't get any worse, but stayed purple up until last night and then, this morning, it's practically vanished! lol

Still no idea what caused it, but it didn't cause me any problems. Thanks for your comments/advice peeps.

Toothsmith

It sounds to me very like you might have caught/knocked/damaged it in the night.

Partner might have bumped heads in the night?

Bruises don't always show straight away.