It's also been said that people with bi-polar get this for no reason. It happens to my son and it never hurts and isn't when he's angry, either.

I know stress has something to do with it, but it is not the only cause. I can be totally relaxed, by myself, without a care in the world, when suddenly it feels like someone is holding hot irons just an inch away from my ear(s). Then I automatically start thinking about it and it just gets worse and I turn blood-red. Very embarrassing when talking to someone and it happens in a matter of minutes and lasts hours. I can literally feel my heartbeat in them.

My PCP mentioned surgery, (last resort), but I found that the BP med Clonidine, at the right dose, will completely stop it. Unfortunately, you never know when it will happen, so I need to take it regularly. Whatever, it keeps my BP in check since I have social anxiety anyway. I found this by chance when I used the med to help with methadone withdrawals and noticed that even in stressful situations it doesn't happen anymore. Total social lifesaver.

My ears turn red and I feel very uncomfortable when I feel very hot on my ears. This happens especially after taking a hot shower at night or in the office and sometimes after 7 p.m. This started happening when I was a teenager. I don't have any stress. Please let me know if any one knows a permanent solution for this.

I have been experiencing unilateral left ear pain on and off for the past 20 years. I have seen both ENT and Rheumatology specialists and tried every medication, including prednisone and hydroxychloroquine. Nothing helps.

A typical flare up begins with excruciating pain involving only yhr lower and cartilaginous part of my ear, which is remarkably tender and very sensitive to touch. The pain gets worse with any movement of my ear and does not respond to any medication at all. It lasts for several hours and goes away when I wake up the following morning. I was in remission for three years. Recently the pain recurred with increased frequency and I am running out of all options. Anyone with suggestions?

I just wanted to share a similar experience as my ears turn red and becomes hot after taking a hot shower after 6 p.m. This experience has been consistent and started happening when I was a teenager. It may be also related to stress or anxiety as I feel stressed or anxious at the same time.

I'm so pleased to read these comments - I thought it was just me! I seem to get red ear syndrome in my right ear only - sometimes it develops into a migraine, sometimes it accompanies my period, so I wonder if it could be hormonal? I've also read that it can be a symptom of the menopause - I'm 42 too, maybe that's possible too?

My daughter gets this on both ears, but sometimes only one is affected. It began when she was very young, about three, and she still gets it at 12. It began when she would ingest red food dye 40, so of course we stopped that all together. Now it happens every now and then usually while she is eating. It does not hurt but she usually applies a cold wash cloth to them and it dissipates within an hour.

Oh, heavens. I started chewing bubble gum when alone in my office to thwart my urge to eat all the time, and have ended up with bright red, hot ears. Nice to know it is nothing serious, but caused by chewing!

Chiropractic work on my neck has helped immensely. Twice daily episodes have decreased to one every couple of months and the headaches I was having are also nearly gone.

Red Ear Syndrome is often caused by neck movements, and by having chiropractic work done to fix the alignmnt of the neck where it is hitting the nerves may fix the problem.

I did an earlier post about this subject, but I'm registered now, so here goes: Try some zyrtec. Today is the first day I've taken it for my allergies, which are terrible. It is an antihistamine sold OTC and cheap too. It worked on this issue and was an unexpected effect too. First day without (red ear) in a very long time. Good luck!

I'm another one with red ear. Sometimes it's both ears but usually my right ear. I can feel it turning red and hot. I don't have pain with it and I don't know what triggers it. It just happens. It is irritating.

Whatever red ear is; whatever its causes, etiology (and none that are well worked out are known), it must correlate with vasodilation. This may be engendered by histamine. In 2010, this line of thinking leads one to consideration of the vexatious area of inflammatory (probably neuroinflammatory) mechanisms.

As enhanced circulation, vasodilation is responsible for the redness. And this can sometimes be a painful condition.

@TX: Apply cold water to the ear, one or a few times. Water in its liquid state, as applied to the ear, requires energy (heat) on evaporation. this is exactly what happens in evaporation: the water draws heat from the ear. Cold water also effects vasoconstriction.

The possible relationship with neuroinflammation is provocative.

You all may want to look up a condition called Relapsing Polychondritis. Red hot ears are one of the primary symptoms, although the ear lobes never turn red. It is a very rare condition, and most of what you read on the internet will scare you - only because there has not been much research done because it is a rare condition.

There is a yahoo group devoted to the approximately 600 people in the US and abroad who have the condition or are related to someone with it. For those who have other autoimmune conditions especially, it is worth looking up. It is very possible that you have it and don't know it. A rheumatologist can help diagnose you. Good luck.

well you may as well make that 58 people registered. I am having the same problems. Glad to know that it is stress related. A massage must be in order. LOL.

I do connect it to heat, as many times when approaching a warm room, even when I am on my own I can feel growing sensation, so I know they are becoming red.

For me it is frustrating and I do feel very uncomfortable. I can feel it so probably I trigger it even more (somehow).

For anyone suffering from chronic red ears like me, you can use Dermablend Smooth Indulgence. Use a lighter base coat and a color that matches your skin - thin coats. Use the powder. Start with clean ears. This actually works and I am very thankful for it which is why I am sharing this with others.

By the way, I am a guy and it works so well, you can't tell. For girls, it's as easy as what they already do for their faces. Best of luck!

i also have this condition. i have had it for about five years. i am a 43 year old female. i also saw a neurologist and everything was fine. my regular physician also says it's fine. but it is so annoying and very uncomfortable.

i have other conditions that the cause is unknown for such as ibs. both seem to be much worse when I'm stressed!

I too have this same problem. I thought it had gone away, yet it has reappeared in the past couple of weeks. I truly believe that it is related to stress/anxiety. That seems to be the time that the episodes take place are times of heightened anxiety.

I'm a new grandfather at 42 and they also live here too, for a couple of weeks. Love them with all my heart, but coming home after work has taken a whole new meaning, and a new direction that I had not forecast. It's stress, friends.

I also have this red hot ear. I have had it for nearly nine months now. It comes and goes. Don't know what the possible reason for this might be. Sometimes it's really irritating.

I've just seen a neurologist who has diagnosed me with having migraines with aura and red ear syndrome. I've been told its very rare and he sees one every five years. the burning prickly sensation in my ear affects my jaw, ear and cheek and i can certainly feel when i have one. Fortunately while in my appointment i touched my head to describe where i feel the pain and within seconds my ear was bright red. this was good (in one respect) as the consultant could physically see what happens.

I have been prescribed some preventative medication and will see how this helps. I would love to chat with people who have this. I believe there are only about 57 people registered with this rare condition.