If you have pierced ears, you’re likely familiar with the unpleasant issue known as ‘ear cheese.’
If you’re not familiar with the term, you might recognize it as the gross, brownish-gray substance that forms on your earring posts and backs, especially those with a clear plastic cover. It has a distinct, unpleasant smell, which is why it’s been dubbed ‘ear cheese.’
While it’s certainly not appetizing, the nickname is spot-on for the gunk. This is a common issue, affecting most women—83 percent of Americans have at least one ear pierced, and 72 percent of those with piercings are women.
Many of us get our ears pierced when we’re babies or young children, making ear care an ongoing concern throughout our lives. Despite being so widespread, it’s still a topic that many find awkward to discuss.
What Is “Ear Cheese?”
So, what exactly is ear cheese? The answer might not be very pleasant.
It’s a mixture of dead skin cells, sebum (oil), and residue from hair and beauty products that accumulate around your earlobe. This combination forms a greenish-brownish-gray paste that starts to smell as bacteria grow, giving it its signature cheesy odor.
Why Do We Get Ear Cheese?
Ear cheese is a completely natural result of having pierced ears. It forms for the same reason that dead skin accumulates elsewhere on your body: your skin is constantly shedding and regenerating, leaving some cells behind.
Just like you experience oily skin and clogged pores when you don’t exfoliate your face, or dry, cracked heels from neglecting foot exfoliation, the same process happens with your ears.
However, it mixes with oil from your scalp and ears, making it harder to clean, which leads to buildup.
Who Is At Risk For Ear Cheese?
Almost everyone with a piercing will experience ear cheese at some point, but certain people are more prone to it. If you have a relatively new piercing that has only recently healed, you may be at greater risk, as your body could still be producing extra skin cells in response to the healing process.
You might also be more susceptible if you wear earrings that you never remove, or if you’re older and your ear piercings are beginning to stretch.
How To Get Rid Of Ear Cheese
Remedy #1: Take Out Your Piercing
If you have ear cheese, the first thing you should do is remove the earring to let your ear breathe a bit. If you’ve had the same earrings on for weeks on end, they probably need some air circulation to freshen things up. Please note, if you just got your ears pierced, don’t remove your earrings until you talk with your piercer. Chances are, you don’t have ear cheese, you just need to disinfect the new openings.
Remedy #2: Clean It
Once your ears are free of metal, it’s time to give them a deep clean. Start with a gentle soap and a soft wash cloth. Scrub your ears front and back and exfoliate away all the dead skin. If your ears are irritated, you may want to dab on some antibacterial ointment. You should also consider a light moisturizer to help your lobes recover from their spa treatment.
Remedy #3: Wash Or Swap Your Jewelry
Let your lobes breathe for a little bit, and give your jewelry a good wash. If you want to put the same earrings back, clean them thoroughly and dry them. Alternatively, swap them out for a clean pair of earrings. You should clean all earrings after you wear them. You can use mild soap or dishwashing liquid and a soft cloth to clean metal, but be careful not to get it on soft gems like opal, pearl, or turquoise.
Remedy #4: Don’t Overwash
Once you’ve cleaned your ears, be carefully not to scrub them too much! Exfoliating is a fine art. You want to keep the piercings clean, but you don’t want to damage the skin. If you scrub your ears too often, they might get raw, which can open the door to infection.
Remedy #5: Keep It Clean
To minimize ear cheese going forward, just make sure to keep the environment around your ears healthy and clean. Change your bed sheets and pillowcases often to help avoid sebum build-up, and make sure to wash your hair regularly and rinse any products off your lobes. And change or clean your earrings regularly to keep everything stink-free!
