When the temperature outside is through the roof or you are exercising more than usual, you may notice an issue with stank coming from behind your ears. Sweating more than usual may cause you to notice the stale smell coming from behind your head handles. If you reach out to touch this area, the smell gets transferred to your hands. This creates an entirely new smell issue. Rather than be known as the Smelly Paw Guy (or Gal), check out this guide to learn how to get rid of smell behind ears.
One reason you may be noticing the smell of head cheese (and not the old fashioned stuff that get served on a plate) is due to the oil the body is busy producing all the time. Your pores naturally produce sebum, and this waxy stuff doesn’t smell in its natural state. It’s what keeps our skin smooth and our hair looking shiny, but too much of the stuff causes our hair to look oily and our skin to break out in pimples. If sebum is allowed to build up in the hair, it tends to break down, fester and smell. The whole process just becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. The head has more pores than other parts of the body, which makes it more susceptible to becoming rank due to sebum production than less furry parts of our bodies.
How to Get Rid of Smell Behind Ears
1 Baby Wipe it Away
Don’t try to tame the bad smell caused by bacteria that has gathered behind your ears by rubbing perfume or cologne in that spot. It will only exacerbate the issue. Instead, carry a small pack of baby wipes with you throughout the day and wipe down the area whenever you feel it is necessary. You may want to find a private spot like a bathroom stall to perform this task or face funny looks (or worse) from friends and coworkers when you take care of business.
2 Rub it Down with Rubbing Alcohol
Applying some rubbing alcohol to the area behind your ears is an effective way to get rid of smell behind ears. The alcohol can cut through any residual oil and it evaporates very quickly. Both of these are points in its favor. Use a facial tissue or cotton pads to apply it once or twice per day and wipe the area gently to remove any buildup of oil and dead skin that may be a breeding ground for bacteria that can lead to a stank issue on your skin. Avoid using rubbing alcohol more often, since you don’t want to dry out your skin.
3 Dab on Grapefruit Seed Oil
Essential oils may help to get rid of smell from behind ears on a temporary basis, but it will come back eventually. A much better choice is to dab some grapefruit seed oil in the spot behind your lobes to freshen up your skin. All you need to do is place a drop on your finger and rub it in. If you find the substance a bit irritating on your skin, dilute it with a drop of vegetable oil before applying it to the affected area.
More Solutions for Dealing with Smell Behind the Ears
1 Anti-Fungal Cream
The smell you are experiencing may be caused by a skin fungus. Try using an over-the-counter skin anti-fungal cream to get rid of the stink. You can pick one up at a drug store. A product used to treat athlete’s foot or jock itch should be just the ticket here. Apply as directed, but do get checked out by a doctor if the smell doesn’t settle down or gets worse after trying this solution.
2 Altabax Ointment
If you have tried to deal with the issue of smell behind the ears with the other suggestions listed here and have not been able to solve the problem, a visit to the doctor is in order. He or she may prescribe Altabax ointment. This antibacterial skin ointment is used to treat impetigo and may be needed to deal with the cause of the stink.
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