Skin and ear.

Abstract

The ear and its covering skin have some peculiar characteristics and, moreover, some characteristics similar to those ones of the nose such as exposure, cartilaginous structure, less extensible skin and abundant sebaceous glands. Some of these anatomic and physiological characteristics can influence several dermatological disorders. We should remember the abundant vessels and the susceptibility to vasomotor crises, the numerous sebaceous glands in the concha and the modified sweat glands in the bony portion of the external auditory duct, which are responsible for the secretion of cerumen and the presence of grooves and reliefs, which make the surface of the auricle very irregular. Finally, we should remember the retroauricular fold, which is often affected in many inflammatory constitutional skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis (...).