How to Prevent Ear Discomfort in Cold Fall Air

A fall morning along the Charles River can feel quite different from an afternoon in downtown Boston. You might head out in a light jacket, enjoying the cooler weather until a breeze catches your ears.

Even when you’re comfortable otherwise, you may find yourself wishing you’d brought something to cover them. It’s a familiar part of spending time outside as temperatures begin to drop.

Your ears can be sensitive to cooler air, even before the weather calls for a winter coat.

Maybe you’ve felt a little tenderness during a morning walk or noticed your ears warming up again once you’re indoors. With plenty of fall weather still ahead, it’s natural to wonder why your ears respond this way and how to keep them comfortable outside.

Why Ears Feel Sensitive When Temperatures Drop

Your outer ears don’t have much fat beneath the skin to keep them warm. When temperatures drop, they lose heat quickly, especially in windy weather.

Small blood vessels narrow in response to the cold, reducing blood flow near the skin. With less warmth reaching the area, your ears may start to ache or feel tender.

Cold air may leave the skin inside your ear canal feeling irritated, especially if it’s already dry. When you come back inside, the small blood vessels in your ears widen as they warm up.

Your ears may turn red or tingle briefly while this happens. The sensation usually fades once they’ve warmed up.

Cold Weather Risks for Ear Skin and Tissue

Cold air and wind can leave the skin on your ears feeling dry or irritated, especially after you’ve been outside for a while. As the weather gets cooler, you might notice flaky skin or itching around the edges of your ears.

Wind pulls warmth away from exposed skin, so your ears cool down faster than they would on a calm day. If the skin becomes very dry, it may start to crack or feel sore when touched.

People who already have dry or sensitive skin may find that cooler weather makes it worse. Wearing hearing aids can add to the irritation if the devices rub against tender skin behind your ears.

A hat or earmuffs will keep the wind off, while a small amount of fragrance-free moisturizer can keep the outer ear from drying out. Just avoid putting moisturizer inside your ear canal or near the openings on your hearing aids.

Fall Weather and Hearing Aid Care

When you wear hearing aids throughout the day, you may find that they feel a little different in colder weather.

Moving from chilly outdoor air into a warm building can also cause condensation to form on or inside your devices. If moisture reaches the microphones or battery contacts, the sound may become muffled or cut out occasionally.

When you come indoors after being out in cold or damp weather, check whether any moisture has collected on your hearing aids. Wipe them with a soft, dry cloth before putting them away. If they still seem damp, leave them in a hearing aid drying case overnight.

Keep them away from heaters and hair dryers, since too much heat can damage the electronics. For devices with disposable batteries, check the battery compartment and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for drying your devices.

Choosing the Right Ear Protection for Fall Weather

You don’t need a heavy winter hat every time the temperature drops. For fall weather, choose something that covers your ears without feeling too warm or getting in the way.

Here are a few options to consider:

• • Fleece earmuffs: A good choice when you want to cover your ears without wearing a full hat.
  • Knit hats: Look for one that reaches below your ears and stays in place when you’re moving around.
  • Fleece headbands: Useful for walks or outdoor exercise when you want ear coverage without covering your whole head.
  • Earflap hats: Provide more coverage on colder days, especially when the wind picks up.
  • If you wear hearing aids: Choose something that doesn’t press too tightly against your devices or cause whistling when you move.

Selecting Comfortable Materials for Covering Your Ears in Fall

Cotton is softer but tends to stay damp if you sweat. Fleece feels smooth against your ears and usually dries faster, which may be more comfortable during outdoor activities.

Before choosing a hat or headband, check how the material feels around your ears. Thick seams can rub against the skin, and tight elastic may leave sore spots after you’ve worn it for a few hours.

If certain fabrics tend to irritate your skin, look for a soft lining that sits between your ears and the outer material.

Daily Skin Care for Healthy Ears

Indoor heating can leave the air in your home quite dry once the cooler weather arrives. You might find that the skin around your ears feels tight after a shower or starts flaking more often.

Frequent washing with hot water can remove the natural oils that keep your skin from drying out. Try using lukewarm water when washing your face or hair and skip harsh soaps around your ears.

After bathing, gently dry the folds behind your ears, where leftover moisture can irritate the skin.

Apply a fragrance-free cream to the outer ear while your skin is still slightly damp, keeping it out of the ear canal. If your skin remains dry, consider using a humidifier indoors to add moisture to the air.

Safe Cleaning Tips for Ears and Hearing Devices During Fall Months

Wearing hats and scarves more often in the fall can leave lint around your ears. When washing, use a damp washcloth to wipe around the folds of your outer ears and remove anything that’s collected there.

Keep cotton swabs out of your ear canals, since they can push wax farther inside or irritate the skin.

If you wear hearing aids, take a look at the microphone openings and wax guards when you clean them. Lint and earwax can collect in these small areas and interfere with sound.

Use the brush that came with your hearing aids to gently remove anything you can see. If a wax guard is clogged, replace it following your device’s instructions. Avoid household cleaners or spraying liquids directly onto your hearing aids.

Practical Ways to Keep Your Ears Warm During Outdoor Activities

When you’re outside for a while, your hat or ear covering may need adjusting as you move around.

Before heading out, check a few things so you aren’t dealing with an uncomfortable fit halfway through your plans:

• • Check for gaps: Make sure your ear covering doesn’t move when you bend down or turn your head.
  • Watch for pressure: Adjust anything that presses against the tops of your ears or leaves marks on your skin.
  • Keep a dry spare: Pack an extra headband or hat if you’ll be outside long enough to work up a sweat.
  • Give skincare products time: Let any cream you’ve applied absorb before pulling a hat over your ears.
  • Check during breaks: If your ears feel damp under your covering, take it off briefly somewhere warm and dry.

When to Visit an Audiologist for Ear Discomfort

An audiologist can check your hearing and see whether anything has changed since your last evaluation.

Drainage from the ear or pain that continues to get worse should be checked. A sudden drop in hearing needs urgent medical evaluation, even if you aren’t experiencing any pain.

If you wear hearing aids, soreness may have more to do with how the devices fit than the weather itself. You might notice a tender spot behind your ear or irritation where an earmold sits inside the ear canal.

If the skin becomes raw or the discomfort returns whenever you put your hearing aids on, mention it to your audiologist. They can check the fit and adjust the parts that are rubbing against your skin.

Keeping Your Ears Comfortable and Protected as Temperatures Drop

Fall in Greater Boston gives you plenty of reasons to get outside, even as the days get shorter and the weather cools down. Maybe you’re stopping by a weekend farmers market or taking a walk after work.

You want to enjoy your time outdoors without having to think about your ears. And if they’ve been feeling more sensitive to the cold lately, you may be curious about why.

Our audiologists at Flynn Associates sees people with ear and hearing concerns throughout the year, including those that come up in colder weather.

We can talk about any changes you’ve noticed and check whether your hearing or hearing aids need attention. Call our Concord office at (978) 759-3540 or our Wellesley office at (781) 943-5040 to schedule a visit.