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Why do my ears sometimes "burn"?

Occasionally my ears "burn", becoming very warm to the touch and glowing red. It can be just the left or the right ear, or both, that are affected.

I suspect it is something to do with blood flow and cooling, but why the variation and what prompts it? And, of course, I do not believe the old myth that "someone is talking about me".

Geoffrey Clark, Douglas, Isle of Man

Editorial status: In magazine.

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mberry says:

One reason for our ears to turn red is that at times our sympathetic nervous system kicks in on its own and causes our bodies to release adrenalin and noradrenalin. Noradrenalin is the chemical responsible for relaxing the smooth muscle in the walls of the blood vessels. When the smooth muscle in the blood vessels relaxes the diameter of the vessel increases and the volume of blood passing through the blood vessel also increases. This is referred to as vasodilatation. When this happens the skin feels warm and may have a pink or red colour. This usually happens when we feel nervous or stressed and is part of the "fight or flight" mechanism, even though the only "threat" may be social. However, in some people the sympathetic nervous sytem is overactive. This can be caused by inherited genes. We have no conscious control over the sympathetic nervous system so it kicks in without our decision to be "embarassed."

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posted on 2009-11-29 07:23:50 | Report abuse


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martin_g says:

I can't really say why . .

But I have an unfailing how ( well for me anyway )

I good cup of strong chocolate ( or sometimes a square or two ) gets them going fearsomely.

MSG ( sadly still in use at many a behind-the-times Chinese restaurant ) hits the spot too.

I suspect therefore a chemical messenger of some kind  is at work . . .

 

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posted on 2009-12-02 18:43:46 | Report abuse


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thomarshall says:

My Mother would say someone is talking about you!

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posted on 2009-12-28 10:56:57 | Report abuse


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