CHRONDRODERMATITIS NODULARIS HELICIS (CNH)
Serving Hamilton, Stoney Creek, Grimsby and surrounding areas.
General Information:
- Is caused by pressure from sleeping on one side or holding a phone receiver against the ear for long periods of time.
- Appears as a tender pink 1 mm to 5 mm bump or open sore on the part of the ear which sticks out the most.
- May be very painful.
- Is NOT cancer.
- Will NOT turn into a cancer.
Treatment:
- Reduce Pressure to the affected area:
- Sleep on your other side.
- Cover the affected area with a cotton ball and bandage at night time.
- Use a piece of foam with a hole cut out of the centre as a pillow. Rest the affected ear inside the cut-out-area while sleeping so that there is no pressure from the foam on the ear.
- Liquid Nitrogen:
- A cold freezing spray may help the area heal.
- After a treatment, the area will become swollen and crusted.
- This will heal in about 2 weeks time.
- You may bathe or shower normally after a treatment.
- Cortisone-Antibiotic cream mixtures may help.
- The should be applied to the affected area once daily.
- Intralesional Steroids (Cortisone Injections):
- The cortisone is injected directly into the affected area with a small needle.
- Only one injection is required to treat the entire lesion.
- The main side effect from the injections includes, but is not limited to: is thinning of the skin in the area of injection, although this is uncommon and reversible.
- Surgery:
- If all of the above fail, a small piece of cartilage can be removed from the affected portion of the ear.