Preauricular pits

Hi, I have a small hole on each side of my ear and the one on my right ear is the active one that secretes white stuff that smell pretty bad. So I watched a video on youtube about preauricular sinus infection and I learned that it could lead to the formation of abscess. When I was young, I didn't know what the hole was and I often got very irritated with it when it had secretions. I played with it so much that one day I realized a second hole was formed near the "crus of helix" of my right ear couple cm below the first one and that it also extends deep into my ear like the first hole above. So I was wondering if the second hole could have been an abscess but I played with it so much that it broke open. Thus, I suspect that the two holes are connected through a canal because the area between the two holes becomes more and more indented over the years. Could I still get an infection or an abscess?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From the symptoms preauricular fistula formation cannot be ruled out. Fistula is an abnormal connection or passageway that connects two organs and it can connect on the outside of the skin and appear as a hole also. The treatment is surgery and needs to be done at the earliest. Hence I suggest you to consult an ENT specialist.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your dermatologist. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.