What could cause a small white bump in the ear canal?

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern. Let us talk about the first one, which is at the canal wall and large. If it is painful or tender to touch, it would be a simple localized inflammation, in other words, a small abscess. If it is painless and not tender, it would be a normal anatomical variation or a bone lesion that needs further investigation, like a CT scan of the temporal bones (both ears). The second small one at the ear drum is a bony protrusion of the middle ear bones through the ear drum. It can be seen as a normal anatomical variation in many cases; in some cases, the eardrum is retracted because of middle ear inflammation after an influenza attack or common cold.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Yes, it is painless because you do not feel pain in your ear while not touching the lesion. A tender lesion is painful when touching it. The little pressure you feel when touching the lesion means mild tenderness. I recommend ear drops like Ciprofloxacin and Dexamethasone three times daily for a week with follow it up. If the lesion increases to the level of canal closure, you will perform a CT scan to investigate for a bone lesion. Consult a specialist doctor, talk to him or her, and start the medicines with their consent. I hope this helps. Take care.