The most common cause of swelling of the outer ear canal wall is swelling and pain caused by diffuse inflammation of the outer ear canal skin due to prolonged hair washing, bathing, water ingress in the ear, and frequent ear digging. Some of these swellings are caused by boils and infections in the external ear canal, while others are caused by herpes zoster and viral infections that irritate the nerves in the external ear canal. There is also a part due to otitis media and mastoiditis, which may be aggravated after repeated attacks of inflammation and may involve swelling and pain in the skin of the external ear canal, which is treated with oral anti-inflammatory drugs such as cephalosporins.