From boxers' "dumpling ears" to ordinary people's auricular pseudocysts

Have you seen what Li Jingliang's ears look like?

If you like boxing or some fighting and wrestling sports, you may have heard of the name "dumpling ears". Many famous fighters at home and abroad are similar to Li Jingliang. Everyone's ears are abnormally swollen, as if plump dumplings are attached to the auricle.

Why are they called "dumpling ears"? This is certainly not a medical term, but a common name for a certain ear shape in the boxing and fighting circles. Foreigners call this kind of ear cauliflower ear, which means "cauliflower ear", which actually means the same thing. When boxers are repeatedly hit in the ears during long-term training and competitions, the cartilage and soft tissue of the auricle will be damaged, and then hematoma and inflammation will occur. Some cartilage will be broken and layered after damage, and edema will be repeatedly exuded. Over time, these hematomas or edema are gradually replaced by fibrous tissue, forming thickened and hardened nodules, giving the ears an uneven, dumpling-like appearance. From this perspective, in the fighting world, dumpling ears seem to be a medal, or a symbol of a tough guy, letting opponents know at a glance that they are not easy to mess with.

But in life, ordinary people also suffer from a disease similar to "dumpling ears", which is "auricular pseudocyst". In fact, "dumpling ears" can be said to be an extreme manifestation of auricular pseudocyst.

Auricular pseudocyst, as the name implies, is not a true cyst, and does not have a cyst wall or capsule like other cysts. Auricular pseudocyst is caused by the formation of interlayer and effusion of cartilage damage in the auricle, or the formation of effusion and swelling between the cartilage and perichondrium after the cartilage is damaged and ruptured. Generally, this swelling is not as red, swollen and painful as acute infection. The color of the raised skin is basically normal, slightly hard or fluctuating, and there is no obvious tenderness. It looks no different from a cyst, so it is called a pseudocyst. The range and size of the swelling vary from person to person. Some may be limited to a small part of the auricle, while others may affect the entire auricle.

Similar to "dumpling ears", both of these conditions are caused by traumatic stimulation, and the only difference is the degree of stimulation. For ordinary people, there is no such fierce beating. The cause of auricular pseudocysts may be related to mechanical stimulation, local compression, frostbite and other factors in daily life. For example, wearing headphones for a long time, or improper posture during sleep leading to long-term compression of the ears, or impact or compression of the ears, etc., may lead to the occurrence of auricular pseudocysts. Have you ever used headphones for a long time, and only found local pain and discomfort in the auricle after taking them off? Are you used to lying on your side, and always feel that the auricle is pressed and unconscious every morning? These common habits in life, over time, will cause damage to the auricular cartilage, and unknowingly, auricular pseudocysts will be formed. If the formation of "dumpling ears" is like a deep pool formed by the impact of a waterfall, then auricular pseudocysts are the accumulation of water dripping through the stone.

There are many treatments for auricular pseudocysts, including puncture, plaster, laser, freezing, surgical resection, etc. But no matter what, the earlier the treatment, the better the effect. If left untreated for a long time, like "dumpling ears", auricular pseudocysts will gradually become fibrotic and hardened, eventually deforming the entire auricle.

Although "dumpling ears" have become a "badge" for boxers to a certain extent, as a common version of "dumpling ears" such as auricular pseudocyst, it is better for ordinary people not to get this "badge". Therefore, we should pay more attention to protecting our ears in daily life to avoid long-term mechanical stimulation and pressure. Once you find that your ears are uncomfortable, you should seek medical attention in time to avoid delaying treatment.