If You Have a Small Hole Above Your Ear, Here’s What It Means

Does This Hole Pose a Health Risk?

According to a children’s hospital in Philadelphia, this “pit is essentially a sinus tract that runs underneath the skin.” Generally, it doesn’t cause any problems. This anomaly, which can occur in one or both ears, is not linked to hearing loss.

However, in extremely rare cases, it has been associated with a genetic syndrome. The hospital notes that any “baby born with a preauricular pit will be examined for other anomalies to rule out any possible syndromes.” While preauricular sinuses are typically harmless, they can sometimes become infected or develop benign cysts if bacteria enter the opening. In such cases, proper care and antibiotics can treat the infection. If the issue worsens, a person may opt for surgery to permanently remove the sinus and prevent complications.

Good to Know:

This type of anomaly is very rare. For example, in the United States and the United Kingdom, only 1 in 100 people are affected. The percentage is slightly higher in other parts of the world, such as Asia and Africa, where 4% to 10% of people have this feature.

Is It a Sign of Evolution?

While researchers generally classify the preauricular sinus as an anomaly, there is an interesting theory proposed by paleontologist and evolutionary biologist Neil Shubin. His work, published in Business Insider, suggests a surprising possibility: the small hole could be an “evolutionary remnant of fish gills.”

This argument stems from the theory of evolution, which posits that humans and fish share a common ancestor from millions of years ago. This peculiar theory has garnered the interest of other scientists as well.

Whether you see it as an anomaly or a curious link to evolution, the preauricular sinus is a fascinating feature that makes some people even more unique.