EARS

Twisted shape or creased lobes can often mean cancer of the skin or cardiovascular disease

TWISTED SHAPE

Possible cause: Cancer of the skin, repeated injuries

Tumours — benign or malignant — around the exterior ear or perhaps in the body canal may cause the ear to alter shape or direction.

‘The ear is a very common place for basal cell carcinomas, the most typical type of cancer of the skin,’ states Dr Hardman. ‘They will also be found about the eyes as well as on the scalp.’

These often appear as whitened or skin-coloured, smooth, pearly nodules.

Another type of cancer of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma, appears like an ulcer or red patch of skin. If you see any changes you need to talk to your physician immediately.

Rugby gamers and boxers are the most useful good examples of what’s referred to as cauliflower ear.

Repeated injuries causes an accumulation of fluid and swelling which left without treatment may cause scarring.

CREASED LOBES

Possible cause: Cardiovascular disease

Diagonal creases over the ears might be associated with cardiovascular problems, based on research released within the British Heart Journal in 1989.

One theory is they occur consequently of malformed bloodstream ships — replicating individuals delivering the center. Much more likely would be that the creases really are a result old, when cardiovascular disease can also be much more likely, states Dr Simpson.