Frequently Asked Questions
What is CNH?
CNH, or Chondrodermatitis Nodularis Helicis, is a tender pressure sore on the ear.
Why would someone get CNH?
Pressure sores on the ear typically occur in persons who sleep primarily on one side (either by habit or because of shoulder, neck, or arm pain).
What part of the ear is most susceptible to pressure sores?
Pressure sores usually occur on the most prominent parts of the ear - the rim of the helix or the antihelix.
What does CNH look like?
In the earliest stage, CNH may simply be a small, tender, red area. Later stages of pressure sores on the ear appear as tender, red, warty papules, small punched-out ulcers, or even deep ulcerations extending to the cartilage.
Are some people more susceptible to CNH than others?
Pressure sores on the ear are most common in the elderly, and those with sun-damaged skin.
What other treatments could be used?
Surgical removal is sometimes used, but CNH may recur if the patient continues to lie on the ear.
