Preauricular pits! Supposedly the remains of gills or something .
I can also squeeze sebum outta mine
NeatRuin7406 on
those are preauricular pits (or preauricular sinuses). they’re actually a remnant from embryonic development – specifically from when the ear structures were forming during the first few weeks. basically a tiny tract that didn’t fully close.
they run in families and are usually harmless. the fluid secretion is just glandular cells in the lining doing their thing. most people who have them don’t even notice them unless they get infected, which can happen occasionally.
about 1% of the population has them. some groups have higher rates, particularly in parts of east africa and asia. charles darwin actually noted them as a vestigial feature back in the day.
Glad_Buffalo_5037 on
I’ve just got the one but if you want to clear them just use a sterile pin – blunt end first obviously! 😁
Xina123 on
Had a coworker who had these and we called them her “musk glands”.
JacqiPro13 on
My family all have these, thanks to my dad’s side! My Nonna had both. Dad and his 4 siblings all have either one or both, me and my six (by him) siblings all have one, my sister’s kids each have one. I had my first last year and I was so sad she didn’t inherit one. Nonetheless, they’re pretty freaking cool and fun to show off to people haha.
Renomont on
Reptilian. Do her eyes do weird things?
liveyourdreams123 on
I have one too! My mum did also.
other_half_of_elvis on
After repeated infections, I had mine removed. It was a far more invasive procedure than I expected. The incision is behind the ear, where the ear meets the head, and they peel the ear forward so they can get to the channel from that hole to the base of your skull. The good news is no more secretion or infection after 10 years.
BernieTheDachshund on
She’s got a really good conversation piece.
rubysmom1 on
My sister and I also have these, on opposite ears!
ScienceMadeMeDoIt_ on
One of my friends has this! It’s some sort of evolutionary leftover from when we were aquatic. I like to make fun of him for being a fish person. Ironically, he can’t swim
Classic-Exchange-511 on
I found this mighty interesting
Same-Goose7602 on
Omg I have them, too!! My dad couldn’t deny me as a baby since he has them too (besides the DNA test lol). I cannot believe there’s other people out there!
Mr_Nobody0 on
Only I and also my niece has it in the family, didn’t have anything secrete from it though luckly.
xxxx69420xx on
i have these i thought they were deep blackheads haha this is a relief maybe
heatherLovesbrandon on
Me too!! I had no idea what they were for most of my life
Drumbelgalf on
That’s where you can reset her to factory settings.
Extension-Writer4765 on
My friend has it and it got infected somehow before her ears were huge and had to take antibiotics
Ancient-Path-4236 on
I have those too. People always asked me if they were piercings when I was growing up.
tomjoadmd on
Preauricular pits. Vestiges of embryology
Lemmonjello on
What’s it taste like?
Atypical_Mammal on
I bet you that fluid like cures cancer or something.
The_Robot_King on
Myself and 1 of my offspring have one.
I have to drain/flush mine a bunch. Tried to talk to a ENT about taking care of it, but they were not too keen on that due to nerves in the area.
I hit it with hydrogen peroxide every so often and that seems to help with stuff.
Oblique9043 on
That’s where you push in with a paper clip to get the SIM card out.
Suzu_Yuki on
I have these as well as my great grandmother. Crazy genetic stuff
dandn0ten on
And they smell like ass
asuddenpie on
I didn’t know I had this until mine got infected, swelled up, and was really painful. My doctor pushed on it and a giant blob of puss-looking guck exploded, including what looked like a plug. (I thought I heard a pop, but that might have just been my imagination.)
Since then, every month or two, I can push a q-tip just to the side of the hole and a thin little curl of guck will squeeze out like tiny, gross smelling toothpaste. It’s kind of fun and I always feel a little better afterwards.
Octonaut7A on
My daughter has one. She hates it, probably cos I clean it out every few days to avoid inflammation.
30 Comments
What kind of fluid?
Preauricular Pits
Preauricular pits! Supposedly the remains of gills or something .
I can also squeeze sebum outta mine
those are preauricular pits (or preauricular sinuses). they’re actually a remnant from embryonic development – specifically from when the ear structures were forming during the first few weeks. basically a tiny tract that didn’t fully close.
they run in families and are usually harmless. the fluid secretion is just glandular cells in the lining doing their thing. most people who have them don’t even notice them unless they get infected, which can happen occasionally.
about 1% of the population has them. some groups have higher rates, particularly in parts of east africa and asia. charles darwin actually noted them as a vestigial feature back in the day.
I’ve just got the one but if you want to clear them just use a sterile pin – blunt end first obviously! 😁
Had a coworker who had these and we called them her “musk glands”.
My family all have these, thanks to my dad’s side! My Nonna had both. Dad and his 4 siblings all have either one or both, me and my six (by him) siblings all have one, my sister’s kids each have one. I had my first last year and I was so sad she didn’t inherit one. Nonetheless, they’re pretty freaking cool and fun to show off to people haha.
Reptilian. Do her eyes do weird things?
I have one too! My mum did also.
After repeated infections, I had mine removed. It was a far more invasive procedure than I expected. The incision is behind the ear, where the ear meets the head, and they peel the ear forward so they can get to the channel from that hole to the base of your skull. The good news is no more secretion or infection after 10 years.
She’s got a really good conversation piece.
My sister and I also have these, on opposite ears!
One of my friends has this! It’s some sort of evolutionary leftover from when we were aquatic. I like to make fun of him for being a fish person. Ironically, he can’t swim
I found this mighty interesting
Omg I have them, too!! My dad couldn’t deny me as a baby since he has them too (besides the DNA test lol). I cannot believe there’s other people out there!
Only I and also my niece has it in the family, didn’t have anything secrete from it though luckly.
i have these i thought they were deep blackheads haha this is a relief maybe
Me too!! I had no idea what they were for most of my life
That’s where you can reset her to factory settings.
My friend has it and it got infected somehow before her ears were huge and had to take antibiotics
I have those too. People always asked me if they were piercings when I was growing up.
Preauricular pits. Vestiges of embryology
What’s it taste like?
I bet you that fluid like cures cancer or something.
Myself and 1 of my offspring have one.
I have to drain/flush mine a bunch. Tried to talk to a ENT about taking care of it, but they were not too keen on that due to nerves in the area.
I hit it with hydrogen peroxide every so often and that seems to help with stuff.
That’s where you push in with a paper clip to get the SIM card out.
I have these as well as my great grandmother. Crazy genetic stuff
And they smell like ass
I didn’t know I had this until mine got infected, swelled up, and was really painful. My doctor pushed on it and a giant blob of puss-looking guck exploded, including what looked like a plug. (I thought I heard a pop, but that might have just been my imagination.)
Since then, every month or two, I can push a q-tip just to the side of the hole and a thin little curl of guck will squeeze out like tiny, gross smelling toothpaste. It’s kind of fun and I always feel a little better afterwards.
My daughter has one. She hates it, probably cos I clean it out every few days to avoid inflammation.