The earlobes are appendages of the ears made of soft skin and a small amount of fatty tissue.
Did you know that there are tens of thousands of nerve endings in your earlobe and for many people it is considered an erogenous area? The main function of the human earlobe is to help maintain balance and warm the ear.
Earlobe is the most common location for a body piercing, and many cultures practice earlobe stretching. Sailors used to believe if you pierced your earlobe you would have greater hearing in your opposite ear.
Though mainly smooth, creased earlobes are often associated with genetic disorders in children, and some early studies have shown a link between earlobe creases and heart disease.
Some persons have earlobes that curve up between the lowest point of the earlobe and the point where the ear joins the head; these are identified as "free" or "unattached" earlobes. Other persons have earlobes that blend in with the side of the head, known as "attached" or "adherent" earlobes.
Although ear piercings are more common and can be less risky than other body piercings, they can still cause complications if not handled safely. For anyone thinking about getting their ears pierced, dermatologists urge people to follow these steps to avoid infection shared by American Academy of Dermatology.