Learn About Ear Tag
An ear tag is a small skin tag or pit in front of the outside part of the ear.
Preauricular tag; Preauricular pit
Skin tags and pits just in front of the opening of the ear are common in newborn infants.
In most cases, these are normal. However, they can be associated with other medical conditions. It is important to point out skin tags or pits to your child's health care provider during the routine well-child exam.
Some causes of an ear tag or pit are:
- An inherited tendency to have this facial feature
- A genetic syndrome that includes having these pits or tags
- A sinus tract problem (an abnormal connection between the skin and tissue underneath)
Your provider will most often find the skin tag during your first well-baby visit. However, contact your provider if your child has bleeding, swelling, or discharge at the site.
Your provider will get a medical history and will do a physical exam.
Medical history questions about this condition might include:
- What exactly is the problem (skin tag, pit, or other)?
- Are both ears affected or only one?
- What other symptoms are present?
- Does the child respond normally to sounds?
- It is now standard of care to have a hearing screen in the newborn nursery. An abnormal screen with the presence of an ear pit or tag should lead to a follow-up hearing screen with an audiologist.
- Babies that are born at birthing centers without hearing screening or at home should have hearing tests completed to check their hearing especially if there is an ear tag or ear pit present.
Physical exam:
Your baby will be examined for other signs of disorders that are sometimes associated with ear tags or pits. A hearing test may be done if the child did not have the usual newborn screening test.
Proliance Surgeons
Anh Q. Truong, MD, is an Otolaryngologist - Head and Neck surgeon (ear, nose and throat specialist). He loves his job and he believes that the doctor-patient relationship is a partnership. He enjoys teaching and working with patients as a team. By carefully listening to and educating patients, he hopes to assist them in making the best decision regarding their care.Dr. Truong provides a wide variety of specialized medical and surgical services in both adult and pediatric ENT. He finds the continual advancement in the field of ENT astonishing and enjoys employing new technology in patient care when appropriate. He practices comprehensive adult and pediatric ENT with a focus on nasal & sinus surgery, endocrine surgery, and voice and throat disorder.He grew up in the Puget Sound region and returned in 2014 to join Bellevue ENT to be close to family and friends. On his free time, he enjoys running, hiking, snowboarding, working on projects in the house and spending time with his wife and daughters. Dr. Truong is also fluent in Vietnamese. Dr. Truong is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Ear Tag. His top areas of expertise are Infant Hearing Loss, Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP), Tinnitus, and DFNB1.
Proliance Surgeons
Jonathan Kopelovich is an Otolaryngologist and a Pediatric Otolaryngologist in Bellevue, Washington. Dr. Kopelovich is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Ear Tag. His top areas of expertise are Hearing Loss, Enlarged Adenoids, Stridor, and Low Nasal Bridge. Dr. Kopelovich is currently accepting new patients.
Lehigh Valley Physician Group
Sri Chennupati is a Pediatric Otolaryngologist and a Pediatrics provider in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Dr. Chennupati is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Ear Tag. His top areas of expertise are Crouzon Syndrome, Gorlin-Chaudhry-Moss Syndrome, Acrofrontofacionasal Dysostosis Syndrome, Stridor, and Adenoidectomy.
Published Date: April 05, 2025
Published By: Charles I. Schwartz, MD, FAAP, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, General Pediatrician at PennCare for Kids, Phoenixville, PA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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Demke JC, Tatum SA. Craniofacial surgery for congenital and acquired deformities. In: Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 187.
Patterson JW. Miscellaneous conditions. In: Patterson JW, ed. Weedon's Skin Pathology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Limited; 2025:chap 20.