Drainage and itching when using AirPods Pro

I am having the same issue. Went to the Dr. and found out it gave me double ear infections and a crusty runny drainage. I wish I had figured it out before the return date was up! I am very disappointed that Apple hasn’t addressed this. I have been an Apple fan. They are really beginning to lose me.

I was having the same issues with draining and itching inside the ears. I tried switching out the tips with foam ones. This hasn’t solved the problem for me. It doesn’t matter how long I wear them for. I really like the AirPods and would love to be able to use them.

I have the same problem. Gutted , paying that much money. Every time I were my AirPod I get ear infection. All my ear burning so annoying . I used lots of antibiotics but never stops , I had to stop using my AirPod the only solution there is for me . 😌

Same issue here, I used my AirPod Pro's for a few months with a distinct recollection that I used to get quite itchy ears but no discharge..

During a recent holiday I wore the AirPod's for an extended period of time and I had the usual itching but then also started to get some swelling and clear discharge from my ears.

I used some Antibacterial ear drops and the irritation and discharge quickly cleared up. However every time I put the airpods in my ear, even for 5 minutes, would cause a flare up and discharge.

I then purchased the foam Comply tips as I assumed the silicone tips were the cause of the issue, but sadly they did not make a difference :-(.

Now I'm in the same situation as many of you that I will give up the AirPod Pro's and look for an alternative.

The lack of feedback from Apple is really dissapointing, even if it was just that they are looking into it and may make a change to whatever is causing these issues in future AirPod generations. BtW, I had no issues with the original AirPod's.

@Apple Support ... I would really appreciate a reply.

Thank you for this post - I agree the customer service response from Apple on this has been poor. This is wide spread and they should offer some relief and address their plan to root cause the issue moving forward. @applesupport support your product and customers, be a good citizen!

Having the same issue. I purchased and used them on and off for short spurts and would think that my ears where just getting “sweaty” and my ear canal was just a little damp from contact with the silicon. Then one day back in May I had them in for a 3-4 hours and I notice a larger amount of drainage from my ears. When I got home I had a feeling of constant drainage coming from both ears. I cleaned them as best as I could that night and the next morning I had crazy irritation fluid build up and crust in my ears. I never had this happen before. I work In a place that requires me to wear foamy PPE from time to time and I figured maybe it was a contaminant pair of those and dismissed the cause to it being that. I was prescribed some antibiotics after trying over the counter remedies to no avail. I haven’t used my EarPods pros for this entire period i avoided putting anything in my ears so they would heal faster. It started to clear up and my ears finally felt normal after 3 months. Just recently I figured I’d give them another go I love the features and sound quality and wanted to use my $200 earbud for something other than a paperweight. Here I am in September last week and I put them in to watch some YouTube for an 15min and I start feeling my ears “sweating” again. I think nothing of it. I’m mean come on it was only 15min. Then I use them getting lost in the black hole that is YouTube and feel more of the same but I keep them in for about an hour and a half. The next morning I’m back to where I started crusty runny irritated ears. I guess it back to being a paperweight for these EarPods pros till I can find a solution…this sucks.

Holy cow same thing for me. exactly as described. weird thing is i have no known allergies. i changed the tips to foam, problem still exists. the even weirder thing is that i have been using them for a whole year, i mean a lot with no issues, then all of a sudden it started and got real bad. It makes me think the other individual who mentioned about a coating that wears off might be it. Also would explain why used pods could also start it. I have the same ones but it didnt start for about a year! now i cant wear them at all.

What’s the point I have the same problems when I use ear pod . I told you before but what can you do to resolve that problem? Would you give my money back obviously not . Well saying that all the time just wasting my time .

I am not sharing my experience for the sake of getting a refund. I am sharing my experience so we can maybe figure out why this is happening with airpod pro and not other ear pods. Maybe someone will figure it out or maybe Apple will finally say something on the topic. If it is a waste of your time, then I suggest you don't take the time to reply or post about it being a waste of your time. For others, we can hopefully share our experience in order to determine perhaps what is happening and at least know it is not something wrong with just one individual.

i say it again what’s the point . I shared my experience before , what happened nothing what Apple Compony said nothing. Did apple answered even ones no . Well I still say it’s just wasting the time .

I had the ear fluid drip issue with the AirPods Pro after about 9 months of incident free usage from new. Have tried below after recovering from the bouts of ear fluid drain.

1) Using wife's AirPods Pro - Fluid drain persists

2) Using aftermarket sleaves for the pod housing and the the - Fluid drain persists

3) Using new replacement earbuds provide by apple due to connectivity issues - Fluid drain persists

Got Myself a AirPods 3 couple of days ago on 27th Oct 2021

I have got the fluid drain on the AirPod 3 again on the 29th Oct 2021

It may be worth noting that my AirPods were connected android phones and Mac book pro 2019 during the time it worked well for me. Once I switched to iPhone 11, 12 and MacBook pros 2019 I started experiencing the fluid drain. My daughter is now using my AirPods pros on android phone and Mac book pro 2012 and she does not seem to have any issues with ear fluid drain. My wife using AirPods pros on iPhone 11 also has the itching, scabbing shedding and fluid drain when using AirPods pros. In both our cases it has been happening over several firmware updates and after a couple of hours of usage every time.

In my opinion the issue is not isolated to AirPods pros not its silicon ear tips, I suspect it has to do with the plastic material or more so the signal radiation itself when connected to iPhones. On my 4th attempt with 3 different devices I give up on apple AirPod line.

I bought my Air Pod Pros last spring and used them through the summer. I had horrible ear problems - fluid, eczema, infections until I quit using them. I went to both an audiologist and then a dermatologist trying to figure out what was going on. Then I found others are having the same problem. I have quit using them permanently for now.

I have no problem with the plastic air pods or my Bose. I will try different tips. I am appalled that so many people have this issue and Apple has stayed silent.

I agree. It is not the silicone tips for me. I tried different tips and even the full airpod covers and none of them helped. Which is odd because there wasn't much else making contact with my ear. I don't know what it could be. I have never had any allergic reactions to anything in my life. I was wondering myself if it could be some reaction to the noise cancellation technology. Just seems odd that it is both ears at the same time and doesn't seem to be a problem with other non-apple devices yet.

Thanks! It's strange - I can use the first gen Air Pods with no problem. My dermatologist thinks I might have a sensitivity to the silicone (or something in Apple's product) as she has seen it in others, too. Right now, my AP Pros are useless and collecting dust so I am willing to spend $20 to see if it will help.

What bothers me most is what I have spent seeing an ENT and Derm to get to the cause of this. I have never had a problem with my in-ear Bose, either. Thanks, Apple.

Yes, similar experience! Especially when I use the noise cancelling feature which sort of pulls a vacuum in your ear, I get over production of earwax in my ear canals and they get very itchy. Developed a bad external ear infection on top it despite cleaning my AirPods with 70% alcohol swabs before every use. Most painful and expensive purchase!