not sure if this is it...
but i know someone who had similar symptoms to the ones you describe...the ear and everything...
it turned out to be ye olde Herpes virus,
manifesting itself in the ear area.
this person now takes acyclovir during break-out times. just an fyi for you.
good luck,
hope it's something boring like a contact skin rash (new shampoo? cheap nickel earrings?) !