What does a hot hard earlobe mean?

Unless you just got a piercing it is very normal for the earlobe to have a hot or warm feeling to it . Otherwise your ear recently was in pain or just got hit by someone or thing.

The sensation of being hot and the "distention" or "hardness" in the lobe is an indication of a possible infection. Clean the piercing under warm running water and make sure there is room between the jewellery front and the backing or the stud behind the ear. If the jewellery is too tight then the backing will need to be removed or loosened to allow you to clean the piercing correctly.