Have you ever had an itch that you just couldn’t scratch?
Okay, there are two ways to consider it: The first thing you may think about is that bucket list item you just never seem to get done. Or, if you’re a bit less of a romantic, you think about that spot on your back that you just can’t quite reach.
That’s kind of a terrible experience, isn’t it? Desperately attempting to scratch that itchy spot on your back. It’s why back-scratchers exist.
Sadly, there isn’t a device that can get rid of itching in your ears. Regardless of how hard you try, you just can’t reach up inside your ear canal where it’s itching. If you’re ear itches like this, it’s even more irritating than that spot on your back.
Your daily life can be impacted by itchy ears
It might sound like a minor problem, superficially. It’s just itchy ears, right? At least your ears aren’t aching or burning or throbbing.
But think about it: There’s no alleviation for an itchy ear. If it happens once in a while, sure, it’s not that big of a problem. But what if your ears are continuously itchy? It could end up having a significant affect on your quality of life.
Maybe the sensation is so unpleasant that you stop eating out or spending time with friends. Maybe you start listening to music at increasing volumes trying to drown out that itchy feeling.
It’s not at all fun. But there are strategies and treatments. Finding the best way to treat itchy ears means knowing what causes them in the first place.
So what are some of the causes of itchy ears?
So what’s causing that itch? And what’s the treatment? Depending on the underlying cause, itchy ears will have differing solutions. As with most other medical conditions, there are several possible underlying conditions that may be impacting your ears. Here are a few of the most prevalent:
- Improper hearing aid fitting: Hearing aids are designed to fit snugly in your ears. This will produce the best returns and the best sound. But this snug fit can turn into irritation and itchiness when your hearing aids don’t fit correctly. Your hearing can be negatively affected if this causes you to stop using your hearing aids as frequently. Making an appointment with us for a proper fitting is the solution. In some situations, hearing aids may even be custom molded to custom fit your ears.
- Skin disorders: Some skin disorders can, at times, trigger itching that’s difficult to get to. You can even find yourself with something called ear dandruff. Your doctor will be able to help you understand what your options are. It’s not exactly convenient to smear your ear canal with moisturizer, after all, nor would we ever suggest you try. Once again, your provider will be the best one to help you deal with skin conditions that trigger itchy ears!
- Ear infections: That’s correct, the source of your itchy ears could be a regular ear infection. Prevalent in youth, ear infections can continue to happen at any age. And when they do, fluid can accumulate in your ears. At the same time, the tissues in your ears can start to become inflamed. Combined, this can result in trapped fluid, irritated tissue, and very itchy ears. The fix is to consult your doctor and address the root infection. Your ears will normally stop itching when the infection goes away.
- You have an earwax blockage: If your ears are creating a substantial amount of wax, that’s not unusual. That’s because wax is helpful for your ears and (counter-intuitively) helps keep them clean! But there are a number of reasons why blockages can develop. One thing you should stop doing right away is using cotton swabs to “clean” your ears. In any case, we should be able to remove most earwax blockages. So you will get some relief by scheduling an appointment with us.
- Allergies: Allergies can frequently cause itching. In some cases, an over-the-counter allergy medication, like an antihistamine, can relieve itching due to allergies. It’s often challenging to figure out exactly what you’re having an allergic reaction to. But itchy ears can result from a large number of allergens, including pollen. Itchy ears could easily come from your spring hay fever. An allergist will be the best place to look for a solution to this.
Finding treatment for your itchy ears, and comfort
Itchy ears can take the joy out of just about anything. Finding the correct treatment, and getting sustained relief can be absolutely life changing. Often, these itchy ears will not clear up by themselves (and if they do, it’ll feel like it takes forever), so there’s no point in attempting to wait it out, you’ll likely just prolong your suffering.
Stop focusing on your itchy ears and go back to enjoying your life. Contact us for a consultation.