Have you ever experienced an itch that you just couldn’t scratch?
Alright, there are two ways to think about it: The first thing you may think of 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 scratch.
That’s really frustrating! Desperately attempting to scratch that itchy spot on your back. That’s why we invented back-scratchers.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a device that can alleviate itching in your ears. Regardless of how hard you try, you just can’t reach up into your ear canal where it’s itching. It’s even worse than that spot on your back, and it’s not shocking that itchy ears are most likely driving you crazy.
Itchy ears can impact your daily life
At first glance, it sounds like a small thing. Itchy ears? It could be worse, right? At least your ears aren’t in pain or burning or on fire.
But think about it: Your ear is itchy, and you can’t do anything about it. If it happens from time to time, sure, it’s not that big of a problem. But if your ears are itchy constantly? You could find yourself, and your quality of life, significantly impacted.
Perhaps you stay home and quit interacting with friends. Maybe you start listening to louder and louder music trying to drown out that itchy feeling.
It’s not at all fun. But treatments and strategies do exist. Finding the best way to treat itchy ears means understanding what causes them to begin with.
So what causes your ears to itch?
So why are your ears itching? And what’s the treatment? The treatment for itching ears is going to differ depending on the underlying cause. As with many other medical conditions, there are numerous possible underlying conditions that might be affecting your ears. Here are a few of the most common:
- Ear infections: That’s correct, the cause of your itchy ears can be a normal ear infection. Common in youth, ear infections can continue to happen at any time. Ear infection can cause fluid buildup in your ear. At the same time, the tissues in your ears can begin to swell (thank you, inflammation). Extremely itchy ears can be the outcome of this trapped fluid and irritated tissue. Treating the infection with the help of your doctor is the solution. Your ears will normally stop itching when the infection clears up.
- Allergies: Allergies can sometimes cause itching. You can often minimize your symptoms by taking an over-the-counter allergy medication, such as an antihistamine. It’s frequently challenging to identify exactly what you’re having an allergic reaction to. But itchy ears can be caused by a wide variety of allergens, including pollen. So your spring hay fever could quickly translate into itchy ears. An allergist will be the right place to look for a solution to this.
- Skin disorders: Sometimes, a skin condition can cause a response in places you can’t reach. You can even find yourself with a condition called ear dandruff. Your doctor will be able to help you understand what your options are. Using moisturizer in your ear isn’t a practical or safe solution, after all. Once again, your provider will be the best one to help you manage skin conditions that cause itchy ears!
- Improper hearing aid fitting: Your hearing aids should fit in your ears snugly. This will yield the best returns and the best sound. But when your hearing aids don’t fit correctly, this snugness can quickly turn into irritation and itchiness. This, in turn, can cause you to stop using your hearing aids as frequently, and that can be detrimental to your hearing. Schedule an appointment with us for a proper fitting is the answer. In some cases, hearing aids could even be custom molded to better fit your ears.
- You have an earwax blockage: If your ears are generating a significant amount of wax, that’s not unusual. That’s because wax is good for your ears and (counter-intuitively) helps keep them clean! But this blockage can form for numerous reasons. One thing you should stop doing immediately is using cotton swabs to “clean” your ears. We can, in any case, help you clear up any earwax troubles. So scheduling an appointment can help give you some relief.
Getting treatment for your itchy ears, and relief
Just about every activity becomes less fun with itchy ears. Finding the correct treatment, and getting lasting relief can be completely life changing. Usually, these itchy ears will not clear up by themselves (and if they do, it’ll feel like it takes ages), so there’s no point in trying to wait it out, you’ll probably just extend your suffering.
If you decide that your itchy ears are driving you mad, schedule an appointment with us so you can stop focusing on the itch, and get back to the normal, everyday activities you enjoy.