Have you ever had an itch that you just couldn’t scratch?
Alright, there are two ways to think about it: First, you think about something you always wanted to do with your life but you never got around to (skydiving, for instance). Or, that itchy spot on your back that you just can’t seem to reach might spring to mind.
That’s really frustrating! Desperately attempting to scratch that itchy spot on your back. It’s why back-scratchers exist.
Regrettably, when you’re dealing with an itchy ear, there isn’t any device that will get at it. No matter how hard you try, you just can’t reach up inside your ear canal where that itch is coming from. If you’re ear itches like this, it’s even more frustrating than that spot on your back.
Your everyday life can be affected by itchy ears
On the surface, it sounds like a minor thing. It’s just itchy ears, right? At least you’re not in horrible pain.
Here’s something to think about: Your ear is itchy, and you can’t do anything about it. No fuss, if it only happens from time to time. But what if your ears are continuously itchy? You may find yourself, and your quality of life, considerably impacted.
Perhaps you stay home and avoid interacting with friends. Or perhaps you attempt to overpower the sensation by listening to excessively loud music.
It’s not fun at all. But there are strategies and treatments. Understanding what’s causing your itchy ears is the first step to finding the right treatment.
So what are some of the causes of itchy ears?
So what’s the cause of that itch? And what can you do about it? The solution for itchy ears is going to vary depending on the root cause. Your ears might be being impacted by many root causes, as with many medical conditions. Among the most common are the following:
- Skin disorders: Certain skin disorders can, at times, cause itching that’s hard to get to. There’s even a condition called ear dandruff that can happen. Your doctor will be able to help you determine what your options are. It isn’t exactly convenient to slather your ear canal with moisturizer, after all, nor would we ever recommend you try. If you have this type of skin condition, your doctor is, once again, your best option.
- Improper hearing aid fitting: Your hearing aids should fit into your ears snugly. That’s how you get the optimum sound and the most effective results. But this snug fit can turn into irritation and itchiness when your hearing aids don’t fit correctly. This, as a result, can cause you to stop wearing your hearing aids as frequently, and that can be bad for your hearing. The solution is to come in and consult us for a proper fitting. In some instances, hearing aids could even be custom molded to better fit your ears.
- Ear infections: That’s correct, the cause of your itchy ears can be a regular ear infection. Prevalent in youth, ear infections can continue to strike at any time. Ear infection can cause an accumulation of fluid in your ear. At the same time, the tissues inside of your ears can start to become inflamed. Very itchy ears can be the result of this trapped fluid and irritated tissue. The fix is to talk to your doctor and treat the underlying infection. Once that’s cleared up, your ears should stop itching.
- Allergies: Allergies can frequently cause itching. You can sometimes decrease your symptoms by taking an over-the-counter allergy medication, like an antihistamine. It can be hard to pin down, sometimes, exactly what you’re allergic to. But itchy ears can result from a large number of allergens, including pollen. So your spring hay fever could quickly translate into itchy ears. An allergist will be the right place to seek a solution to this.
- You have an earwax blockage: Look, it’s completely normal for your ears to produce a copious amount of wax. That’s because wax is good for your ears and (counter-intuitively) helps keep them clean! But there are a number of reasons why blockages can develop. One reason is because of the use of cotton swabs to “clean” your ears, so if you’re doing that, you should stop right away. In any case, we should be able to clear up most earwax blockages. So scheduling an appointment can help bring you some relief.
Finding relief for your itchy ears
Itchy ears can take the joy out of just about anything. Finding the correct treatment, and getting sustained relief can be absolutely life changing. If you try to just wait it out, you will probably prolong your suffering because it isn’t likely that the itching will go away on its own.
If you decide that your itchy ears are driving you crazy, schedule an appointment with us so you can stop thinking about the itch, and get back to the normal, everyday activities you enjoy.