We’ve all had that itch that seemed impossible to scratch.
Alright, there are two ways to think about it: First, you consider something you always wanted to do in life but you never got around to (skydiving, for instance). Or, that itchy spot on your back that you just can’t manage to reach might come to mind.
That’s really aggravating! Desperately trying to scratch that itchy spot on your back. It’s the reason why back-scratchers exist.
Regrettably, when you have an itchy ear, there’s no device to get at it. No matter how hard you try, you just can’t reach up into your ear canal where it’s itching. If you’re ear itches in this way, it’s even more irritating than that spot on your back.
Your everyday life can be affected by itchy ears
It might sound like a small problem, superficially. It’s only 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 get any relief. No big deal, if it only occurs from time to time. But if your ears are itchy all the time? You might find yourself, and your quality of life, considerably affected.
Maybe you stay home and stop interacting with friends. Maybe you start listening to music at increasing volumes trying to drown out that itchy feeling.
It sucks. But there are solutions and treatments. Discovering the best way to address itchy ears means understanding what causes them to begin with.
So what are some of the causes of itchy ears?
So why are your ears itchy? And what can be done about it? The solution for itching ears is going to vary depending on the underlying cause. Your ears might be being affected by many underlying causes, as with most medical conditions. Here are a few of the most common:
- Ear infections: Yup, the plain old ear infection could be the reason for your misery. Ear infections can happen at any age but happen more frequently when you’re younger. And when they do, fluid can build up in your ears. In addition, the tissues inside of your ears can start to become inflamed. Combined, this can lead to trapped fluid, irritated tissue, and extremely itchy ears. The solution is to speak with your doctor and manage the underlying infection. Once that’s cleared up, your ears should stop itching.
- Improper hearing aid fitting: Hearing aids are designed to fit snugly in your ears. This will yield the best results and the best sound. But when your hearing aids don’t fit properly, this snugness can quickly turn to irritation and itchiness. Your hearing can be negatively affected if this causes you to stop wearing your hearing aids as often. Schedule an appointment with us for a proper fitting is the answer. We might even be able to mold your hearing aid so it better fits your ear.
- Skin disorders: Occasionally, a skin condition can cause a response in spots you can’t reach. There’s even a condition called ear dandruff that can happen. You should talk to your doctor about what your solutions are. It’s not exactly easy to slather your ear canal with moisturizer, after all, nor would we ever recommend you try. Again, your doctor will be the best one to help you manage skin conditions that cause itchy ears!
- Allergies: Allergies are challenging, and it’s not unusual for them to trigger itching. In some instances, an over-the-counter allergy medicine, like an antihistamine, can alleviate itching caused by allergies. It’s often challenging to figure out exactly what you’re having an allergic reaction to. But a great many allergens, including pollen, can cause your ears to itch. Itchy ears could quickly come from your spring hay fever. An allergist will be the best place to seek a solution to this.
- You have an earwax blockage: Look, it’s perfectly normal for your ears to produce a prodigious amount of wax. You may be surprised to learn that wax is actually cleaning your ears. But there are a number of reasons why blockages can form. One thing you should quit doing right away is using cotton swabs to “clean” your ears. At any rate, we should be able to remove most earwax blockages. So scheduling an appointment can help give you some relief.
Finding relief for your itchy ears
Itchy ears can take the joy out of pretty much anything. Your life can actually be changed by finding relief with the correct treatment. Usually, these itchy ears will not go away by themselves (and if they do, it’ll feel like it takes ages), so there’s no point in attempting to wait it out, you’ll probably just prolong your suffering.
If you find that your itchy ears are driving you crazy, schedule an appointment with us so you can stop focusing on the itch, and get back to the normal, everyday activities you enjoy.