Have you ever had an itch that you just couldn’t reach?
Alright, there are two ways to consider it: The first thing you may think of is that bucket list item you just never seem to get to. Or, if you’re a little less of a romantic, you consider that spot on your back that you just can’t quite scratch.
That’s really aggravating! Desperately trying to scratch that itchy spot on your back. It’s why back-scratchers exist.
Unfortunately, there’s no such device that can get rid of itching inside of your ears. 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 aren’t in terrible pain.
Here’s something to consider: Your ear is itchy, and you can’t get any relief. No big deal, if it only happens now and then. But what if your ears are always itchy? You might find yourself, and your quality of life, substantially impacted.
Maybe the feeling is so unpleasant that you stop eating out or seeing friends. Maybe you start listening to music at increasing volumes attempting to drown out that itchy feeling.
It sucks. But treatments and strategies do exist. Discovering the best way to treat itchy ears means knowing what causes them in the first place.
So what causes your ears to itch?
So what’s causing that itch? And what can you do about it? Depending on the root cause, itchy ears will have differing solutions. As with many other medical conditions, there are a number of possible underlying conditions that may be impacting your ears. Among the most common are the following:
- Skin disorders: Certain skin disorders can, at times, trigger itching that’s hard to get to. There’s even a disorder called ear dandruff that can happen. You should talk to your doctor about what your solutions are. Using moisturizer in your ear isn’t a viable or safe option, after all. Once again, your doctor will be the best person to help you deal with skin conditions that trigger itchy ears!
- Ear infections: That’s right, the cause of your itchy ears could be a normal ear infection. Ear infections can occur at any time in life but happen more frequently when you’re younger. Ear infection can cause fluid buildup in your ear. Along with accumulation of fluid, swelling of the tissue can occur. Together, this can result in trapped fluid, irritated tissue, and extremely itchy ears. Addressing the infection with the help of your doctor is the solution. Your ears will normally stop itching when the infection clears up.
- You have an earwax blockage: Look, it’s perfectly normal for your ears to produce a prodigious amount of wax. That’s because wax is helpful for your ears and (counter-intuitively) helps clean them! 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 bring you some relief.
- Improper hearing aid fitting: Hearing aids are made to fit snugly in your ears. That’s how you get the optimum sound and the most successful results. But when your hearing aids don’t fit properly, this snugness can quickly turn to irritation and itchiness. This, in turn, can cause you to stop wearing your hearing aids as often, and that can be detrimental to your hearing. Schedule an appointment with us for a proper fitting is the answer. We might even be able to mold your hearing aid so it fits your ear better.
- Allergies: Allergies are tricky, and it’s not uncommon for them to trigger itching. You can often decrease your symptoms by using an over-the-counter allergy medicine, like an antihistamine. It’s frequently hard to determine 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. If the itching persists, you should consult an allergist about finding a solution (and relief).
Getting relief for your itchy ears
Pretty much every activity becomes less fun with itchy ears. Your life can actually be changed by finding relief with the proper treatment. If you attempt to simply wait it out, you will probably extend your suffering because it’s not likely that the itching will clear itself up.
If you decide that your itchy ears are driving you mad, schedule an appointment with us so you can stop thinking about the itch, and get back to the normal, everyday activities you enjoy.
