Have you ever experienced 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 think about 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.
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 inside your ear canal where it’s itching. It’s worse than that spot on your back, and it’s not shocking that itchy ears are probably driving you crazy.
Your everyday life can be impacted by itchy ears
On the surface, it sounds like a minor thing. It’s only itchy ears, right? At least your ears aren’t in pain or burning or throbbing.
But think about it: Your ear is itchy, and you can’t get any relief. No big deal, if it only happens once in a while. But what if your ears are continuously itchy? It may end up having a significant impact on your quality of life.
Maybe the sensation is so uncomfortable that you stop eating out or spending time with friends. Or perhaps you attempt to overpower the sensation by listening to overly loud music.
It’s not fun at all. But there are solutions and treatments. Discovering the best way to address itchy ears means knowing what causes them in the first place.
So what are some of the causes of itchy ears?
So why are your ears itchy? And what can you do about it? Depending on the underlying cause, itchy ears will have differing solutions. Your ears could be being affected by many underlying causes, as with many medical conditions. Among the most common are the following:
- Ear infections: Yup, the plain old ear infection may be the reason for your distress. Common in youth, ear infections can continue to strike 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. The fix is to speak with your doctor and treat the root infection. Your ears will normally stop itching when the infection clears up.
- Allergies: Allergies are tricky, and it’s not unusual for them to trigger itching. In some cases, an over-the-counter allergy medicine, like an antihistamine, can ease itching due to allergies. It can be hard to pin down, sometimes, precisely what you’re allergic to. But a great many allergens, including pollen, can cause your ears to itch. Itchy ears could easily come from your spring hay fever. If the itching lingers, you should speak with an allergist about finding a solution (and relief).
- You have an earwax blockage: Look, it’s completely normal for your ears to generate a copious amount of wax. You may be surprised to learn that wax is actually cleaning your ears. But this blockage can form for numerous reasons. One reason is due to the use of cotton swabs to “clean” your ears, so if that’s happening, you should stop immediately. At any rate, we should be able to remove most earwax blockages. So you will get some relief by scheduling an appointment with us.
- Skin disorders: Certain skin disorders can, at times, trigger itching that is hard to get at. You can even find yourself with a condition called ear dandruff. You should talk to your doctor about what your options are. It’s not exactly convenient to slather your ear canal with moisturizer, after all, nor would we ever recommend you try. If you have this kind of skin condition, your doctor is, once again, your best bet.
- Improper hearing aid fitting: Your hearing aids should fit into your ears snugly. This will produce the best returns 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 impacted if this causes you to stop wearing your hearing aids as often. The solution is to come in and see us for a proper fitting. In some situations, hearing aids could even be custom molded to custom fit your ears.
Finding relief for your itchy ears
Itchy ears can take the joy out of just about anything. Finding the best treatment, and getting lasting relief can be completely life changing. If you attempt to simply wait it out, you will likely prolong your suffering because it’s not 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 focusing on the itch, and get back to the normal, everyday activities you like.