Have you ever experienced an itch that you just couldn’t scratch?
Okay, there are two ways to think about it: First, you consider something you always wanted to do in life but so far you haven’t got around to (skydiving, for example). Or, if you’re a bit less of a romantic, you consider that spot on your back that you just can’t quite scratch.
That’s so frustrating! Having that itch and being desperate to get to that spot on your back. It’s why back-scratchers exist.
Sadly, there’s no such device that can get rid of itching inside of 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 isn’t shocking that itchy ears are probably driving you mad.
Itchy ears can affect your daily life
It may sound like a minor problem, superficially. Itchy ears? It could be worse, right? At least you’re not in horrible pain.
But think about it: Your ear is itchy, and you can’t get any relief. If it happens from time to time, sure, it’s not that big of a problem. But what if your ears are always itchy? You could find yourself, and your quality of life, significantly affected.
Maybe the feeling is so uncomfortable that you stop going out for dinner or seeing friends. Or perhaps you attempt to overpower the sensation by listening to overly loud music.
It sucks. But treatments and solutions do exist. Understanding what’s causing your itchy ears is the first step to discovering a suitable treatment.
So what are some of the causes of itchy ears?
So what’s the cause of that itch? And what’s the solution? Depending on the root cause, itchy ears will have different solutions. Your ears may be being impacted by many underlying causes, as with most medical conditions. Among the most common are the following:
- 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 correctly, this snugness can quickly turn to irritation and itchiness. Your hearing can be negatively affected if this causes you to stop using your hearing aids as often. Schedule an appointment with us for a proper fitting is the answer. In some instances, hearing aids could even be custom molded to better fit your ears.
- Skin disorders: Sometimes, a skin disorder can cause a reaction in places you can’t itch. You can even find yourself with a condition called ear dandruff. Your doctor will be able to help you determine what your solutions are. putting moisturizer in your ear isn’t a practical or safe solution, after all. Once again, your doctor will be the best one to help you manage skin conditions that cause itchy ears!
- Ear infections: Yes, the plain old ear infection could be the reason for your distress. Ear infections can arise at any age but happen more often when you’re younger. Ear infection can cause an accumulation of fluid in your ear. Along with fluid buildup, inflammation of the tissue can happen. Together, this can result in trapped fluid, irritated tissue, and really itchy ears. The fix is to speak with your doctor and treat the root infection. Your ears will normally stop itching when the infection clears up.
- 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 helpful for your ears and (counter-intuitively) helps clean them! But this blockage can form for a number of reasons. One reason is because of the use of cotton swabs to “clean” your ears, so if that’s happening, you should stop immediately. We can, in any case, help you get rid of any earwax difficulties. So you will get some relief by scheduling an appointment with us.
- Allergies: Allergies are challenging, and it’s not unusual for them to trigger itching. In some cases, an over-the-counter allergy medicine, like an antihistamine, can alleviate itching due to allergies. It can be tricky to pin down, sometimes, precisely what you’re allergic to. But itchy ears can result from a large number of allergens, including pollen. So your spring hay fever could very easily translate into itchy ears. An allergist will be the right place to look for a solution to this.
Getting treatment for your itchy ears, and relief
Itchy ears can take the pleasure out of just about anything. Your life can actually be changed by finding relief with the proper treatment. Often, 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 thinking about the itch, and get back to the regular, everyday activities you enjoy.
