Have you ever experienced an itch that you just couldn’t scratch?
Alright, there are two ways to consider it: First, you consider something you always wanted to do with your life but so far you haven’t got around to (skydiving, for instance). Or, if you’re a little less of a romantic, you consider that spot on your back that you just can’t quite reach.
That’s sort of a horrible experience, isn’t it? Desperately trying to scratch that itchy spot on your back. It’s why back-scratchers exist.
Regrettably, when you’re dealing with an itchy ear, there’s no device to get at it. Regardless of how hard you try, you just can’t reach up into your ear canal where it’s itching. If you’re ear itches like this, it’s even more frustrating than that spot on your back.
Your daily life can be affected by itchy ears
At first glance, it sounds like a small thing. It’s only itchy ears, right? At least you’re not in horrible pain.
But think about it: There’s no alleviation for an itchy ear. No fuss, if it only occurs now and then. But what if your ears are continuously itchy? It could end up having a significant affect on your quality of life.
Perhaps you stay home and stop socializing with friends. Maybe you start listening to music at increasing volumes trying to drown out that itchy feeling.
It’s not at all fun. But there are solutions and treatments. Finding the best way to address itchy ears means understanding what causes them in the first place.
So what are some of the causes of itchy ears?
So what’s the cause of that itch? And what’s the treatment? Depending on the underlying cause, itchy ears will have differing solutions. Your ears might be being impacted by many underlying causes, as with most medical conditions. Here are some of the most prevalent:
- Skin disorders: Occasionally, a skin disorder can cause a response in places you can’t itch. There’s even a condition called ear dandruff that can occur. Your doctor will be able to help you determine what your options are. It’s not exactly simple to slather your ear canal with moisturizer, after all, nor would we ever recommend you try. Again, your provider will be the best one to help you deal with skin conditions that cause itchy ears!
- Ear infections: That’s correct, the source of your itchy ears can be a normal ear infection. Prevalent in youth, ear infections can continue to strike at any age. Ear infection can cause fluid buildup in your ear. In addition, 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 solution is to consult your doctor and address the underlying infection. Your ears will usually stop itching when the infection clears up.
- Improper hearing aid fitting: Your hearing aids should fit in your ears snugly. That’s how you get the optimum sound and the most effective results. But when your hearing aids don’t fit correctly, this snugness can quickly turn to irritation and itchiness. This, as a result, can cause you to stop wearing your hearing aids as often, and that can be bad for your hearing. Making an appointment with us for a proper fitting is the answer. In some situations, hearing aids may even be custom molded to better fit your ears.
- You have an earwax blockage: Look, it’s completely normal for your ears to create a prodigious amount of wax. That’s because wax is good for your ears and (counter-intuitively) helps clean them! But there are a number of reasons why blockages can form. One reason is because of the use of cotton swabs to “clean” your ears, so if that’s happening, you should stop immediately. In any case, we should be able to clear up most earwax blockages. So making an appointment can help give you some relief.
- Allergies: Allergies can frequently cause itching. In some cases, an over-the-counter allergy medication, such as an antihistamine, can relieve itching due to allergies. It can be tricky to pin down, sometimes, exactly what you’re allergic to. But itchy ears can be caused by a large number of allergens, including pollen. Itchy ears could quickly come from your spring hay fever. If the itching continues, you should speak with an allergist about finding a solution (and relief).
Finding treatment for your itchy ears, and relief
Itchy ears can take the fun out of just about anything. Finding the best treatment, and getting sustained relief can be absolutely life changing. If you attempt to just wait it out, you will most likely extend your suffering because it’s not likely that the itching will go away on its own.
Stop focusing on your itchy ears and go back to enjoying your life. Give us a call for a consultation.