Have you ever experienced an itch that you just couldn’t scratch?
Alright, there are two ways to consider it: The first thing you might think about is that bucket list item you just never seem to get done. Or, if you’re a bit less of a romantic, you consider that spot on your back that you just can’t quite reach.
That’s really aggravating! Feeling that itch and being desperate to scratch that spot on your back. It’s the reason why back-scratchers exist.
Regrettably, when you’re dealing with an itchy ear, there’s no device that will get at it. Regardless of how hard you try, you just can’t reach up inside 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 daily life can be impacted by itchy ears
On the surface, it sounds like a minor thing. Itchy ears? It could be worse, right? At least your ears aren’t in pain or burning or on fire.
Here’s something to think about: Your ear is itchy, and you can’t do anything about it. If it occurs now and then, sure, it’s not that big of a deal. But if your ears are itchy constantly? You might find yourself, and your quality of life, significantly affected.
Maybe you stay home and avoid interacting with friends. Or perhaps you attempt to overpower the sensation by listening to overly loud music.
It stinks. But treatments and strategies do exist. Knowing what’s causing your itchy ears is the first measure to finding an appropriate treatment.
So what causes your ears to itch?
So why are your ears itchy? And what’s the solution? The treatment for itchy ears is going to vary depending on the underlying cause. As with many other medical conditions, there are several possible root conditions that might be affecting your ears. Amongst the most prevalent are the following:
- Ear infections: Yup, the plain old ear infection may be the reason for your misery. Ear infections can arise at any age but happen more frequently when you’re younger. And when they do, fluid can accumulate in your ears. In addition, the tissues in your ears can start to swell (thank you, inflammation). Extremely itchy ears can be the result of this trapped fluid and irritated tissue. The solution is to talk to your doctor and treat 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. That’s how you get the optimum sound and the most successful results. But this snug fit can turn into irritation and itchiness when your hearing aids don’t fit properly. Your hearing can be negatively impacted if this causes you to stop using your hearing aids as often. Schedule an appointment with us for a proper fitting is the solution. In some situations, hearing aids could even be custom molded to custom fit your ears.
- Skin disorders: Sometimes, a skin condition can cause a reaction in places you can’t itch. You can even end up with something called ear dandruff. You should consult your doctor about what your solutions are. putting moisturizer in your ear isn’t a viable or safe option, after all. Once again, your provider will be the best person to help you deal with skin conditions that cause itchy ears!
- Allergies: Allergies are tricky, and it’s not unusual for them to cause itching. You can sometimes decrease your symptoms by taking an over-the-counter allergy medicine, such as an antihistamine. It’s often hard to identify precisely what you’re having an allergic reaction to. But itchy ears can be a consequence of a wide variety of allergens, including pollen. So your spring hay fever could very easily become itchy ears. If the itching lingers, you should consult an allergist about finding a solution (and relief).
- You have an earwax blockage: Look, it’s perfectly normal for your ears to create a copious amount of wax. That’s because wax is helpful for your ears and (counter-intuitively) helps keep them clean! But there are a number of reasons why blockages can develop. 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 you will get some relief by scheduling an appointment with us.
Finding relief for your itchy ears
Itchy ears can take the fun out of just about everything. Your life can actually be changed by getting relief with the proper treatment. If you attempt to just wait it out, you will most likely prolong your suffering because it’s not likely that the itching will go away on its own.
Stop focusing on your itchy ears and get back to enjoying your life. Give us a call for a consultation.