Have you ever experienced an itch that you just couldn’t reach?
Alright, there are two ways to consider it: First, you think about something you always wanted to do in life but you never got around to (skydiving, for instance). Or, that itchy spot on your back that you just can’t seem to reach may come to mind.
That’s kind of a horrible experience, right? Desperately attempting to scratch that itchy spot on your back. It’s why back-scratchers exist.
Regrettably, when you have an itchy ear, there isn’t any device to get at it. That itching sensation is coming from inside your ear canal, somewhere that you can’t physically reach (regardless how hard you try). It’s worse than that spot on your back, and it isn’t surprising that itchy ears are most likely driving you nuts.
Your everyday life can be affected by itchy ears
It might sound like a small problem, superficially. It’s only itchy ears, right? At least your ears aren’t aching or burning or on fire.
But think about it: Your ear is itchy, and you can’t get any relief. If it occurs now and then, sure, it’s not that big of a problem. But if your ears are itchy all the time? It might end up having a significant affect on your quality of life.
Perhaps you stay home and stop interacting with friends. Or perhaps you try to overpower the sensation by listening to excessively loud music.
It’s not at all fun. But there are solutions and treatments. Knowing what’s causing your itchy ears is the first step to discovering a suitable treatment.
So what causes your ears to itch?
So what’s the cause of that itch? And what can you do about it? Depending on the root cause, itchy ears will have differing solutions. As with most other medical conditions, there are numerous possible root conditions that might be affecting your ears. Here are some of the most common:
- Skin disorders: Occasionally, a skin disorder can cause a response in places you can’t reach. There’s even a disorder called ear dandruff that can occur. You should talk to your doctor about what your solutions are. It isn’t exactly simple 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 yield the best results and the best sound. But when your hearing aids don’t fit correctly, this snugness can quickly turn into irritation and itchiness. Your hearing can be negatively affected if this causes you to stop using your hearing aids as often. Making an appointment with us for a proper fitting is the solution. We may even be able to mold your hearing aid so it better fits your ear.
- You have an earwax blockage: If your ears are producing a substantial amount of wax, that’s not abnormal. That’s because wax is good for your ears and (counter-intuitively) helps keep them clean! But this blockage can develop for numerous reasons. One thing you should stop doing right away is using cotton swabs to “clean” your ears. In any case, we should be able to remove most earwax blockages. So making an appointment can help give you some relief.
- Allergies: Allergies are challenging, and it’s not uncommon for them to trigger itching. In some instances, an over-the-counter allergy medicine, such as an antihistamine, can alleviate itching caused by allergies. It’s frequently difficult to identify exactly what you’re having an allergic reaction to. But itchy ears can result from a wide variety of allergens, including pollen. Itchy ears could easily come from your spring hay fever. An allergist will be the best place to look for a solution to this.
- Ear infections: That’s correct, the cause of your itchy ears can be a normal ear infection. Prevalent in youth, ear infections can continue to happen at any time. Ear infection can cause fluid buildup in your ear. In addition, the tissues in your ears can start to swell (thank you, inflammation). Really itchy ears can be the result of this trapped fluid and irritated tissue. Treating the infection with your doctor’s help is the solution. Once that’s cleared up, the itching in your ears should go away.
Getting relief for your itchy ears
Itchy ears can take the joy out of pretty much anything. Your life can actually be changed by finding relief with the correct treatment. If you try to simply wait it out, you will most likely extend your suffering because it isn’t likely that the itching will go away on its own.
Stop paying attention to your itchy ears and get back to enjoying your life. Call us for a consultation.