Have you ever experienced an itch that you just couldn’t reach?
You may consider this in a couple of different ways: First, you consider something you always wanted to do with your life but so far you haven’t got around to (skydiving, for example). Or, that itchy spot on your back that you just can’t manage to reach might spring to mind.
That’s sort of a terrible experience, right? 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 alleviate itching inside of your ears. That itchy feeling is coming from inside your ear canal, someplace that you physically can’t reach (regardless how hard you try). It’s even worse than that spot on your back, and it’s not shocking that itchy ears are probably driving you mad.
Itchy ears can impact your everyday life
It may sound like a minor issue, superficially. It’s only itchy ears, right? At least you’re not in terrible pain.
But think about it: 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 all the time? You may find yourself, and your quality of life, considerably impacted.
Perhaps you stay home and quit 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 treatments and strategies do exist. Discovering the best way to deal with itchy ears means understanding what causes them to begin with.
So what causes your ears to itch?
So why are your ears itchy? And what can you do about it? The solution for itchy ears is going to differ depending on the underlying cause. As with many other medical conditions, there are a number of possible root conditions that might be impacting your ears. Here are some of the most prevalent:
- Improper hearing aid fitting: Hearing aids are made to fit snugly in your ears. 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 into irritation and itchiness. This, as a result, can cause you to stop using your hearing aids as often, and that can be bad for your hearing. Schedule an appointment with us for a proper fitting is the solution. In some situations, hearing aids may even be custom molded to better fit your ears.
- Ear infections: That’s correct, the cause of your itchy ears could be a regular ear infection. Prevalent in youth, ear infections can continue to strike at any time. Ear infection can cause fluid buildup in your ear. Along with fluid buildup, inflammation of the tissue can occur. Extremely itchy ears can be the result of this trapped fluid and irritated tissue. Addressing the infection with the help of your doctor is the answer. Your ears will normally stop itching when the infection goes away.
- Skin disorders: Occasionally, a skin condition can cause a reaction in spots you can’t reach. There’s even a disorder called ear dandruff that can happen. You should talk to your doctor about what your solutions are. Using moisturizer in your ear isn’t a practical or safe solution, after all. Once again, your doctor will be the best person to help you manage skin conditions that trigger itchy ears!
- You have an earwax blockage: Look, it’s perfectly normal for your ears to generate a prodigious amount of wax. That’s because wax is helpful for your ears and (counter-intuitively) helps keep them clean! But there are several reasons why blockages can develop. One thing you should stop doing immediately is using cotton swabs to “clean” your ears. In any case, we should be able to clear up most earwax blockages. So scheduling an appointment can help give you some relief.
- Allergies: Allergies can sometimes cause itching. In some instances, an over-the-counter allergy medicine, such as an antihistamine, can relieve itching due to allergies. It’s frequently challenging to determine precisely what you’re having an allergic reaction to. But itchy ears can result from a wide variety of allergens, including pollen. Itchy ears could quickly come from your spring hay fever. An allergist will be the best place to look for a solution to this.
Finding treatment for your itchy ears, and comfort
Itchy ears can take the joy out of pretty much everything. Your life can actually be changed by finding relief with the proper treatment. Often, these itchy ears will not clear up by themselves (and if they do, it’ll feel like it takes forever), so there’s no point in attempting to wait it out, you’ll likely just prolong your suffering.
Stop focusing on your itchy ears and get back to enjoying your life. Give us a call for a consultation.