Have you ever had an itch that you just couldn’t reach?
You might consider this in a couple of different ways: The first thing you may think of is that bucket list item you just never seem to get done. Or, if you’re a bit less of a romantic, you think about that spot on your back that you just can’t quite scratch.
That’s kind of a horrible experience, isn’t it? Desperately trying to scratch that itchy spot on your back. It’s the reason why back-scratchers exist.
Sadly, there’s no such device that can get rid of itching in your ears. That itchy feeling is coming from inside your ear canal, someplace that you physically can’t reach (regardless how hard you try). If you’re ear itches like this, it’s even more frustrating than that spot on your back.
Itchy ears can affect your everyday life
It might sound like a minor problem, superficially. It’s just itchy ears, right? At least your ears aren’t in pain or burning or on fire.
But think about it: Your ear is itchy, and you can’t do anything about it. No fuss, if it only occurs now and then. But what if your ears are continuously itchy? You could find yourself, and your quality of life, considerably impacted.
Maybe you stay home and quit socializing with friends. Or perhaps you attempt to overwhelm the sensation by listening to overly loud music.
It’s not at all fun. But treatments and strategies do exist. Finding the best way to treat itchy ears means understanding what causes them in the first place.
So what causes your ears to itch?
So why are your ears itchy? And what can be done about it? The treatment for itchy ears is going to vary depending on the root cause. Your ears might be being impacted by many root causes, as with most medical conditions. Here are a few of the most prevalent:
- Improper hearing aid fitting: Your hearing aids should fit in your ears snugly. This will create the best returns and the best sound. 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 using your hearing aids as frequently, and that can be detrimental to your hearing. The solution is to come in and see us for a proper fitting. We may even be able to mold your hearing aid so it fits your ear better.
- Allergies: Allergies are challenging, and it’s not uncommon for them to cause itching. You can often decrease your symptoms by using an over-the-counter allergy medicine, such as an antihistamine. It can be difficult to pin down, sometimes, precisely what you’re allergic to. But itchy ears can be a consequence of a large number of allergens, including pollen. Itchy ears could quickly come from your spring hay fever. An allergist will be the best place to seek a solution to this.
- You have an earwax blockage: Look, it’s completely normal for your ears to generate a prodigious amount of wax. That’s because wax is good for your ears and (counter-intuitively) helps keep them clean! But this blockage can form for numerous reasons. One reason is due to the use of cotton swabs to “clean” your ears, so if that’s happening, you should stop right away. We can, in any case, help you get rid of any earwax troubles. So scheduling an appointment can help bring you some relief.
- Skin disorders: Certain skin disorders can, at times, cause itching that is hard to get to. You can even end up with something called ear dandruff. You should talk to your doctor about what your solutions are. putting moisturizer in your ear isn’t a viable or safe option, after all. If you have this type of skin condition, your doctor is, once again, your best bet.
- Ear infections: Yup, the regular old ear infection could be the culprit behind your distress. Ear infections can arise at any time in life but happen more frequently when you’re younger. Ear infection can cause an accumulation of fluid in your ear. Along with fluid buildup, inflammation of the tissue can occur. Really itchy ears can be the outcome of this trapped fluid and irritated tissue. The fix is to talk to your doctor and treat the underlying infection. Your ears will usually stop itching when the infection goes away.
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 correct treatment. Often, these itchy ears will not clear up on their own (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 extend your suffering.
If you find that your itchy ears are driving you mad, make an appointment with us so you can stop focusing on the itch, and get back to the regular, everyday activities you enjoy.