Have you ever experienced an itch that you just couldn’t reach?
You may think about this in a couple of different ways: The first thing you may think about is that bucket list item you just never seem to get done. Or, that itchy spot on your back that you just can’t manage to reach may spring to mind.
That’s kind of a terrible experience, right? Having 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 isn’t any 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. It’s worse than that spot on your back, and it isn’t shocking that itchy ears are probably driving you crazy.
Your daily 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 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. No fuss, if it only happens once in a while. But what if your ears are continuously itchy? It might end up having a real impact on your quality of life.
Perhaps you stay home and stop interacting with friends. Maybe you start listening to louder and louder music trying to drown out that itchy feeling.
It’s not at all fun. But there are solutions and treatments. Discovering the best way to treat itchy ears means understanding what causes them to begin with.
So what are some of the causes of itchy ears?
So why are your ears itching? And what’s the treatment? The solution for itching ears is going to differ depending on the root cause. Your ears could be being impacted by many root causes, as with most medical conditions. Amongst the most prevalent are the following:
- Allergies: Allergies can sometimes cause itching. You can sometimes minimize your symptoms by taking an over-the-counter allergy medication, such as an antihistamine. It can be hard to pin down, sometimes, exactly what you’re allergic to. But a great many allergens, including pollen, can trigger itchy ears. 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: If your ears are creating a significant amount of wax, that’s not unusual. You may be surprised to learn that wax is actually cleaning your ears. But this blockage can form for numerous reasons. One reason is due to the use of cotton swabs to “clean” your ears, so if you’re doing that, you should stop immediately. At any rate, we should be able to clear up most earwax blockages. So scheduling an appointment can help bring you some relief.
- Improper hearing aid fitting: Hearing aids are made to fit snugly in your ears. This will produce the best results and the best sound. But this snug fit can turn into irritation and itchiness when your hearing aids don’t fit correctly. Your hearing can be negatively affected if this causes you to stop using your hearing aids as often. The answer is to come in and see us for a proper fitting. In some instances, hearing aids could even be custom molded to custom fit your ears.
- Skin disorders: Some skin disorders can, occasionally, trigger itching that’s difficult to get at. There’s even a disorder called ear dandruff that can happen. You should consult your doctor about what your options are. It’s not exactly simple to smear 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 treat skin conditions that trigger itchy ears!
- Ear infections: That’s right, the source of your itchy ears could be a normal ear infection. Common in youth, ear infections can continue to strike at any age. Ear infection can cause an accumulation of fluid in your ear. In addition, the tissues inside of your ears can begin to become inflamed. Combined, this can lead to trapped fluid, irritated tissue, and extremely itchy ears. The solution is to speak with your doctor and treat the underlying infection. Your ears will usually stop itching when the infection goes away.
Finding relief for your itchy ears
Itchy ears can take the pleasure out of pretty much everything. Finding the right treatment, and getting sustained relief can be absolutely life changing. Usually, 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 prolong your suffering.
Stop focusing on your itchy ears and get back to enjoying your life. Contact us for a consultation.