Have you ever had an itch that you just couldn’t reach?
Alright, there are two ways to consider it: First, you consider something you always wanted to do with your life but so far you haven’t got around to (skydiving, for instance). Or, if you’re a little less of a romantic, you think about that spot on your back that you just can’t quite scratch.
That’s kind of a terrible experience, isn’t it? Having that itch and being desperate to get to that spot on your back. It’s why back-scratchers exist.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a device that can relieve itching in your ears. No matter how hard you try, you just can’t reach up inside your ear canal where it’s itching. If you’re ear itches like this, it’s even more frustrating than that spot on your back.
Itchy ears can impact your everyday life
It may sound like a minor problem, superficially. Itchy ears? It could be much worse, right? At least you aren’t in terrible pain.
But think about it: Your ear is itchy, and you can’t get any relief. If it happens once in a while, sure, it’s not that big of a problem. But what if your ears are continuously itchy? You could find yourself, and your quality of life, considerably affected.
Perhaps you stay home and stop socializing with friends. Or perhaps you try to overwhelm the sensation by listening to excessively loud music.
It’s not fun at all. But there are solutions and treatments. Discovering the best way to deal with itchy ears means knowing what causes them in the first place.
So what are some of the causes of itchy ears?
So why are your ears itching? And what’s the solution? The solution for itching ears is going to differ depending on the underlying cause. Your ears may be being impacted by many underlying causes, as with most medical conditions. Among the most common are the following:
- Skin disorders: Some skin disorders can, occasionally, trigger itching that is difficult to get to. You can even end up with something called ear dandruff. Your doctor will be able to help you understand what your options are. Using moisturizer in your ear isn’t a feasible or safe option, after all. Again, your provider will be the best one to help you treat skin conditions that cause itchy ears!
- Improper hearing aid fitting: Hearing aids are made to fit snugly in your ears. This will yield 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. Your hearing can be negatively impacted if this causes you to stop wearing your hearing aids as frequently. Schedule an appointment with us for a proper fitting is the answer. In some situations, hearing aids could even be custom molded to better fit your ears.
- Allergies: Allergies are tricky, and it’s not uncommon for them to trigger itching. You can often decrease your symptoms by using an over-the-counter allergy medicine, such as an antihistamine. It’s frequently difficult to determine exactly what you’re having an allergic reaction to. But itchy ears can be a consequence of a large number of allergens, including pollen. So your spring hay fever could very easily translate into itchy ears. An allergist will be the right place to look for a solution to this.
- Ear infections: Yes, the plain old ear infection could be the culprit behind your distress. Prevalent in youth, ear infections can continue to strike at any time. And when they do, fluid can build up in your ears. Along with accumulation of fluid, swelling of the tissue can occur. Extremely itchy ears can be the result of this trapped fluid and irritated tissue. The fix is to talk to your doctor and manage the root infection. Once that’s cleared up, your ears should stop itching.
- 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 good for your ears and (counter-intuitively) helps keep them clean! But there are several reasons why blockages can develop. One reason is because of the use of cotton swabs to “clean” your ears, so if that’s happening, you should stop immediately. At any rate, we should be able to clear up most earwax blockages. So you will get some relief by making an appointment with us.
Getting relief for your itchy ears
Pretty much every activity becomes less enjoyable with itchy ears. Your life can actually be changed by getting relief with the correct treatment. If you try to just wait it out, you will likely prolong your suffering because it isn’t likely that the itching will go away on its own.
Stop focusing on your itchy ears and go back to enjoying your life. Call us for a consultation.
