Introduction
Can't stop scratching your ears? Itchy ears can be a bothersome and uncomfortable sensation that affects individuals of all ages, even making people getting hearing loss. Having an incessant itch in the ear that no amount of scratching can shake off can take a real toll on you. It keeps you from concentrating on anything else, sucks the fun out of everything, and makes you want to rip your ears off. In this blog, we will delve into the causes, symptoms, and remedies for itchy ears to help you better understand and manage this common ear condition.
Why do My Ears Itch
There are several common causes of itchy ears, ranging from benign conditions to more serious underlying issues. Understanding the potential factors contributing to ear itching can help individuals identify the root cause and seek appropriate treatment. Here are some common causes of itchy ears:
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Earwax Buildup
Accumulation of earwax (cerumen) in the ear canal is a common cause of itchy ears. Wax is your body’s way of cleaning dead skin cells and dirt out of your ears, but too much of it can make them itch. When earwax becomes impacted or hardened, it can block the ear canal, leading to irritation, itching, and discomfort.
Don’t be tempted to try to remove the buildup with a cotton swab. That pushes the wax deeper inside, where it can get stuck. Instead, try over-the-counter ear drops that break up the wax or see your doctor for a special tool to safely remove built-up wax.
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Health Condition
Skin reasons such as allergic reactions to environmental allergens, like pollen, dust, mold, or pet dander, can trigger inflammation in the ear canal and cause itching. Meanwhile, other certain underlying health conditions, such as autoimmune disorders, diabetes, thyroid disorders, or compromised immune system including in the ears, even high levels of stress and anxiety can lead to symptoms like itching.
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Ear Infection
Itchy ears can sometimes be a sign of an ear infection. Ear infections, such as otitis externa (commonly known as swimmer's ear), bacterial infections, or fungal infections, can cause itching, pain, redness, and inflammation in the ear canal. Bacteria and viruses cause them, usually when you have a cold, the flu, or aleergies. One kind, swimme's ear, can happen when water stays in your ear after you swim. Too much moisture wears away your ear canal's natural layer of defense against germs.
Ear Infection Symptoms
Symptoms of an ear infection can vary depending on the type and severity of the infection. The most common types of ear infections are otitis media and otitis externa.
The otitis externa infection is in the ear canal, the portion of the ear that leads from the outside and stops at the eardrum. The opening of this part of the ear is external and visible. The symptoms of an outer ear infection in adults can include the pain in the ear, the redness and irritation inside the ear canal, Itchy ear canal and flaky or peeling skin. More severe outer ear infections can lead to swelling of the ear canal, which can cause muffled hearing, a fever, or ear drainage that looks like there is pus in it.
Adults can also get middle ear infections. They are also more common in people who have allergies or enlarged adenoids (tissue in the throat and nasal cavity), which can get in the way of the auditory tube doing its job. The main symptoms of middle ear infections in adults include ear pain (which can be worse in the morning or cause trouble sleeping), ear drainage, trouble hearing, fever.
How to Get Rid of Itchy Ears
The ear canal is innervated with sensitive nerves, which make the ear canal just as responsive and prone to itching as any other part of the human body. No matter the cause of your itch, it’s never a good idea to stick any objects in your ears. You could damage your inner ear, including the tiny bones that help you hear. To find a perfect solution for itchy ears, there are many approaches to cure o fully restore hearing for individuals seeking to improve their hearing abilities.
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A Few Drops of Certain Liquid
There are various at-home remedies recommended for swimmer's ear, including rubbing alcohol, vinegar, or baby oil. However, you should ask your healthcare provider before using any of these methods for swimmer's ear.
Olive oil helps remove excess earwax and keeps your ear canal adequately lubricated. It can soften the rigid ear wax, thereby facilitating its expulsion from the ear. It also has antiseptic properties that may reduce the risk of ear infection.
Hydrogen peroxide is very effective in dealing with itchiness in the ear due to wax buildup by diluting the consistency of the wax and causes it to bubble up and move out of the ear. In fact, many commercial ear drops contain hydrogen peroxide or a similar compound as one of the main ingredients. However, too frequent use of hydrogen peroxide in the ear canal may worsen ear canal skin dryness.
White vinegar is another effective ingredient to get rid of an itchy ear. However, it works best when combined with rubbing alcohol. While the vinegar helps dissolve the earwax, the rubbing alcohol serves as a drying agent and helps evaporate any residual liquid from the ear. Moreover, vinegar also prevents the ear from any kind of infection by maintaining an acid balance in the skin of the ear canal.
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Keep Ears Dry
Whether it is trapped moisture or an infection of the skin of the ear canal that may be causing the itchiness in the ears, keeping your ears dry as much as possible will help a lot. If you feel like water has entered your ears during swimming or while taking a shower or bath and this is the reason behind itchiness in your ear, allow gravity to take its course and work its magic. Gravity will help remove all the fluid buildup in the affected ear. Moreover, to help evaporate moisture in the outer ear canal, a blow dryer can come in handy.
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Apply a Warm Compress
If the cause of itchiness in the ear is acne, then a warm compress can be extremely useful as it dries out the acne. Once the acne is healed, the itchiness will be gone. The heat from a warm compress helps reduce inflammation and irritation, which in turn can soften the acne to bring the pus to the surface. Plus, the warmth helps reduce any pain.
Conclusion
Itchy ears are a common concern that can stem from various causes, ranging from earwax buildup to infections and skin conditions. Understanding the factors contributing to ear itching and recognizing associated symptoms are essential for timely intervention and appropriate management. By understanding the causes and symptoms, using home remedies, and then seeking for professional hearing aids if necessarily, individuals can alleviate discomfort, promote ear health, and address underlying issues contributing to itchy ears effectively.
