Have you ever experienced an itch that you just couldn’t scratch?
You might think about 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 to. 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 sort of a horrible experience, right? 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. Regardless of how hard you try, you just can’t reach up into your ear canal where it’s itching. It’s even worse than that spot on your back, and it’s not surprising that itchy ears are most likely driving you mad.
Your daily life can be affected by itchy ears
It might sound like a minor issue, superficially. Itchy ears? It could be worse, right? At least you’re not in horrible pain.
Here’s something to think about: 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 constantly itchy? It could end up having a significant impact on your quality of life.
Maybe the experience is so unpleasant that you stop going out for dinner or spending time with friends. Or perhaps you try to overwhelm the sensation by listening to excessively loud music.
It stinks. But treatments and solutions do exist. Finding the best way to deal with itchy ears means understanding what causes them in the first place.
So what causes your ears to itch?
So why are your ears itching? And what’s the treatment? Depending on the root cause, itchy ears will have different solutions. Your ears might be being affected by many root causes, as with many medical conditions. Among the most prevalent are the following:
- Allergies: Allergies are tricky, and it’s not unusual for them to cause itching. In some cases, an over-the-counter allergy medication, such as an antihistamine, can alleviate itching due to allergies. It can be tricky to pin down, sometimes, precisely what you’re allergic to. But a large number of allergens, including pollen, can trigger itchy ears. So your spring hay fever could very easily translate into itchy ears. An allergist will be the best place to look for a solution to this.
- You have an earwax blockage: If your ears are generating a substantial amount of wax, that’s not abnormal. That’s because wax is helpful for your ears and (counter-intuitively) helps clean them! But there are a number of reasons why blockages can form. One thing you should quit doing right away is using cotton swabs to “clean” your ears. In any case, we should be able to clear up most earwax blockages. So you will get some relief by making an appointment with us.
- Skin disorders: Some skin disorders can, occasionally, cause itching that’s hard to get to. There’s even a disorder called ear dandruff that can occur. You should consult your doctor about what your solutions are. It isn’t exactly convenient to smear your ear canal with moisturizer, after all, nor would we ever suggest you try. If you have this type of skin condition, your doctor is, once again, your best bet.
- Ear infections: Yes, the plain old ear infection might be the reason for your distress. Prevalent in youth, ear infections can continue to strike at any age. Ear infection can cause fluid buildup in your ear. Along with fluid buildup, swelling of the tissue can happen. Very itchy ears can be the outcome of this trapped fluid and irritated tissue. The fix is to talk to your doctor and treat the root infection. Once that’s cleared up, your ears should stop itching.
- Improper hearing aid fitting: Your hearing aids should fit in your ears snugly. This will yield the best returns and the best sound. But this snug fit can turn into irritation and itchiness when your hearing aids don’t fit correctly. This, as a result, can cause you to stop wearing your hearing aids as frequently, and that can be detrimental to your hearing. Schedule an appointment with us for a proper fitting is the solution. In some instances, hearing aids may even be custom molded to custom fit your ears.
Getting treatment for your itchy ears, and relief
Just about every activity becomes less enjoyable with itchy ears. Finding the right treatment, and getting sustained relief can be absolutely life changing. If you try to simply wait it out, you will probably prolong your suffering because it’s not likely that the itching will clear itself up.
If you decide that your itchy ears are driving you nuts, schedule an appointment with us so you can stop thinking about the itch, and get back to the normal, everyday activities you like.