Have you ever experienced an itch that you just couldn’t reach?
You might think about this in a couple of different ways: First, you think about something you always wanted to do in life but so far you haven’t got around to (skydiving, for example). Or, that itchy spot on your back that you just can’t manage to reach might come to mind.
That’s kind of a terrible experience, isn’t it? Desperately attempting to scratch that itchy spot on your back. That’s why we invented back-scratchers.
Sadly, there isn’t a device that can alleviate itching in your ears. That itchy feeling is coming from inside your ear canal, someplace that you can’t physically reach (regardless how hard you try). It’s even worse than that spot on your back, and it isn’t surprising that itchy ears are probably driving you crazy.
Itchy ears can affect your daily life
On the surface, it sounds like a minor thing. It’s just itchy ears, right? At least your ears aren’t aching or burning or throbbing.
But think about it: Your ear is itchy, and you can’t do anything about it. If it occurs once in a while, sure, it’s not that big of a deal. But if your ears are itchy constantly? You may find yourself, and your quality of life, considerably impacted.
Maybe you stay home and stop interacting with friends. Maybe you begin listening to music at increasing volumes trying to drown out that itchy feeling.
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. As with many other medical conditions, there are numerous possible root conditions that may be impacting your ears. Here are a few of the most prevalent:
- Allergies: Allergies are tricky, and it’s not unusual for them to cause itching. You can often reduce your symptoms by using an over-the-counter allergy medication, such as an antihistamine. It can be tricky to pin down, sometimes, precisely 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.
- Skin disorders: Certain skin disorders can, occasionally, cause itching that’s difficult to get to. You can even end up with a condition called ear dandruff. Your doctor will be able to help you determine what your solutions are. It isn’t exactly easy to slather your ear canal with moisturizer, after all, nor would we ever recommend you try. If you have this type of skin condition, your doctor is, once again, your best option.
- Improper hearing aid fitting: Hearing aids are designed to fit snugly in your ears. This will produce the best returns and the best sound. But when your hearing aids don’t fit properly, this snugness can quickly turn into irritation and itchiness. Your hearing can be negatively affected if this causes you to stop wearing your hearing aids as often. Making 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.
- Ear infections: That’s right, the cause of your itchy ears could be a regular ear infection. Ear infections can happen at any time in life but happen more frequently when you’re younger. And when they do, fluid can build up in your ears. Along with accumulation of fluid, swelling of the tissue can occur. Very itchy ears can be the outcome of this trapped fluid and irritated tissue. The solution is to talk to your doctor and manage the underlying infection. Once that’s cleared up, your ears should stop itching.
- You have an earwax blockage: If your ears are creating 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 this blockage can form for a number of reasons. One thing you should quit doing right away is using cotton swabs to “clean” your ears. At any rate, we should be able to remove most earwax blockages. So you will get some relief by scheduling an appointment with us.
Getting relief for your itchy ears
Itchy ears can take the joy out of just about everything. Your life can actually be changed by getting relief with the correct treatment. Usually, these itchy ears will not clear up by themselves (and if they do, it’ll feel like it takes forever), so there’s no point in attempting to wait it out, you’ll likely just extend your suffering.
Stop paying attention to your itchy ears and go back to enjoying your life. Contact us for a consultation.
