Have you ever had an itch that you just couldn’t reach?
You may think about this in a couple of different ways: First, you consider something you always wanted to do in life but so far you haven’t got around to (skydiving, for instance). Or, that itchy spot on your back that you just can’t seem to reach might come to mind.
That’s kind of a horrible experience, right? Feeling that itch and being desperate to scratch that spot on your back. That’s why we invented back-scratchers.
Regrettably, when you have an itchy ear, there isn’t any device that will 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 even worse than that spot on your back, and it isn’t surprising that itchy ears are most likely driving you nuts.
Your everyday life can be impacted by itchy ears
It might sound like a minor issue, superficially. Itchy ears? It could be worse, right? At least your ears aren’t in pain or burning or throbbing.
But think about it: There’s no alleviation for an itchy ear. No big deal, if it only happens once in a while. But if your ears are itchy constantly? It may end up having a significant affect on your quality of life.
Perhaps you stay home and stop interacting with friends. Maybe you start listening to music at increasing volumes trying to drown out that itchy feeling.
It stinks. But there are solutions and treatments. Understanding what’s causing your itchy ears is the first measure to finding an appropriate treatment.
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 may be being impacted by many root causes, as with most medical conditions. Amongst the most common are the following:
- Skin disorders: Occasionally, a skin condition can cause a response in places you can’t reach. There’s even a condition called ear dandruff that can happen. You should consult your doctor about what your solutions are. It’s not exactly simple to smear your ear canal with moisturizer, after all, nor would we ever suggest you try. Again, your provider will be the best one to help you manage skin conditions that cause itchy ears!
- Allergies: Allergies can frequently cause itching. You can sometimes reduce your symptoms by taking an over-the-counter allergy medicine, like an antihistamine. It’s often difficult to identify exactly what you’re having an allergic reaction to. But a great many allergens, including pollen, can cause your ears to itch. Itchy ears could easily come from your spring hay fever. If the itching persists, you should consult an allergist about finding a solution (and relief).
- Improper hearing aid fitting: Hearing aids are designed to fit snugly in your ears. That’s how you get the optimum sound and the most successful results. 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 frequently. The solution is to come in and consult us for a proper fitting. In some cases, hearing aids may even be custom molded to better fit your ears.
- Ear infections: That’s right, the source of your itchy ears can be a regular ear infection. Ear infections can happen at any age but happen more often when you’re younger. Ear infection can cause fluid buildup in your ear. At the same time, the tissues in your ears can start to become inflamed. Really itchy ears can be the outcome of this trapped fluid and irritated tissue. Addressing the infection with the help of your doctor is the answer. Your ears will usually stop itching when the infection clears up.
- 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 thing you should stop doing immediately is using cotton swabs to “clean” your ears. In any case, we should be able to remove 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 fun with itchy ears. Finding the correct treatment, and getting lasting relief can be completely life changing. If you attempt to simply wait it out, you will most likely prolong your suffering because it’s not likely that the itching will clear itself up.
Stop focusing on your itchy ears and get back to enjoying your life. Give us a call for a consultation.
