Have you ever experienced an itch that you just couldn’t reach?
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, that itchy spot on your back that you just can’t manage to reach may come to mind.
That’s kind of a terrible experience, isn’t it? Having that itch and being desperate to scratch that spot on your back. That’s why we invented back-scratchers.
Unfortunately, there’s no such device that can alleviate itching inside of your ears. No matter how hard you try, you just can’t reach up into your ear canal where it’s itching. If you’re ear itches like this, it’s even more irritating than that spot on your back.
Your everyday life can be affected by itchy ears
On the surface, it sounds like a small thing. It’s just itchy ears, right? At least you’re not in horrible pain.
But think about it: There’s no alleviation for an itchy ear. If it happens now and then, sure, it’s not that big of a problem. But what if your ears are always itchy? It could end up having a real impact on your quality of life.
Maybe you stay home and avoid socializing with friends. Maybe you start listening to music at increasing volumes attempting to drown out that itchy feeling.
It stinks. But treatments and solutions do exist. Discovering the best way to treat itchy ears means knowing what causes them in the first place.
So what causes your ears to itch?
So why are your ears itching? And what can you do about it? The solution for itchy ears is going to differ depending on the underlying cause. Your ears might be being affected by many underlying causes, as with most medical conditions. Here are a few of the most prevalent:
- Skin disorders: Some skin disorders can, at times, trigger itching that is difficult to get to. There’s even a condition called ear dandruff that can occur. Your doctor will be able to help you determine what your solutions are. It isn’t exactly simple to smear your ear canal with moisturizer, after all, nor would we ever recommend you try. If you have this kind of skin condition, your doctor is, once again, your best option.
- You have an earwax blockage: If your ears are creating a substantial amount of wax, that’s not abnormal. You may be surprised to learn that wax is actually cleaning your ears. But this blockage can develop for numerous reasons. One thing you should stop doing right away is using cotton swabs to “clean” your ears. At any rate, we should be able to clear up most earwax blockages. So making an appointment can help bring you some relief.
- Improper hearing aid fitting: Your hearing aids should fit into your ears snugly. That’s how you get the optimum sound and the most successful results. But this snug fit can lead to irritation and itchiness when your hearing aids don’t fit properly. This, as a result, can cause you to stop using your hearing aids as frequently, and that can be bad for your hearing. The solution is to come in and consult us for a proper fitting. In some situations, hearing aids could even be custom molded to custom fit your ears.
- Allergies: Allergies can frequently cause itching. In some cases, an over-the-counter allergy medicine, such as an antihistamine, can alleviate itching due to allergies. It can be difficult to pin down, sometimes, precisely what you’re allergic to. But itchy ears can result from a large number of allergens, including pollen. So your spring hay fever could very easily translate into itchy ears. If the itching persists, you should consult an allergist about finding a solution (and relief).
- Ear infections: That’s correct, the source of your itchy ears can be a normal ear infection. Ear infections can happen at any age but happen more often when you’re younger. Ear infection can cause an accumulation of fluid in your ear. In addition, the tissues inside of your ears can start to swell (thank you, inflammation). Very itchy ears can be the result of this trapped fluid and irritated tissue. The solution is to talk to your doctor and address the underlying infection. Your ears will normally stop itching when the infection clears up.
Getting relief for your itchy ears
Itchy ears can take the joy out of just about everything. Your life can actually be changed by finding relief with the correct treatment. If you try to simply wait it out, you will likely prolong your suffering because it’s not likely that the itching will clear itself up.
If you find that your itchy ears are driving you nuts, make an appointment with us so you can stop focusing on the itch, and get back to the normal, everyday activities you like.