Have you ever experienced an itch that you just couldn’t reach?
Alright, there are two ways to think about it: The first thing you may think about is that bucket list item you just never seem to get to. Or, that itchy spot on your back that you just can’t seem to reach may spring to mind.
That’s kind of a terrible experience, isn’t it? Desperately trying to scratch that itchy spot on your back. That’s why we created back-scratchers.
Unfortunately, there’s no such device that can alleviate itching in your ears. That itchy feeling is coming from inside your ear canal, somewhere that you can’t physically reach (no matter how hard you try). It’s even worse than that spot on your back, and it’s not shocking that itchy ears are probably driving you nuts.
Itchy ears can impact your daily life
On the surface, it sounds like a minor thing. It’s just itchy ears, right? At least you’re not in horrible pain.
But think about it: There’s no relief for an itchy ear. No fuss, if it only happens once in a while. But what if your ears are constantly itchy? You might find yourself, and your quality of life, significantly affected.
Maybe you stay home and quit interacting with friends. Maybe you begin listening to music at increasing volumes trying to drown out that itchy feeling.
It’s not at all fun. But treatments and strategies do exist. Understanding what’s causing your itchy ears is the first measure to discovering the right treatment.
So what are some of the causes of itchy ears?
So what’s causing that itch? And what can be done about it? Depending on the underlying cause, itchy ears will have differing solutions. Your ears could be being impacted by many root causes, as with many medical conditions. Amongst the most prevalent are the following:
- You have an earwax blockage: If your ears are producing a substantial amount of wax, that’s not unusual. 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 reason is because of the use of cotton swabs to “clean” your ears, so if you’re doing that, you should stop right away. We can, in any case, help you clear up any earwax troubles. So you will get some relief by scheduling an appointment with us.
- Skin disorders: Occasionally, a skin disorder can cause a response in spots you can’t itch. You can even find yourself with something called ear dandruff. You should talk to your doctor about what your options are. It isn’t exactly simple to smear your ear canal with moisturizer, after all, nor would we ever recommend you try. Again, your provider will be the best one to help you deal with skin conditions that cause itchy ears!
- Allergies: Allergies can frequently cause itching. You can sometimes decrease your symptoms by taking an over-the-counter allergy medicine, like an antihistamine. It can be tricky to pin down, sometimes, exactly what you’re allergic to. But a great many allergens, including pollen, can trigger itchy ears. Itchy ears could easily come from your spring hay fever. An allergist will be the right place to seek a solution to this.
- Improper hearing aid fitting: Hearing aids are designed to fit snugly in your ears. That’s how you get the best sound and the most effective results. But this snug fit can turn into 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 often, and that can be detrimental to your hearing. Schedule an appointment with us for a proper fitting is the answer. In some instances, hearing aids may even be custom molded to better fit your ears.
- Ear infections: That’s correct, the source of your itchy ears can be a regular ear infection. Ear infections can arise at any time in life but happen more often when you’re younger. And when they do, fluid can build up in your ears. Along with fluid buildup, inflammation 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 treat the root infection. Once that’s cleared up, the itching in your ears should go away.
Getting relief for your itchy ears
Just about every activity becomes less fun with itchy ears. Your life can actually be changed by finding relief with the correct treatment. If you try to just wait it out, you will likely prolong your suffering because it isn’t 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.