Have you ever experienced an itch that you just couldn’t scratch?
You might consider this in a couple of different ways: The first thing you might 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 consider that spot on your back that you just can’t quite reach.
That’s so frustrating! Desperately attempting to scratch that itchy spot on your back. It’s why back-scratchers exist.
Regrettably, when you’re dealing with an itchy ear, there’s no device that will get at it. That itching sensation is coming from inside your ear canal, somewhere that you physically can’t reach (regardless how hard you try). It’s worse than that spot on your back, and it isn’t surprising that itchy ears are most likely driving you nuts.
Itchy ears can affect your daily life
It might sound like a minor problem, superficially. It’s just itchy ears, right? At least you’re not in horrible pain.
Here’s something to think about: Your ear is itchy, and you can’t do anything about it. If it occurs from time to time, sure, it’s not that big of a problem. But what if your ears are always itchy? You might find yourself, and your quality of life, significantly affected.
Perhaps you stay home and stop socializing with friends. Or perhaps you try to overwhelm the sensation by listening to overly loud music.
It’s not fun at all. But there are solutions and treatments. Discovering the best way to treat itchy ears means understanding what causes them to begin with.
So what causes your ears to itch?
So what’s causing that itch? And what’s the treatment? Depending on the root cause, itchy ears will have differing solutions. Your ears could be being affected by many underlying causes, as with many medical conditions. Here are some of the most prevalent:
- Skin disorders: Sometimes, a skin condition can cause a reaction in spots you can’t itch. 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 smear your ear canal with moisturizer, after all, nor would we ever suggest you try. Once again, your provider will be the best person to help you deal with skin conditions that trigger itchy ears!
- 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 hard to pin down, sometimes, precisely what you’re allergic to. But a great many allergens, including pollen, can trigger itchy ears. So your spring hay fever could quickly translate into itchy ears. An allergist will be the best place to seek a solution to this.
- Improper hearing aid fitting: Your hearing aids should fit into your ears snugly. That’s how you get the best sound and the most effective results. But this snug fit can lead to 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 often, and that can be detrimental to your hearing. The answer 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.
- You have an earwax blockage: Look, it’s completely normal for your ears to produce a prodigious amount of wax. That’s because wax is good for your ears and (counter-intuitively) helps clean them! But there are a number of reasons why blockages can form. One reason is because of the use of cotton swabs to “clean” your ears, so if that’s happening, you should stop right away. We can, in any case, help you clear up any earwax difficulties. So making an appointment can help give you some relief.
- Ear infections: Yup, the plain old ear infection may be the reason for your misery. Ear infections can occur at any age but happen more often 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 take place. Really itchy ears can be the result of this trapped fluid and irritated tissue. Treating the infection with your doctor’s help is the answer. Your ears will normally stop itching when the infection clears up.
Getting relief for your itchy ears
Pretty much every activity becomes less enjoyable with itchy ears. Your life can actually be changed by finding relief with the proper treatment. If you try to just wait it out, you will most likely prolong your suffering because it isn’t likely that the itching will go away on its own.
Stop paying attention to your itchy ears and get back to enjoying your life. Contact us for a consultation.