Let’s be real…itchy ears are annoying! You can’t just reach inside your ear and scratch the itch so it becomes an annoyance. If you’re feeling like this, it’s time to get to the bottom if it…
Earwax
One of the main causes of itchy ears is a build-up of earwax. Earwax is actually part of the ear’s self-cleaning mechanism. The skin inside the ear canal grows outwards taking earwax, dirt and dead skin with it. This then all comes out of the ear naturally with earwax. The actions of chewing and yawning help to move any earwax outwards along the ear canal.
Earwax blockages are most often caused after people have tried to “clean” their ears by sticking things in them. This then pushes the earwax further down the ear canal and creates a blockage. There are also some people who are just susceptible to creating more earwax than others and who will need it professionally removed from time to time. If an earwax blockage is left, the wax can become compacted and affect your hearing.
Hearing aids sometimes contribute to people producing excess earwax due to them sitting in the ear canal and preventing earwax coming out naturally. This is why hearing aids are fitted with wax filters and why it’s so important that they are changed regularly.
A hearing healthcare professional will be able to tell you if you require an earwax removal procedure. If you do, they can remove it easily, quickly and painlessly.
Excess earwax can be removed easily by a hearing care professional.
Dry Skin
On the flip side of that, if you ears don’t produce enough earwax, they may become very dry. The wax helps to lubricate the ear canal and without that, they may become itchy because they are too dry. A GP or hearing healthcare professional will be able to advise if this is the case and the best course of action to take to improve the dryness.
Ear Infection
An infection can cause itchy ears. If your itchiness is accompanied with pain, this can be an indication of infection. If you believe you have an infection, you should visit your GP and they can advise if you do or not. They may prescribe antibiotics to help clear the infection.
A common ear infection that people suffer with is swimmer’s ear. It’s often caused by bacteria or fungi that thrive in moist environments, like water trapped in the ear after swimming. You will need to visit your GP if you believe you are suffering with swimmer’s ear.
Allergies
Allergies are another reason that you could be experiencing itchy ears. If you suffer with hayfever and are in a high-pollen environment, your ears may become itchy. Food allergies can also cause itchy ears if you have been exposed to the allergen.
Ear Canal Dermatitis
Experiencing dermatitis in the ear canal can be because of something you are allergic to. This could be the metal in your earrings or maybe an ingredient in a moisturiser or something similar that you are using. Dermatitis will need to be diagnosed by a GP or dermatologist and they will be able to offer a treatment plan for you to relieve the symptoms.
What to do if you are suffering with itchy ears?
If you are suffering and are not sure what the cause is, the best thing to do is to visit your GP. They will be able to examine your ears and help you determine the cause. It may be that you need to be referred to a hearing healthcare professional or take a course of antibiotics. It’s important that you don’t try to treat itchy ears yourself without guidance from a healthcare professional as you may end up causing more damage.
A GP will be able to examine your ears and determine the cause of the itchiness.
If you need any further advice, or need to book yourself in for an earwax removal appointment, please get in touch.
