Have you ever experienced an itch that you just couldn’t scratch?
Okay, there are two ways to think about it: 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 scratch.
That’s really aggravating! Desperately trying to scratch that itchy spot on your back. That’s why we created back-scratchers.
Regrettably, when you have an itchy ear, there isn’t any device to get at it. That itchy feeling is coming from inside your ear canal, someplace that you physically can’t reach (no matter how hard you try). If you’re ear itches like this, it’s even more irritating than that spot on your back.
Your everyday life can be impacted by itchy ears
It might sound like a small problem, superficially. Itchy ears? It could be worse, right? At least you aren’t in terrible pain.
But think about it: Your ear is itchy, and you can’t get any relief. If it happens from time to time, sure, it’s not that big of a problem. But if your ears are itchy all the time? You may find yourself, and your quality of life, significantly impacted.
Perhaps you stay home and stop socializing with friends. Or perhaps you try to overwhelm the sensation by listening to excessively loud music.
It’s not at all fun. But treatments and solutions do exist. Finding the best way to deal with itchy ears means knowing what causes them in the first place.
So what are some of the causes of itchy ears?
So what’s causing that itch? And what can you do about it? Depending on the root cause, itchy ears will have different solutions. As with most other medical conditions, there are several possible root conditions that might be affecting your ears. Here are a few of the most prevalent:
- You have an earwax blockage: Look, it’s completely normal for your ears to generate a prodigious amount of wax. You may be surprised to find out that wax is actually cleaning your ears. But there are several reasons why blockages can develop. 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. At any rate, we should be able to remove most earwax blockages. So making an appointment can help bring you some relief.
- Allergies: Allergies can frequently cause itching. In some instances, an over-the-counter allergy medication, like an antihistamine, can ease itching caused by allergies. 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. So your spring hay fever could quickly become itchy ears. An allergist will be the right place to look for a solution to this.
- Ear infections: Yup, the regular old ear infection may be the reason for your distress. Prevalent in youth, ear infections can continue to strike at any time. Ear infection can cause fluid buildup in your ear. At the same time, the tissues in your ears can start to become inflamed. Very itchy ears can be the result of this trapped fluid and irritated tissue. The fix is to talk to your doctor and treat the underlying infection. Your ears will normally stop itching when the infection clears up.
- Skin disorders: Occasionally, a skin disorder can cause a response in places you can’t itch. You can even find yourself with a condition called ear dandruff. You should speak with your doctor about what your solutions are. putting moisturizer in your ear isn’t a viable or safe solution, after all. Again, your provider will be the best one to help you treat skin conditions that cause itchy ears!
- Improper hearing aid fitting: Your hearing aids should fit into your ears snugly. That’s how you get the optimum 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, in turn, can cause you to stop wearing your hearing aids as often, and that can be bad for your hearing. Making an appointment with us for a proper fitting is the solution. In some cases, hearing aids may even be custom molded to custom fit your ears.
Getting relief for your itchy ears
Just about every activity becomes less fun with itchy ears. Finding the right treatment, and getting sustained relief can be completely life changing. If you try to just wait it out, you will probably extend your suffering because it isn’t likely that the itching will go away on its own.
If you decide that your itchy ears are driving you crazy, schedule an appointment with us so you can stop thinking about the itch, and get back to the normal, everyday activities you like.