Itchy Ears

Itchy ears can be a symptom of an ear infection. Depending on the type of pathogen that causes the infection, ear infections can be bacterial, viral, or fungal. Otitis externa or outer ear infection is one of the most common forms, and it causes significant ear pain as well as itching in the ear canal. This condition is also known as swimmer's ear. It can happen when water gets trapped in your ear canal after swimming.

Otitis media impacts your middle ears and causes similar symptoms to otitis externa. Children suffer from this the most, because of frequent colds and blocked Eustachian tubes.

With fungal infections, the itching tends to be more intense. Aside from that, it's quite difficult to tell which type of ear infection you are dealing with. Doctors often start by prescribing an antibiotic, and if the treatment fails, then they assume that the infection may be fungal.

Your earwax (cerumen) plays numerous important roles. One of its many functions is to moisturize the skin on the inner surface of the ear canal. It also acts as a shield between the eardrum and the outside world. Earwax traps dead skin and dirt and carries them out through the outer ear. As they say, however, too much of anything can be bad. This statement applies to earwax as well, as too much of it can be the reason for your itch.

If you struggle with earwax buildup, try to resist the urge to remove the buildup with an ear swab. Sticking any object in your ear canal, including Q-tips, is a bad idea. All that you'll accomplish is pushing the wax deeper inside, where it can get stuck. Over-the-counter ear drops that loosen up the wax are a much better option. Be careful not to remove too much of the wax because not enough of it can cause you to have dry ears and end up causing them to itch.

An allergic reaction can also cause the inside of your ears to itch. Personal care products, such as shampoo, body wash, are often the culprit. If you listen to music a lot, be sure not to wear your earbuds for hours at a time. Earbuds and earplugs introduce bacteria and dirt into your ear canal, cause itching ears and may even lead to infections.

If you suspect that an allergy may be at the source of your itch, find out what the trigger is, and stop using it immediately to get relief.

Hearing aids, and nickel earrings have also been linked to itchy ears. The trouble with hearing aids is their plastic coating. If you have sensitive skin, you may develop an allergic reaction to the material. If you wear hearing aids, you may also experience itching ears if water gets trapped behind the hearing aid.

If your hearing aid is the reason for your itchy ears, a hearing care professional or an audiologist can help you find a solution. Please contact a hearing center near you to schedule an appointment and let one of our professionals help you.

Eczema can develop anywhere on the body. When ear eczema appears without any obvious trigger, the condition is called aural eczematoid dermatitis. If you have psoriasis, you are also much more prone to this skin condition. One of the hallmark symptoms of ear eczema is itchiness in or around your ear.

2.5 million Canadians suffer from food allergies. When you are allergic to a particular food, exposure to it will trigger an unhealthy immune response. If you have hay fever or pollen allergy, you may develop a condition called oral allergy syndrome. This form of allergy can prevent you from eating certain fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts. If you suffer from the syndrome, your ears may itch when you do eat them. Other symptoms of the syndrome are an itchy, tingly, scratchy or swollen mouth, tongue, throat among many others. As soon as you swallow the food, the itching sensation should stop. If your food allergy is severe, you may need to carry an Epi-Pen.

Although you may be tempted at times to clean your ear cavity with cotton swabs, doing so can cause inflammation in your ear canal and leave you itching. You should never stick anything into your ear canal, but instead, follow proper ear cleaning techniques.