Itchy Ears & What To Do About It…

Our natural ear care

Our ears usually do a great job of looking after themselves. The skin in our ear canals is covered by a protective waxy layer that cleans our ears and protects the skin inside our ear canals from infection. In most cases, it is best to leave our ear canals to look after themselves.

However, sometimes our ears do get itchy. Itchy ears can be distracting and annoying. It is worth getting to the bottom of the cause so it can be addressed and resolved.

The skin of the ear canal is thin and if the protective film is damaged, the skin below may dry out or become sensitive. This may result in an annoying itch that is tough to reach. Some people have been know to use cotton buds or other tools to scratch the itch. However, scratching deep in the ear canal, near the ear drum, can make the itch worse and it can be risky.

Let’s look at what could cause itchy ear canals, and how it can be managed and resolved.

“If there is an itch one does want to scratch; but it is much nicer to have neither the itch nor the scratch.”

C.S. Lewis

Normal earwax function

In most cases, ear canals do an effective job of self-cleaning. Earwax works its way from the eardrum to the ear canal entrance in a spiral pattern, where it can be cleaned away with a tissue or cloth. On its journey toward the ear canal entrance, the wax picks up dead skin cells and any other foreign particles and removes them from your ear canal. A clever system to clean this mostly inaccessible orifice. It also lubricates our ears and has an antibacterial function.

What is causing your itchy ears?

Buildup of ear wax

For some people with particularly narrow, bendy or hair in their ear canals, wax gets trapped on its way out of the ear canal. This can feel itchy and of course, over time it can block your hearing. The best way to manage this is to have the wax removed by suction. This gently removes the excess wax and often brings immediate relief. At the same time, we can check for other possible causes of skin irritation or infection.

When first wearing hearing aids

Many people will notice itchy ears when they first use hearing aids, often this itch resolves after a few days of wearing the hearing aids, if not, there may be small amounts of ear wax that could be removed to relieve the itch.

Infections – fungal or bacterial

Fungal or bacterial infections of the external auditory canal (otitis externa) are another cause of itching in the ear canal. Infections of the ear canal may occur when there is persistent humidity that allows bacteria or fungi to grow. This is common among individuals who swim regularly or frequently use earplugs or hearing aids and is more prevalent in people with diabetes. If you suspect an infection, consult your GP for prescribed drops. At Ear Care Auckland we can suction the infected material from the ear canal which can allow the drops or treatment to reach the affected skin.

Allergic reactions

A common cause of itchy ears is an inflammation of the lining of the ear canal due to an allergic reaction. The reaction could be caused by shampoos or soaps, overused earplugs or deeper fitting earphones.

Has there been a recent change in the products you use? The sensitive ear canal skin can be more prone to skin irritations and inflammation than other skin areas like your head or face. Does the itch reduce when you stop using the new product?

Known skin conditions

Itching ears may be a side effect of a systemic skin condition affecting the rest of the body, such as psoriasis or eczema. If you have been diagnosed with one of these conditions, it can also affect your ear canals.

Are you over cleaning your ears?

Removing the protective wax layer in your ear canal can make them itch

We now know that ear wax (cerumen) is good for our ear canals and performs an important job keeping our canals clean and lubricated. However, some people view ear wax as the enemy and do their best to remove it at all costs. Using cotton buds (earbuds), metal objects or cleaning agents to regularly clean your ears removes the protective barrier over your sensitive ear canal skin and can cause itch and irritation.

Breaking the itch cycle – caused by over cleaning

The aim is to allow the natural waxy protective film to build up in your ear canals. The first step is to avoid putting anything down your ear canals. Instead, use a tissue on the end of your finger to wipe away any build-up near the ear canal entrance. This means:

• Do not put anything down your ear canal,
• If your ears get wet, shake the water out or use a hair dryer to gently dry them out.

If your ears are very itchy your GP may be able to prescribe drops to use. You could also try some olive oil drops once or twice a week to provide a protective
coating which helps for some people.

And give it time…

Your ears are likely to be itchy until the natural protective layer starts returning to its normal cleansing function and building up some normal wax. It may take some time for it to settle down.