1. Dry skin – Lack of Ear Wax
Most of our patients that complain about their ears itching have dry ears, meaning they make very little ear wax, also known as cerumen. While cerumen has a few important roles, one of the most important is that it acts as a barrier against the environment.
Lack of cerumen in the ear canal can make the lining more sensitive. This is especially noticeable at times when pollen count is high or when air quality is poor. Your hearing healthcare provider or audiologist can suggest some over-the-counter options to treat this issue.
2. Something is in the ear canal!
Conversely, ears can itch because something is in the ear canal. An itching or tickling sensation in the ear is our body’s natural defense mechanism to alert us to the presence of something foreign in our ear canal.
One possibility is significant ear wax blocking the canal, or a significant amount of dead skin. Both of these options are more likely for those that are chronic Q-tip users. Pushing a Q-tip in the ear every day increases the chances for an impaction of wax or dead skin to develop.
However, there truly could be a foreign object in the ear canal. As an audiologist for over 20 years, the list of things I have found in the ear canal include but are not limited to:
- hearing aid battery
- hearing aid battery sticker
- the back of an earring
- bug
- Lego
Finally, wearing hearing aids for the first time can cause some short-term itching. Again, this is the brain’s way of letting you know there is something in your ear. This sensation typically disappears after two weeks of consistent hearing aid use.
3. A skin condition
Diagnoseable by a dermatologist, a skin condition in the ear, making it chronically itch, will typically result in a referral to a dermatologist after the typical over-the-counter options are proven ineffective.
This is very unusual, and thankfully a dermatologist is able to prescribe something to help these patients.
Need to Be Seen?
If you are struggling with itchy ears, you can always give us a call at 712-775-2625, and we can take a look at your ears to determine the cause.
Dr. Sondra Rierson
About the Author: Dr. Sondra Rierson is an experienced audiologist with more than a decade of expertise in diagnosing and treating hearing loss. Originally from Lake View, Iowa, she is dedicated to providing personalized, patient-centered hearing care.
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