Everyone suffers from itching in the ear sometimes. Normally this does not have to be a problem, it is much worse if it occurs regularly and persists for a long time. The itching usually starts with a small tickle, but it often gets worse if you try to relieve the itching, for example by inserting a cotton swab into your ear. This works against the itching for a while, but for a short time. You can actually damage the ear canal, resulting in more itching. It is useful to know where an itchy ear comes from. If you know this, you can tackle the source and the complaints will usually disappear on their own.
The ear and ear canal
The ear can be divided into three parts: the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. You can see the outside of the ear, which is the auricle and the ear canal. The ear canal is a slightly curved corridor where, among other things, earwax is produced. At the end of the ear canal you arrive at the middle ear and the inner ear.
Ear wax
Earwax is produced in the ear canal by more than 1,000 glands. It is a creamy substance of sebum, hairs and keratin from dead skin flakes. The function of earwax is to care for the ear canal, keep the eardrum flexible and maintain good acidity. Earwax also protects the ear against dirt, dust and bacteria and it moves dander and dirt from the ear to the outside. The color of the earwax is a bit golden-yellowish, but as the earwax gets older it can be sticky brown to hard, dark black and grainy. Earwax should be close to the exit of the ear canal, where it is made.
Can earwax be the reason for itching in the ear?
Itching in the ears can be caused by earwax, but often it has several causes combined with earwax. Dry skin, which is not well protected by earwax, may be the reason. The acidity is upset and causes itching. But cleaning the ear canal with a cotton swab can also cause itching. The earwax is pushed back into the ear canal and inflammation can occur. This also causes more earwax to be produced and in this way the balance between production and removal of earwax is disturbed. All this can cause itching.
Outside factors
There are other causes that can cause itching in the ear, for example if something is in the ear for a long time, such as hearing aids, MP3 earplugs, noise-dampening earplugs for sleeping or swimming plugs. But water in the ear, the use of cotton swabs, allergies or eczema can also cause itching. All these things irritate the ear canal and can cause severe itching, but also pain.
What happens when using (hearing) plugs in the ear?
The ear is not meant to put anything in it. When using a hearing aid or MP3 earphones, something goes into the ear for a long time. Even regularly with a hearing aid. The caps close the ear canal. Contact between the ear and hearing aids due to the material, including plastic or metal, can cause allergic reactions in the ear such as itching. By regularly inserting and removing the earplugs, the sebaceous and earwax glands are stimulated and produce more earwax. During insertion, the earwax is pushed back into the ear canal, which can also cause complaints. This can disrupt the operation of the device and cause squeaking in the ear, which can cause itching in the ear.
Water in the ear
After swimming or showering, water can enter the ear. If it does not drain out immediately, it can cause irritation in the ear canal due to the increase in humidity. Especially when swimming in water without chlorine, as it contains more bacteria, which can be harmful to the ear canal. It is important to get the water out as quickly as possible by tilting the head slightly. You can also rub the ear dry with a towel. You then rub the ear with a towel and tilt the ear against the towel so that the towel can absorb the water. Do not put a towel in the ear, this will push the water back.
The use of cotton swabs
Cotton swabs are intended to clean the visible part of the outer ear. This means the auricle and the visible earwax in the ear canal. It is not the intention to go deep into the ear canal with a cotton swab, because the ear canal itself regulates the cleaning of earwax. When using cotton swabs, the skin can be damaged and irritated and you also ensure that the earwax is pushed back, which can also cause complaints. It also stimulates the glands by producing more earwax.
Allergies, eczema or psoriasis
Allergies
Various allergies can cause itching in the ear. People with allergies to animals or pollen, for example, often suffer from this. The substances you are allergic to, the allergens, enter and cause a lot of itching that can reach deep into the ears. Oral allergy syndrome is an allergy in which the itching in the mouth tends to spread to the ears. In this case, the problem does not lie with the ears, but actually in the oral cavity. OAS is a food allergy, but it can also cause itching in the ears. The urge to pick or put an object in your ear to counteract the itching is very strong, but still not recommended. A nasal spray against hay fever helps best with this, because this spray inhibits the production and effect of histamine. The spray enters the eustachian tube through the nose and protects your ear there.
Eczema
Eczema is a red, dry, itchy skin rash that may be accompanied by swelling, flakes, bumps, cracks or crusts. If this is in your ear, it will cause severe itching. Ear drops or ointment can alleviate this problem.
Psoriasis
This is a chronic skin condition and can be recognized by white spots on red skin. This form of rash can occur on the ear, behind the ear, but also in the ear and is very itchy. Unfortunately, this condition cannot be cured, but it can be improved through treatment.
What can you do yourself against itching in the ear?
Nowadays there are plenty of remedies that help against itching in the ear. You can go to the doctor to have your ear cleaned. The doctor will clean your ear with a kind of probe with a cotton ball attached to it, or you can have your ear flushed, also called an ear toilet. There are a number of drops available that ensure that the crusts and dirt are removed from the ear. These drops are available at drugstores and pharmacies. Ointments and creams containing corticosteroids also help very well with itching in the ear. You can use drops with an antibiotic if there is a bacterial infection in the ear canal. These drops kill the bacteria or inhibit their growth.
But the best way to get rid of your itching is not to put anything in your ears to relieve the itching. The ear canal needs to heal and that takes time. If you do your best for a while and leave your ears alone, the acidity of the ear canal will recover and the drainage and supply of earwax will become balanced again.
