Having an itch is usually no big deal, but when you have an itchy ear canal, it can drive you crazy. Your ears are a sensitive organ, so when you have an ear itch, it can be very distracting and irritating. Neurological fibers are found in your ears, which makes them very sensitive to stimulation and prone to itchiness. However, why your ears itch can be caused by a variety of factors. Luckily, there are itchy ear remedies available that can help give you the relief you need.
Here are some of the most common culprits:
• Ear canal dermatitis
• Too much earwax
• Insufficient earwax production
• Excessive ear cleaning
• Bacterial infection
• Hair or bath product residue
• Allergies
• Hearing aids
• Irritation from ear bud’s
• Ear infection
• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Excessive moisture
• Medications
• Extreme temperatures
• Stress
Having itchy ears is annoying, but luckily you can prevent and relieve a scratchy ear canal with these useful itchy ear remedies and tips.
Remedies:
• Use an ear syringe to flush your ear with a mixture of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol. The mixture is a 50:50 split, one part white vinegar and one part rubbing alcohol. If white vinegar is not available, water will also work. Just make sure you allow the ear to drain.
• If you don’t have rubbing alcohol, you can mix 1 part water with 1 part hydrogen peroxide. You can use an ear syringe or a small dropper to drip a bit of the mixture into your ear. Let it sit for a few seconds by tilting your head sideways. Tilt your head back in the other direction to drain.
• Using a warm water bottle or a hot washcloth can help move excessive earwax out of the ear. Just place the warm bottle or washcloth over the ear while lying sideways. Once the earwax becomes soft enough and is visible, use a washcloth to withdraw the wax out from the ear gently.
• You can purchase over the counter ear drops, or if you want to go the natural route, using warm coconut, tea tree, garlic or olive oil is an alternative. Just make sure you test the temperature of the oil on your arm before you use it directly in your ear. Make sure you allow the ear to drain.
Tips:
• If excessive earwax is causing your ears to itch and you cannot carefully remove it yourself, see an ENT doctor to have it safely removed.
• Never place anything into your ears. The skin inside your ears is very delicate, so be gentle and never put anything into your ears that could irritate or damage the skin.
• When you are taking a shower or a bath, try your best to protect your ears. Make sure you avoid getting soap and other chemical irritants into your ear.
• If your itchiness is a result of an underlying skin issue, meet with a skin specialist to help get treatment for the cause.
• If you suffer from allergies, make every attempt to reduce your exposure to allergens. If necessary, take antihistamine medication.