An itchy ear canal can be caused by infection, irritation, earwax problems, or foreign objects. Treatment options include medication, lubricants, and ear irrigation. Prevention measures include wearing earplugs while swimming and drying ears after swimming.
An itchy ear canal can be caused by infection, irritation, problems with earwax, and foreign objects in the ear. Patients may also experience pain, hearing problems, and other symptoms that can be helpful during a diagnostic evaluation to find out why the ear canal is itchy. Treatment options vary and may include medications, lubricants, and ear irrigation. There are steps people can take to avoid an itchy ear canal by addressing common risk factors.
Ear canal infections involving fungi, viruses, or bacteria are common culprits. A well-known example is swimmer’s ear, caused by accumulations of water in the ear that cause chronic irritation and leave the ear vulnerable to infection. People with ear infections may also notice pain and a foul-smelling discharge in addition to itchy ear canals. Ear infections can be treated with medications to kill the causative organism and irrigation to clean out the ear if deemed necessary.
Ear canal irritation can be associated with skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, as well as excessive sweating. The skin inside the ear canal is tender and very sensitive. If it starts to dry or flake off, it can get very itchy. Itchy ear canal associated with earwax problems can be the result of a buildup of earwax or an insufficient supply of earwax. Low levels of earwax can leave the ear exposed to dryness and irritation. Medications can soften the wax for removal, and lubricants can be used to treat dry skin inside the ear.
Foreign bodies in the ear, including debris and small bugs, may also be behind an itchy ear canal. In this case, treatment is usually irrigation with warm water to eliminate the source of the itchy ear. The patient may experience some discomfort, depending on the size of the object, and in some cases, a doctor may need to use tools to extract the object, especially if it has become embedded in earwax. It is important to remain still during this procedure to reduce the risk of damaging your ear canal in the process.
People like swimmers can use lubricants in their ears before swimming, as well as wear earplugs to keep the ear canal warm and dry. This will also reduce the risk of conditions associated with cold water shock to the ears. After swimming, the ears can be dried gently with a towel on the outside and the head tilted to allow water to drain. People who have a history of ear infections may want to discuss additional swimming precautions with their doctors.
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