A tickly ear canal can drive you quietly mad — and reaching for a cotton bud only makes things worse. From excess earwax to swimmer’s ear, itchy inner ears usually have a straightforward explanation. We unpack the most common causes, what actually helps, and when it’s time to seek expert advice.
What’s behind my itchy inner ears?
One of the main causes of itchy inner ears is down to something we’re all very familiar with: cerumen prop. What do you mean you’ve never heard of it? Okay, let’s drop its medical moniker and go mass. We’re talking earwax, specifically the build-up thereof.
Earwax is your natural moisturiser, stopping the skin within your ear becoming too dry. It also traps dirt and dust before they can reach down into your ear canal. Plus your cerumen absorbs dead skin, while preventing bacteria and other infectious organisms from digging too deep. In short, your wax is great. But too much can cause itchiness, and even temporary loss of hearing and ringing in the ears.
How to treat an itchy inner ear
The remedy? Do not, we repeat, do NOT start excavating with a cotton bud. That’ll make things immeasurably worse. Instead, the NHS recommends lying on your side with the affected ear facing up and putting two or three drops of almond or olive oil into the aforementioned aperture. Do that three or four times a day for five days for two weeks and you could wake up a block of wax. If that doesn’t budge, visit a specialist.
Other causes of itchy inner ears – and how to treat them
Dry or flaky ear skin
If your ears are relatively clear of wax, dry or flaky skin could be the culprit. In contrast to the cerumen prop, this is down to the stripping of natural oils including earwax. The skin of the ear canal then tightens, becoming itchy and prone to cracking. People with sensitive skin, psoriasis and eczema are susceptible to dryness in the ear canal.
Again, do not use cotton buds in an effort to remedy the situation. They strip oils and exacerbate the situation. Look to keep your ears as dry as possible, so gently towel your outer ears after showering and gently tilt your head to drain excess water. Again, olive-oil drops should help, as should ear-moisturising drops that are often glycerin based.
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Ear-canal inflammation
Another cause could be mild ear-canal inflammation, otherwise known as otitis externa. This infection is triggered by sweat, earbuds, hearing aids… In fact, anything that creates moisture. It’s why otitis externa is often called ‘swimmer’s ear’ because regularly sending water into your ear heightens the chances of infection.
Your pharmacist can prescribe drops that usually help within a few days. In the meantime, ensure you avoiding getting your ears wet, so doff a shower cap while washing. And remove anything from the affected air that could have caused the infection. If it was swimming, avoid swimming until the condition’s fully cleared. Wearing a swimcap at all times is a prudent tactic.
Fungal infection
A fungal infection can also cause itchy issues, confounded by a thick discharge. This is more common after repeated antibiotic use. Antifungal drops could help but do see a GP.
Itchy inner ears are common but can be dealt with quickly and painlessly. Just remember mild, occasional itching is normal due to the sensitivity of the skin inside your ear canal. That itchy annoyance could pass as quickly as it appeared without any interference.
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