Doctors Explain Itchy Ear Causes and Treatments

An itchy sensation inside your ear can be truly maddening. You’re keenly aware of the sensation but can’t actually scratch the itch, no matter how much you wiggle your fingers around in your ear. The good news is that itchy ears, though annoying, rarely indicate a serious medical condition. But you’re likely wondering what causes them in the first place. Below, doctors explain itchy ear causes, home remedies, and symptoms that mean it’s time to see a healthcare provider.

To call the sensation an “inner ear” itch is a bit misleading, explains Hae-Ok Ana Kim, M.D., division chief of otology, neurotology, and skull base surgery at Columbia University‘s Irving Medical Center, because when you have the impulse to plug your pinky into your hearing hole and wiggle, it’s the skin of the outer ear canal that you’re trying to reach, she explains. Still, the area is very much inaccessible to the human hand.

Meet the Experts: Hae-Ok Ana Kim, M.D., division chief of otology, neurotology, and skull base surgery at Columbia University‘s Irving Medical Center and Geoffrey B. Trenkle, D.O., a board-certified surgeon in otolaryngology and founder of the Los Angeles Center for Ear, Nose, Throat, and Allergy.

Below, ear health experts explain what’s going on when you get the dizzying urge, and how to keep your ears healthy and itch-free.

There are many potential causes of itchy ears, according to doctors.

Earbuds and hearing aids

Prolonged wear of these accessories “can trap moisture, irritate the ear canal, or introduce allergens or bacteria,” explains Geoffrey B. Trenkle, D.O., a board-certified surgeon in otolaryngology and founder of the Los Angeles Center for Ear, Nose, Throat, and Allergy.

Cottons swabs and over-cleaning

You might think you’re being extra hygienic by swabbing your canals daily, but that habit may actually cause more harm than good because it can “strip away protective oils, cause micro-trauma, or push debris deeper into the ear,” says Dr. Trenkle. In other words, you can easily injure yourself or dry out the ear, which exacerbates itching.

Skin conditions

Just like skin anywhere else on the body, your ear canal skin can become irritated by conditions like eczema or allergies. Cotton swabs can also cause sensitivity or make existing conditions worse, Dr. Trenkle explains. All of them have a core driver of skin inflammation, Dr. Kim adds, which is the body’s reaction to irritation or external materials. Also, “a lack of natural earwax or conditions like seborrheic dermatitis can cause itchiness,” Dr. Trenkle says.

Allergies to food or jewelry

According to the Cleveland Clinic, hay fever or a pollen allergy can cause your ears to itch after exposure to certain foods. If you also develop hives or itching on other areas of the face, your itchy ears are likely an allergic reaction.

Skin allergies to metals like nickel or copper are also common, per the Cleveland Clinic. If you find your ears often itch when you’re wearing earrings made of a certain metal, you may be allergic to that material.

Infection

Both fungal and bacterial infections can form when the canal is kept warm and moist (say, from frequent swimming or bathing without proper drying) and itchiness can be a symptom, Dr. Trenkle explains.

Add Prevention as a preferred source in your Google search results.

Use your Google account to add this to your settings.

Add to Google settings

Excessive earwax

Some people produce more earwax than others. Wax buildup can irritate the canal, especially if it becomes impacted or pressed firmly together, says Dr. Trenkle. At that point, professional help may be required or you can try irrigating with an at-home ear wax removal kit.

The main way to prevent and relieve ear itch is to keep your canal moisturized and free of debris other than earwax.

Apply mineral oil or ear drops

A couple of drops of mineral or baby oil into the front of the canal can help keep the skin moisturized, Dr. Kim says. She recommends applying it “once a week after showering or before going to bed,” using an eye dropper purchased from a pharmacy. Over-the-counter ear drops may work similarly and also contain anti-inflammatory ingredients, Dr. Trenkle adds, and other hydrators like glycerin. However, Dr. Kim urges, it’s important to ensure no foreign objects are in the canal before using anything of the nature.

Clean earbuds and hearing aids regularly

And limit their use to reduce irritation or moisture buildup, says Dr. Trenkle.

Keep your canals dry

“Protect your ears from excessive moisture by using earplugs during swimming or drying ears gently after showering,” Dr. Trenkle adds.

Try a warm compress

Applying a warm compress near the ear (but not inside of it) can relieve mild irritation or itching caused by dryness or minor inflammation, Dr. Trenkle says.

Avoid scratching

Refrain from inserting fingers or objects in your ear, as it will prevent further irritation or injury, Dr. Trenkle says.

If you think your itchiness is due to allergies, your primary doctor can examine the area and provide treatment, says Dr. Trenkle. If you have other symptoms such as drainage, pain, hearing change, tinnitus (ear ringing), dizziness, or swelling, you should see a doctor and receive a proper diagnosis. You may have an ear infection, which experts have previously told Prevention may require treatment with oral or topical antibiotics.