Help, I have itchy ears! – Horend Goed Audiciens

Itchy ears. We all have to deal with it from time to time and it is terribly irritating. We like to grab a pen, cotton swab, paper clip, glasses leg or whatever else we can get our hands on to poke at our ear and get rid of it. However, this is not very smart, because you easily cause damage to the eardrum or ear canal. It is much wiser to find out what is causing the itching and come up with an appropriate approach. Therefore, in this article we will tell you all about the causes and solutions for itchy ears.

What could be causes of itchy ears?

Earwax

With earwax we often think of something negative, but it is actually very good. Earwax is there for a reason: it protects the ear against dirt, dust, moisture, bacteria and fungi. Production of earwax is normal and a sign that the ear is healthy. However, the earwax glands may be overproducing, which can lead to blockage and itching.

Toddling

We enjoy picking our ears and often do so unconsciously out of stress or irritation. Unfortunately, this often leads to an irritated ear canal, which in turn causes itching. So you create a new problem, or make it worse. For example, if you scratch a lot because there is eczema in the ear canal, bacteria can enter more easily and an ear canal infection (otitis externa) can develop.

Moisture

When the ear canal remains too moist, it can become inflamed and itchy. This can happen, for example, after swimming, when moisture remains behind the hearing aid or when cleaning your ears excessively with water. For people who swim regularly, we recommend having custom-made swim plugs to prevent the problem!

Earplugs

Many people enjoy listening to music, but did you know that in-ear earbuds are a common culprit of itchy ears? As with long-term use of hearing protection, over time they irritate the ear canal and cause (you guessed it): itching.

Contact allergy

A contact allergy involves an allergic reaction of the skin in the ear canal. It is often caused by the use of shampoo or shower gel, for example.

What can you do about itchy ears?

Now you know how to get it, but how do you prevent it?

Clean your ears regularly or have your doctor do so;
Keep your ears dry as much as possible;
Clean things that go in your ears (for example, earplugs or hearing protection) regularly or use the over-the-ear variety;
Stop picking your ears!
Do not use too many grooming products such as shampoo;
Keep the skin in the ear canal greasy with oil;
Have swim caps custom-made if you swim regularly.