There are a number of reasons your ears might be itchy and it is important to see your physician if itchiness persists or worsens, as it is most times treatable.
Here are the most common reasons you may have itchy ears:
- Q-tip use – cotton swabs are not meant for cleaning wax out of ears. It often times leads to pushing the wax further in the ears which can lead to impaction and temporary hearing loss as a result. The cotton on the end of the swabs also wipes away natural oil secretions in the ear canal that help keep it lubricated, resulting in dry skin in the ear canal.
- Seborrheic dermatitis – typically affects the scalp and eyebrows as dandruff but can also happen in the ears.
- Infection – germs that enter the ear canal lead the way for infection to develop, especially if you live in a humid environment, or are prone to wax build up.
- Irritation for in the ear style headphone such as Airpods and even hearing aids. If the hearing aid dome is too small, it may rub against the skin in your ear canal causing and itching/tickling sensation. This can be addressed by your audiologist and changing the size of the dome. Airpods and custom hearing aids can lead to moisture buildup as they seal off the ear canal when in using, creating a warm/moist environment.
- Skin disorders such as psoriasis and eczema. While most times, this is seen on other parts of the body, it can also happen on the skin in the ear canal.
It is important to remember not to insert anything into your ears and to be sure to always clean your hearing aids before and after use to ensure they are free of germs before placing into your ears.