Causes of itchy ears ranging from dirty to psoriasis

Table of contents:

When your ear is itchy, you may reflexively scratch or scrape your ear in public to quickly relieve the itching. Apart from being embarrassing, picking the ear is also dangerous because it can damage the inside of the ear where there are many nerves. Everyone must have felt itchy ears, but maybe the cause is different. The following are various causes of itchy ears.

Various causes of itchy ears

1. Dirty ears

Your ears may itch from rarely cleaning. However, cleaning your ears should not be done carelessly. Don't use a cotton swab to scrape earwax, let alone use your fingernails.

Use over-the-counter ear drops containing hydrogen peroxide or sodium bicarbonate to clean your ears. You can also put a little baby oil or olive oil in the ear, and wait 5 minutes. This method can soften and then loosen earwax.

If the itching is bothersome, go to the doctor to clean your ears.

2. Infection

Itchy and swollen ears can also be the result of an external ear infection (otitis externa). External otitis is usually most prone to develop after swimming. Pool water that enters and is trapped in the ear can make the conditions in the ear become moist, which is ideal for germs and bacteria to grow.

3. Dry ears

The opposite of cause number 1. When the ear does not produce enough wax (which is often called earwax), the ear can also itch.

Earwax helps keep the environmental conditions in the ear moist. When the ears don't produce enough wax, they can become very dry and can even peel off. This is what causes your ears to itch.

4. The effect of hearing aids

Hearing aids can cause water to become trapped in the ear. The humid condition of the inner ear invites bacteria and viruses to breed so that the ear is prone to itching. Also, hearing aids that don't fit properly can put pressure on certain areas of the ear that can cause itching.

5. Ear canal dermatitis

Ear canal dermatitis occurs when the skin in and around the ear canal becomes inflamed. Usually, this condition occurs as a result of an allergic reaction to a product that hits the inside or outside of the ear. For example, shampoo, conditioner, or metal jewelry such as earrings.