Itchy Ear: Causes and Safe Relief

Why ears get itchy

The ear canal is lined with thin skin that makes earwax. Wax moisturizes the skin, traps dust and has antibacterial properties. Itching usually means that balance has been disturbed: the skin is too dry, too wet, irritated, inflamed or infected.

Common causes of an itchy ear

Dry skin and over-cleaning

Removing wax with cotton swabs, keys or fingers strips the protective layer and causes tiny scratches. The skin then becomes dry and itchy, which encourages more scratching. This itch-scratch cycle is one of the commonest causes of chronic ear itching.

Eczema and seborrheic dermatitis

• Seborrheic dermatitis: greasy yellowish scale in the ear canal, behind the ears, in the eyebrows, around the nose and as dandruff
• Atopic eczema: dry, red, itchy skin, often with eczema elsewhere
• Psoriasis: thicker silvery scale, often with patches on the scalp, elbows or knees

Earwax problems

Too little wax leaves the canal dry and itchy. Too much wax, or impacted wax, can cause itch, a blocked feeling, muffled hearing and ringing.

Swimmer's ear (otitis externa)

Otitis externa is an infection of the ear canal skin, usually from water trapped after swimming or showering, or from scratching. It often starts with itching, then becomes painful within a day or two. Pulling the outer ear or pressing the flap in front of the canal hurts.

Fungal ear infection

A fungal ear infection (otomycosis) causes intense itching, a blocked feeling and discharge that may look like wet paper or contain tiny black, white or gray specks. It is more common in warm, humid climates, in swimmers, and after long courses of antibiotic ear drops.

Allergies

• Contact allergy: nickel in earrings, plastics or silicone in earbuds and hearing aid molds, preservatives in ear drops, hair dyes and shampoos. See allergic contact dermatitis
• Hay fever and food allergy: itching deep in the ears together with an itchy throat and roof of the mouth is common in hay fever and oral allergy syndrome, because the same nerve supplies these areas

Other causes

• Hearing aids and earbuds trapping moisture and rubbing the skin
• Healing after an ear infection, when itching is common for a few days
• Rarely, skin cancer on the outer ear, which looks like a sore or scaly patch that does not heal

Telling the causes apart

How a doctor finds the cause

A doctor examines the ear canal and eardrum with an otoscope and checks the skin around the ears, scalp and face. They may gently clean the canal under a microscope, take a swab of any discharge to check for bacteria or fungus, and ask about swabbing, swimming, earrings, hearing aids and skin conditions. Patch testing can identify a contact allergy.

How to stop itchy ears

Home care

• Stop putting anything in your ear: no cotton swabs, fingers, hairpins or ear candles
• Keep ears dry: tilt your head to drain water after swimming or showering, and dry the outer ear with a towel or a hairdryer on a cool setting held at arm's length
• Use earplugs for swimming if you are prone to swimmer's ear
• Clean earbuds and hearing aid molds regularly, and take them out for breaks
• For dry skin: a drop of mineral oil or olive oil in the ear once or twice a week can soothe the canal, unless you have an eardrum perforation or ear tubes
• Switch to hypoallergenic earrings (titanium, surgical-grade steel or gold) if earlobes itch

Medical treatment

• Steroid ear drops or creams for eczema and dermatitis, usually for short periods
• Antifungal drops and careful cleaning for fungal infections
• Antibiotic-steroid ear drops for swimmer's ear
• Medicated shampoos (ketoconazole, selenium sulfide, zinc pyrithione) for seborrheic dermatitis
• Antihistamines for hay fever-related itch
• Professional wax removal by microsuction or irrigation for impacted wax

Do not use ear drops if you might have a perforated eardrum without checking with a doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Why are my ears itchy inside?

The commonest reasons are dry skin from cleaning with cotton swabs, eczema or seborrheic dermatitis, too much or too little earwax, early swimmer's ear and fungal infections. Allergies to earbuds, hearing aids or earrings, and hay fever, can also cause itching.

How do I stop my ears from itching?

Stop scratching and putting swabs or fingers in your ears, keep them dry after water exposure, and treat any skin condition. A drop of mineral oil can soothe dry skin if your eardrum is intact. See a doctor if the itch persists for more than 2 weeks or becomes painful.

Can allergies make your ears and throat itch?

Yes. Hay fever and oral allergy syndrome often cause itching deep in the ears together with an itchy throat and roof of the mouth, because these areas share nerve supply. Non-drowsy antihistamines and avoiding triggers usually help.

Is an itchy ear a sign of infection?

It can be. Swimmer's ear often starts with itching before pain develops, and fungal infections cause intense itching with discharge. If itching comes with pain, swelling, discharge or reduced hearing, see a doctor for drops.

Should I use cotton swabs to clean my ears?

No. Ears clean themselves, as wax naturally moves outward. Swabs push wax deeper, remove protective wax, scratch the skin and can damage the eardrum. Clean only the outer ear with a washcloth.