Itchy ears, both on the outside and inside (middle ear), can have different causes. Most often they are symptoms of the disease, but in some cases it may be the result of improper cleaning of the ears. Find out what itchy ears means.
Itchy ears , both outside and inside (middle ear), can have different causes. In some cases, it may be the result of improper cleaning of the ears, but most often it is a sign of illness. Especially if the itching of the ears becomes persistent and is accompanied by a burning sensation in the ear, tingling in the ear, or pain in the ear.
Itchy ears - causes. Ear mycosis
Fungal otitis externa is most often caused by trauma, water retention in the ear canal, and long-term use of antibiotics (topical and general). Conditions that increase the risk of this disease include: diabetes, obesity, immune defects, psoriasis. Symptoms of mycosis of the ear are:
- erythematous-exfoliating lesions resembling eczema or seborrheic dermatitis
- there are yellow, greenish or dark patches on the surface of inflamed skin
- discharge from the ear
- earache
- ear itching outside
- hearing impairment
Itchy ears - causes. Allergy
The cause of itchy ears may be allergic rhinitis. A typical symptom of allergy is nasal discharge - most often it is watery, but if the runny nose continues, it becomes thicker and clogs the nasal passages, causing discomfort and a feeling of difficulty breathing. In addition, there are:
- sneezing
- discharge running down the back of the throat
- cough
- itchy nose, eyes, ears, throat and palate
- photophobia
Itchy ears - causes. Swimmer's ear
Swimmer's ear, or otitis externa, is mainly caused by prolonged exposure of the ear canal to moisture or water. Frequent exposure to water causes excessive washing out of the natural earwax, which ensures an adequate level of ear hydration. Infection can also occur in places where increased air humidity is accompanied by high temperatures, e.g. in saunas or in other countriestropical. A symptom of otitis is swelling and redness in the organs that make up the outer ear. Other symptoms are changes in the skin of the ear. The skin is red and blisters appear on the skin, filled with discharge colored with blood. Other symptoms of otitis externa include:
- feeling of stuffy ears
- ear itching
- earache, worsening when eating and drinking
- feeling of leakage from the ear
- fever
Itchy ears - causes. Otitis media
In the course of otitis media, the predominant symptom in most patients is ear pain (throbbing, worsening at night, lying down). The pain is relieved when there is leakage from the ear because the perforation of the tympanic membrane reduces the pressure in the tympanic cavity. Ear pain is accompanied by a feeling of fullness in the ear, hearing impairment. There may be itching in the ear, inside the ear. The disease most often affects children.
Otitis media
Itchy ears - causes. Incorrect ear cleaning
Inappropriate use of cotton buds, ear buds or other instruments may irritate the skin of the external ear canal. Such micro-injuries can cause ear burning, itching in the middle of the ear, and tenderness. The related discomfort usually passes spontaneously after a few days.