My ears itch deep inside, what is the meaning? You might have chronically itchy ears simply because they’re highly sensitive. However, itchy ears can also indicate an underlying medical condition. By understanding some of the causes of itchy ears, you can determine how to find solution to your problem.
What are the symptoms of itchy ears?
Itching in ears can be irritating and bothersome. You may think that scratching will help. However, your ears will probably feel worse when you scratch. Infected, itchy ears can be accompanied by:
- fever
- swelling
- drainage from the ear
Itchy Ears Meaning
Itchy ears can easily mean your ear is infected. The ear canal, ear lobe or the skin on the outer ear can become itchy and irritated. Your doctor can prescribe an external ointment to treat mild infections. You can also use essential oils for itchy ears.
The ear canal can appear to be normal on examination or there can be some scaling of skin. People aggravate the problem by use of things like bobby-pins, coat hangers as well as the tooth picks so as to scratch the ear. This may bring about abrasions to the ear canal.
Ear Itching Superstition
Here is one most of us have probably heard of, the itching ears. One pretty cool saying I found for this was “left for love, right for spite.” Supposedly if your ears are itching, no matter which one, it means someone is talking about you. I’ve also heard it put as, if your ears are burning, then someone’s talking about you.
But I’ve researched this further to find that if your left ear is itching it means either someone you love is talking about you, or whoever is talking about you is saying something nice. Then the right ear itching is just the opposite. This means someone you’re feuding with is talking about you, or they’re saying something bad about you. If your right ear is itching, you should lick your finger and wipe it on your ear lobe.
If a person has itchy ears it means that someone is talking about them as some people believe although it is not yet been proven by scientists. The belief further reveals that, it depends if the left or right ear is itching as to whether someone is being nice or bad.
If the right ear is itching it means someone is being unkind about the person with the itchy ear. If the left ear is itching then it means someone is being nice about the person with an itchy ear. There are lots of different superstitions about parts of the body itching. If the palm of right hand itches it means money will be received but if the left palm itches it means money will be paid out.
Itchy in Ear Causes
This ear condition can be caused by a variety of factors that range from mild irritation to bacterial infections. Knowing the potential causes of itching ears and seeking medical treatment in the event of unexplained or chronic symptoms can help to ensure prompt diagnosis and treatment, allowing for healthy recovery and relief from uncomfortable itching.
Common causes of itchy ears
Swimmer’s Ear
This is an infection that develops in the outer ear canal. The infection occurs when moisture becomes trapped inside the ear and creates an optimal environment for bacteria. The condition usually develops after swimming in water bodies with dirty water, and it can also occur as a result of injuries to the skin of the ear canal that allow bacteria to enter and multiply.
Apart from itching ears, symptoms of swimmer’s ear include intense pain, especially when pulling on the ear lobe, discharge and muffled hearing. Swimmer’s ear is commonly treated with antibiotic ear drops.
Hearing Aid or Ear Bud Irritation
Hearing aids and ear buds can cause itching inside the ears in two different ways. First, the earpieces can cause fluid to build up inside the ears, which in turn can cause an allergic reaction. Second, ear buds or hearing aids that don’t fit properly can increase pressure inside the ear, leading to itching and irritation.
Excessive Ear Wax
Excess build-up of wax in the ear is another common condition that causes itching and discomfort in the ear canal. Additional symptoms of ear wax build-up include pressure and slightly muffled hearing in the ear canal.
Treatment: This condition is usually remedied by holding a warm compress against the ear to loosen the blockages. In certain cases, severely impacted ear wax must be removed by a medical professional.
Dry Skin
As per the name, dry skin inside the ears occurs when the ears do not produce an adequate amount of wax. When the skin of the ear canal is overly dry, itching ears and inflammation are common. Individuals with overly dry ears may also notice flaky, dry skin around the outside of the ear canal.
Treatment: The condition may require treatment with lubricating drops, so it is always important to seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Allergic Rhinitis
This is an upper respiratory condition that develops when the immune system overreacts to allergens such as pet dander, dust mites and plant pollens. Symptoms of allergic rhinitis include itching ears, itchy eyes, sneezing, coughing and nasal congestion.
Treatment: Allergic rhinitis is most often treated with antihistamine medications and allergy shots that help the immune system and build up a tolerance to the allergens.
Ear canal dermatitis
This occurs when the skin in and around the ear canal becomes inflamed. This condition can be the result of an allergic reaction to products in or near your ear, such as personal care products or metal in earrings. Another type of dermatitis in the ear is called aural eczematoid dermatitis, which has unknown causes.
Otitis externa (outer ear infection)
Also known as the infection of the outer ear canal, otitis externa can cause ear pain as well as itching ears. It is usually almost the same as swimmer’s ear and is caused by inflammation, which is usually due to infection. It can lead to redness and swelling.
Psoriasis
This is a skin condition that causes a person to develop a red rash. Psoriasis can occur on visible parts of the body, such as arms or inside the ears.
Insufficient earwax
Not having sufficient ear wax or impacted ear wax can cause irritation in the ear canal. You can as well have to deal with itchy ears if the ears don’t produce enough amount of earwax. This normally causes dry itching ears and you can notice flaking skin dropping out of the ears.
Ear infection
An ear infection or also known as the otitis media can bring about severe pain and make the ears feel itchy. If you’re a swimmer, you’re likely to have this condition since the outer canal of the ear becomes infected, and the infection leads to a swelling and redness.
Other causes
There are several other factors that can as well lead to an itchy ears. This includes stress, medications, and also extreme heat or even cold. In very rare cases, severe itching ears can be an indication of a serious and life-threatening condition, so it is vital to set an appointment with the ENT specialist so as to rule out serious issues like anaphylaxis.
General treatment
In many cases, itching ears can be treated with natural remedies, but there is always the chance that an infection may be present, so it is best to consult with a medical professional to ensure the underlying cause is correctly diagnosed and the itching is dealt with appropriately.
Itchy inner Ear and Throat
There are some of the most common symptoms of allergies and similar disorders which include itchy throat and ears. Sore, itchy throat is one of the most common throat problems. If your throat itches, it is most likely that you will also have itching inside ear. The reason is that throat, ear and nasal passages are all connected from the inside.
Therefore, a problem with any one of these organs also affects the functioning of the others. There are several causes for itchy inner ear and throat. In this article, you will also find some effective remedies to treat the same.
Causes of itchy ear and throat
Allergies
These are the prime cause of itchy throat and ears. There are several nerves which end in the throat. These nerves are protected under the mucus lining inside the throat. Sometimes, the ends of the nerves get exposed due to dried mucus lining. As a result, allergens such as pollutants, certain foods irritate the nerve ends and cause itchy throat. The passage from throat to ears also itches due to same reason. Dairy products, peanuts are some common culprits for food allergies.
Dehydration
Dryness of the throat is mainly what causes itchy throat and itching ears. Dehydration is common during fever or infections, which leads to drying up of mucus lining in the throat. As a result, you experience itching inside the throat. Dehydration also occurs as a side effect of certain medications or a result of excessive smoking, tobacco chewing, besides, certain diseases such as AIDS
Infections
Certain viral and bacterial infections may lead to sore throat, which also itches at times. Bacteria called streptococcus is responsible for sore, strep throat. Viral infections usually manifest in the form of common cold and flu. Bacterial throat infections also contribute to the inflammation of the tonsils, larynx and pharynx and extend to the itching ears as well.
Treatment for Itchy Throat and Ears
Antihistamines
Antihistamines can effectively relieve the symptoms of itchy ears and throat. They can substantially reduce the allergic response to certain allergens. The antihistamines that are often used for treating this condition are diphenhydramine and chlorpheniramine. Certain herbs like green tea and licorice also act as natural histamines.
Antibiotics
If itchy throat and ears is due to viral or bacterial infections, then antibiotics can prove to be of great help. Antibiotics are mostly used for treating bacterial infections.
Home Remedies
There are a number of home remedies that can effectively relieve the symptoms of itching ears and throat.
- Gargling with warm salt water soothes itchy and sore throat. If you wish, you may also add a pinch of turmeric to this water. Turmeric is a natural disinfectant, thus gets rid of all types of infections.
- Alternatively, you may also boil a cup of milk and add a pinch of turmeric to it. Drink this milk at night as it is a great remedy for sore throat and ear pain.
- Eating a few cloves of garlic with honey also helps relieve the itchiness in throat.
- Similarly, warm concoction of ginger, tea and honey also soothes the itchy throat.
- Steam vaporizer gives an instant relief from itchy throat as it hydrates the throat and stimulates the mucus production, thereby reducing the itching.
Although, itchiness in ear and throat is not a serious problem, it can definitely affect your quality of life by making you irritable. Hence, you should certainly take measures to treat this condition.
Itchy Outer Ears
The ear is divided into three separate compartments: the inner, middle, and outer ear. The inner ear contains the balance organs and the nerves vital to hearing. The middle ear contains the bones that link the eardrum to the inner ear. The eardrum separates the middle and outer ears. The outer ear is simply the earlobe and a short tube leading to the eardrum.
Infection of the inner ear is called labyrinthitis. Infection of the middle ear is called otitis media. It can cause temporary hearing loss and can progress to the inner ear if ignored. Infection of the outer ear is called otitis externa or swimmer’s ear. It is rarely serious.
Outer ear infections can be acute or chronic lasting 3 or more months and are more common in children 7 to 12 years of age. Outer ear infections also more commonly affect people in warm and humid climates, people who swim, and people who use devices that protect hearing. This can be characterised by itching ear on the outside or earlobe, and sometimes crusty skin on the outer ear.
How to get Rid of Itching in Ear
A doctor will check to see if pulling the earlobe gently or pushing the tragus, the small flap of ear just in front of the canal opening, causes pain. If these symptoms are present, you can be pretty sure it’s an external infection and not otitis media. The doctor can often make the diagnosis simply by looking in the ear with an otoscope (an instrument for examining the ear).
A lab culture may be ordered to identify the particular organism only if the first treatment recommended by the doctor doesn’t seem to be working.
Treatment and Prevention
For most outer ear infections, your doctor will prescribe an eardrop that contains a combination of:
- an acidic solution to make the ear canal a less favourable environment for bacteria to grow
- a steroid to reduce swelling and inflammation
- an antibiotic or antifungal
Your doctor will first clear the debris out of the ear canal. In severe cases, if the canal is partly closed by inflammation, a wick can be inserted to draw the eardrops in. The wick expands and holds the medication close to the infected area in the ear. When using eardrops, warm them to body temperature by holding the container in your hand for a few minutes before putting the drops in.
For severe infections, antibiotics taken by mouth will be prescribed. Treatment of malignant otitis externa requires several weeks of antibiotics given into a vein.
Home remedies
Conditions such as swimmer’s ear, bacterial inner ear infections and allergies that cause itching ear must often be treated with antibiotics, prescription ear drops, antihistamines or over-the-counter medications to avoid complications. Since itching ear canals can be caused by a variety of factors, it is always best to consult with a physician before engaging in any type of home remedy to treat the condition.
Rubbing Alcohol and Vinegar
Relieve itching in the ear canals by applying a mixture of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol to the affected areas with a cotton swab. This treatment should only be utilized once or twice daily; overuse of alcohol may cause the ear canal to dry out, which can lead to additional itchiness.
Warm Oil Drops
Homemade oil drops are a natural treatment that can often help to relieve itching in the ears. The most common oil drops used to treat itchiness in the ears include olive oil, mineral oil or vegetable oil. The oil should be warmed for approximately 15 to 20 minutes prior to application. Placing the entire oil bottle or container in a glass or bowl of warm water is the safest way to heat the oil.
Salt
Salt is one the most readily found home remedy for itchy ears.
- Heat 1 cup of salt on a pan over low heat for 5 minutes. You can as well heat it in a microwave.
- Place the hot salt on a clean cloth and seal the open end using a rubber band (or even tie a knot).
- When it is very hot, lay down and then put the cloth on the itchy ears for 10 minutes.
- Repeat the remedy daily as many times as required. The heat that is generated from the sock can assist to draw out fluid from the ear and thus relieve swelling and pain.
As an alternative, you can make use of a cup of rice in the same method that is described above.
Garlic
Garlic contains an antimicrobial properties and also the natural pain relieving properties, making it very effective in the treatment of itchy ears. There are a few methods that can garlic be used as a home treatment.
- Make garlic oil by cooking about 2 garlic cloves in 2 tablespoons of the sesame oil or even the mustard oil until it turns black in colour. Strain the solution. When it is hot, use 2 drops of this oil in the infected ear as the ear drops.
- Alternatively, you can as well boil 2 fresh garlic cloves in water for 5 minutes, crush them and add some small amount of salt. Put the mixture in a cloth and place it against the itchy ears.
- Consuming 3 cloves of raw garlic daily also assists to speed up the healing process.
Basil
You can as well make use of the holy basil to treat minor earache and itchy ears. It can relieve ear pain and also reduce infection.
- Crush 5 fresh holy basil leaves gently so as to extract the juice. Use the basil juice on or even around the infected ear. Avoid having the juice get in the ear canal.
- You can as well mix 2 drops of holy basil oil with an equal amount of carrier oil such as the coconut oil. Soak a clean cotton ball in the mixture and slowly wipe the inside of the ear, around the outer edge and also behind the ear. Repeat the procedure twice daily.
Warm Compresses
When itching ear canals are caused by a build-up of ear wax, you may find relief by applying warm compresses or hot water bottles to the outer sides of the affected ears. The warmth from the compress or bottle can help to loosen the wax and make it easy to remove, which in turn can help relieve symptoms of itching. Wait until the wax is visible outside of the ear canal before removing it, as digging too deep into the ear may lead to injury or infection.
More references
- Causes of itchy ear: http://www.healthline.com/symptom/itchy-ear
- Superstition for itching ears: https://www.reference.com/world-view/superstition-itching-ears-c69ed0e2795490d3