Itchy Ear: Causes, Symptoms & Diagnosis - Healthline

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Why Are My Ears Itchy?

Medically reviewed by Nicole Leigh Aaronson, MD, MBA, CPE, FACS, FAAP — Written by Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA — Updated on November 30, 2022

Causes
Related symptoms
When to seek help
Treatment
Prevention

The ears are highly sensitive, so they may itch even without a specific cause. Other causes of itchy ears range from earwax buildup to infections to allergies.

The ears may be pretty small compared to an arm or a leg, but they’re full of sensitive neurological fibers. As a result, the ears are subject to their fair share of itching. You might have chronically itchy ears simply because the ears are highly sensitive.

Itchy ears can also indicate an underlying medical condition. By understanding some of the causes of itchy ears, you can better determine how to find relief.

What causes itchy ears?

Itchy ears can be the result of a number of causes.

Dry skin in the ears

If your ears don’t produce enough wax, your ear skin can become dry and itchy.

Earwax has lubricating effects. Its absence can cause your skin to itch. You may even notice flaking skin coming from the ear.

Conditions that cause itchy skin

In rare cases, conditions that cause itchy skin elsewhere on the body can affect the ears as well. They include psoriasis and eczema, which is also known as atopic dermatitis.

You may also develop a rash if you have one of these conditions.

Earwax buildup

On the other hand, a buildup of earwax can also lead to symptoms such as itchy ears and irritation. Earwax buildup is also known as cerumen impaction.

Ear canal dermatitis

This condition occurs when the skin in and around your ear canal becomes inflamed. Dermatitis is another term for skin inflammation.

Ear canal dermatitis can be the result of an allergic reaction to products in or near your ear, such as personal care products or metal in your earrings.

Aural eczematoid dermatitis is another type of dermatitis in the ear. Experts don’t know what causes it.

Hearing aid use

Hearing aids can cause water to become trapped in the ears or trigger an allergic reaction to the hearing aid itself. Ill-fitting hearing aids can also place pressure on certain areas of the ear, leading to itching.

Otitis externa (outer ear infection)

Otitis externa is an infection of the outer ear canal. It can be fungal or bacterial.

It can cause pain as well as itching. It’s an inflammatory condition, so it can lead to redness and swelling too.

Otitis externa is primarily associated with excess moisture. It’s also known as swimmer’s ear.

Causes include:

ear trauma
ear irritation from items such as cotton swabs or headphones
an excess amount of water in the outer ear canal, which can occur during swimming or even showering

The excess water makes it easier for bacteria or fungi to grow.

Fungal ear infection

Otomycosis is a type of fungal infection that affects the outer ear. It’s closely associated with the genus Aspergillus, but Candida is another common culprit.

People at a higher risk of otomycosis include those who:

live in hot, humid environments, including tropical or subtropical countries
have inadequate hygiene
have a condition that affects the immune system, such as diabetes
overuse antibiotic ear drops

Otitis media (middle ear infection)

You may develop a middle ear infection if your eardrum ruptures or you have ear tubes to help prevent drainage. This type of ear infection can also cause itching.

Allergies

As mentioned above, your ears may itch if they come into contact with products you’re allergic to, such as:

shampoos, conditioners, and other personal care products
earrings
hearing aids
earplugs

Allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, can also cause itchy skin. So can food allergies and drug allergies. However, true drug allergies are rare.

What symptoms may appear along with itchy ears?

Symptoms that may appear along with itchy ears include:

an itchy throat
rash
skin redness or other forms of skin discoloration
ringing in the ears
the feeling that your ears are clogged

If you have a type of infection, itchy ears may also be accompanied by symptoms such as:

fever
swollen ears
pain
drainage or discharge from the ear, such as pus
muffled hearing

When should you seek medical help for itchy ears?

Seek immediate medical attention if you’re experiencing severe bleeding or drainage from your ears or if you suddenly have hearing loss.

Also, seek medical help if your symptoms don’t improve with time or home care.

A healthcare professional will likely examine your ears and take a medical history to help them identify potential causes. They’ll look for any telltale rashes, such as eczema-like patches. They may also look for excess earwax or earwax very close to the eardrum, which can cause itching.

To pinpoint the cause, a healthcare professional will likely ask about other symptoms, such as fever, and when those symptoms began.

What are some treatments for itchy ears?

Itchy ears are typically the result of a breakdown in the health of your ear skin. Treatment usually seeks to correct these breakdowns.

A doctor may recommend or prescribe the following:

baby oil to soften the skin
oral antibiotics to treat an infection, if you also have a high temperature or blood or pus draining from the ear
an antibiotic ointment, such as Bacitracin or Neosporin
a steroid ointment to relieve inflammation, such as 1% hydrocortisone cream (Ala-Cort) or 0.1% betamethasone cream (BetaVal, Valnac)
swimmer’s ear drops, if you have otitis externa
a combination of eardrops and oral antibiotics, if you have a middle ear infection plus rupture

Always speak with a doctor before using ointments or ear drops. This will ensure you’re not putting anything irritating in the ear. Also, if you have a damaged eardrum, do not use ointments or ear drops unless a doctor prescribes them.

Also, avoid scratching your ears. Scratching will probably make your ears feel worse.

Consider scheduling regular appointments with a doctor so they can safely clean your ears. They can remove excess earwax while also minimizing trauma to the area.

If you do not already have a primary care doctor, you can browse doctors in your area through the Healthline FindCare tool.

Can you prevent itchy ears?

To prevent irritation, avoid cleaning your ears with objects such as:

cotton swabs
cotton balls
paper clips
bobby pins

Here are other tips to avoid itchy ears and irritation:

If your ears produce excess earwax, you may want to keep your earwax at a manageable level by using doctor-approved approaches, such as ear drops or a bulb syringe.
Refrain from using any personal care products that might have caused your itchy ears in the past.
Opt for antiallergic jewelry.
If you swim frequently, use a solution (such as rubbing alcohol) to dry up excess water in the ear canal.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

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Ali K, et al. (2018). Identification of fungal pathogens in otomycosis and their drug sensitivity: Our experience.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6197964
Djalilian HR. (2014). Symptom: Itchy ear.https://journals.lww.com/thehearingjournal/Fulltext/2014/09000/Symptom__Itchy_Ear.4.aspx
Gore J. (2018). Otitis externa.https://journals.lww.com/jaapa/Citation/2018/02000/Otitis_externa.10.aspx
Kiakojuri K, et al. (2019). Role of clotrimazole in prevention of recurrent otomycosis.https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2019/5269535
Medina-Blasini Y. (2022). Otitis externa.https://www.statpearls.com/ArticleLibrary/viewarticle/26422
Michaudet C, et al. (2018). Cerumen impaction: Diagnosis and management.https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2018/1015/p525.html

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Medically reviewed by Nicole Leigh Aaronson, MD, MBA, CPE, FACS, FAAP — Written by Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA — Updated on November 30, 2022

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