Itchy Ears

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

OK.......I haven't asked my MD about this because a) it's embarrassing, and b) I don't want him taking any instruments to my ears. But after several years of dealing with this, I'm finally tired of being driven to the brink of insanity by a maddening itch inside my ear canals. It comes and goes, but when I have it, I literally have to stick a finger in there and scratch until I bleed and pain replaces that infernal itching. On top of that, I get scaley stuff in there, and then sometimes a sort of yellowish fluid drains out, and that in turn starts the itching cycle again.

Now, does anyone know what this could be? Is there such a thing as an ear fungus? Most of my family have been prolific wax producers, myself included, and I've had more ear infections as an adult than I ever did as a child; but I was always able to clear up the infections with a course of antibiotics and some ear gtts. This itching problem, however, is something else..........it often clears up spontaneously for weeks, or even a couple of months; but then it comes back with a vengeance, and there's absolutely no apparent provocation. Sometimes it affects only the right ear, and that ear is always the worst even when both are affected (just my luck, that's my 'good' ear :stone ). Right now both ears are involved, and when I'm not scratching I'm feeling stuff moving around in there that has a way of falling out at the worst possible times (ever have a piece of earwax tumble onto your shoulder when you're assessing a patient? :uhoh21: ) and that tacky yellowish fluid seepage has started again.

If any of you has some idea of what this is and what to do about it, I'd certainly appreciate it.......this has been going on for a long time, and it's finally obvious even to me that it's not going to go away for good without some sort of assistance. Thank you. :)

[gub]

Could be psoriasis. Do you notice any other scaley patches on other body parts (freq elbows, knees)?

I get it in my ears, itches/burns etc but no yellow drainage. My dermatologist prescribes a mild prednisone cream which works well.

[Nurse Ratched, RN]

Absolutely you can get fungal infx's in your ears. Have a few pt's who suffer from bouts.

I do ear flushes at work all the time and have seen some of the darndest things come out of ppl's heads, so I will take your word for it! (I'm presuming you're not a q tip user? They just irritate the ear, actually stimulate it to produce MORE wax.)

Sounds like a trip to the doc is definitely in order, tho. Feel better soon!

Edited to add: do you have seasonal allergies?

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Nope, no psoriasis (thank God), and I know better than to put anything in the ear canal that's smaller than my elbow! I do have allergies, asthma, and I've had eczema in the past.........wonder if that's got anything to do with it?

I'm wondering if OTC hydrocortisone creams would help. I REALLY don't want to go to the doctor for this.......I'm such a wimp.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

I had itchy ears. It was determined that seasonal allergies were causing it.

[Nurse Ratched, RN]

I do have allergies, asthma, and I've had eczema in the past.........wonder if that's got anything to do with it?

How well would you say your seasonal allergies are treated? Do you have to use antihistamines and steroid nasal spray? Here in the allergy belt, we tell our pt's the best way to avoid ear concerns is to make sure their allergies are adequately treated.

(I still think you need to go to the doctor - icky oozy stuff coming out of the ear = not cool. There might be something SO simple that can be done and would give you relief. Please think about going! :).)

[cn2007rn]

Your symptoms sound similar to mine, my Ear, Nose, and Throat Dr. told me I have exzema in my ears. She gave me a rx for a solution to put in my ears. At first, I had to use it everyday, and now that it is better, I have to use it about once a week. My ears have a little bit of a discharge if I scratch them a lot, and sometimes the skin inside is very scaly. A trip to the doc is a good idea. Good luck, feel better!

[night owl]

I have the same thing, only mine is all the time, all year long. I have yet to clean my ears and find any wax. Is this possible? Waxless ears? But the itching drives me crazy! I have the flakies and the oozing discharge and when it dries up, it really itches and flakes. It used to be worse just before my period and once I got it, it stopped for about a week then it started up again, so I thought maybe it was hormonal. Now that I haven't had a period in about 5 months, it's a constant itch. The only thing I have found that relieves it is a little peroxide on a Q-tip. It bubbles up as much as it will, I dry it out and the itch stops for a day or so. A little cortisone cream maybe helps some too, but if I forget to put it on, it's back to itching and a scratching. It is embarrassing to have my pinkie in my ears most of the time, but I can't stand it!!! And you'd think as much as I scratch they'd be bleeding all over the place, but they never bleed. What's wrong with me???? I guess the best thing to do is go to an ENT for some answers.

[winterblue]

I can relate to the intense itching, it feels like its really deep inside. Doc said it was due to allergies. I too thought I had no wax in either ears, until I tried "ear candles" that you can buy at any health food market. Whoo! The stuff that comes out of your ear canals with those things!

[medsurgnurse, RN]

OK.......I haven't asked my MD about this because a) it's embarrassing, and b) I don't want him taking any instruments to my ears. But after several years of dealing with this, I'm finally tired of being driven to the brink of insanity by a maddening itch inside my ear canals. It comes and goes, but when I have it, I literally have to stick a finger in there and scratch until I bleed and pain replaces that infernal itching. On top of that, I get scaley stuff in there, and then sometimes a sort of yellowish fluid drains out, and that in turn starts the itching cycle again.

Now, does anyone know what this could be? Is there such a thing as an ear fungus? Most of my family have been prolific wax producers, myself included, and I've had more ear infections as an adult than I ever did as a child; but I was always able to clear up the infections with a course of antibiotics and some ear gtts. This itching problem, however, is something else..........it often clears up spontaneously for weeks, or even a couple of months; but then it comes back with a vengeance, and there's absolutely no apparent provocation. Sometimes it affects only the right ear, and that ear is always the worst even when both are affected (just my luck, that's my 'good' ear :stone ). Right now both ears are involved, and when I'm not scratching I'm feeling stuff moving around in there that has a way of falling out at the worst possible times (ever have a piece of earwax tumble onto your shoulder when you're assessing a patient? :uhoh21: ) and that tacky yellowish fluid seepage has started again.

If any of you has some idea of what this is and what to do about it, I'd certainly appreciate it.......this has been going on for a long time, and it's finally obvious even to me that it's not going to go away for good without some sort of assistance. Thank you. :)

Please go to an ear doctor.

[Mimi2RN, ASN, RN]

Do you ever irrigate your ears? You can also treat them with half strength peroxide, or there is some over the counter stuff that comes with a little bulb syringe. (The name that came to mind was "Mitox", but that is the stuff I used to use for kittens' ear mites. You don't need that....) Maybe it's Murine?

My ears used to plug with wax, so bad that I had to go in to have them cleaned out. Now I do it myself, that's much easier. It might help with your itching.

[nbnurse95]

My ears use to itch too. Then during a visit to my Dr. with one of my children, I mentioned it to him, I had an ear infection! No pain, which I hought was strange, but after treatment, the itching went away. My mom has exzema in her ears and also has itching.