Endlessly itchy wet ears

[SimplyMe2007]

Since I was a child I have had ear problems but over the past few years I have had increasingly maddening ear problems.  I have used drops and anti biotics.  I sense relief then the symptoms return.  Most days I can hear but am constantly aware that my ears are itchy.  The challenge is to not itch.  If I itch, I usually get flaky stuff that I literally can lift off my inner ear.If I itch too much it becomes wet and begins draining a wet clear fluid.  Then at night, whatever side I lay on clogs shut.  In the morning there is thick crusty crud that again I try not to pick at.  Im obviously in continual circle of symptoms here.  Dr's seem to think I cause this problem by itching which causes infection which causes itchiness. HELP please?  I am open to homeopathic suggestions as mainstream medicine just seems to temporarily relieve the symptoms and not cure the cause.  Thanks in advance

[ripstone]

Worked immediately for me too.

[lastexile1]

Did your tinnitus go away?  Or did it lessen?

[lelani41]

What I find while reading all these posts is that some people feel that what has helped them is the remedy for everyone. The cause of itchy ear can be quite different from person to person. I have been battling this for thirty years. Mine started very typically-q tip overuse and then the itching that leads to scratching until my ears are bloody-then the horrible dry and cracking flaky skin. Anyone with just one part of this can be in misery. My last doctor said I know have psoriasis and ordered Clobetasol Proprionate ointment 0.05%. It works for me. I had been given other creams and motions, but they were not as effective as this. Only the ointment is oily enough to penetrate the heavy scaling and then it all peels off. I feel normal for a while......

[caledonialassie]

I've posted about my experience with a fungal yeast infection in my ears on another thread. Here's my latest comment, in the hope that someone here may find it useful:

Update: The condition returned (itchy eczema on outer ear, leaky fluid, pain and itching in inner ear)--so I finally went to an ENT, and am thrilled to report that I found a wonderful university-affiliated doc who has helped immensely.

Yes, the problem is a fungal yeast infection (Malassezia), as the nurse practitioner had said earlier (see my previous posts). Here's what the ENT doc did, and the problem seems to be 99% solved after two visits: He suction-vacuumed the yeast growth from inside my ears (a little bit painful, but not nearly as painful as the actual ear problem, and the procedure only took a minute). Then he sprayed boric acid powder deep into my ear canals. He prescribed Mometasone Furoate 0.1% ointment for the dry, flaky skin on the outer ear. My inner ears are now dry (leaky fluid is gone) and they no longer itch. I apply the ointment once a day, and the horrible redness on my outer ears is gone. There's still some dry skin, but nothing like before.

If you decide to go to an ENT, call their office beforehand and ask them to tell you EXACTLY how they treat inner-ear yeast infections. If the ENT's treatment does not include suction vacuuming and boric acid powder, then cross that doc off your list and call another ENT until you find one that does. Boric acid is as old as the hills, and it WORKS. But the powder needs to be sprayed deep into your ear, and the ENT will have the equipment for doing this.

My hearing is back to normal, and it is so great to be rid of the ITCH. Rather than a food allergy, I'm now wondering whether the condition originated from sitting in a sauna at the YMCA. The problem seemed to start shortly after I joined the Y a couple of years ago. I don't swim, but I did take aerobic water exercise classes and got pool water in my ears. I also liked to sit in the sauna. The ENT doc said to keep water out of my ears, and to avoid the sauna (which causes the inner ear to sweat). And don't use q-tips!

I hope the problem is now solved, but if it returns I'll book another appointment for ear vacuuming and boric acid treatment. I also hope this info helps others who are dealing with the same problem. Good luck!

[LadyDeb]

I have been reading posts all last night and this morning about the itch, drainage, crusting, onion looking peel, burning, soreness and obsession to touch ears.  I, myself, think it's a yeast abundance.  I messaged my doc this am and he gave me an oral Diflucan pill which is an antifungal.  I will let you know the outcome.

[Temagami198]

I have the same issue.  I took some antibiotics 2 years ago and the tinnitus started.  It was awful at about a 9/10.  Then after about a week it went down to about a 4/10 and I could function.  I'm sick now and took some more antibiotics and it looks like it was the same stuff or very similar.  My ears are ringing off the charts and I can't sleep, I'm depressed, panic attacks.  I've taken myself off all meds and am drinking a ton of water to try to flush out my system.  However, I think I will have this condition the rest of my life.