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

[itchnomore828]

Well I finally have a "Cure" hesitant because I'm waiting to see if itch comes back. I've been itching my ears for years and years  now. The cycle went like this: wetness, scab over then intense itch and peeling onion skin. Then wetness again and so on and on..Years ago I was told it was a reaction to yeast, to stay away from vinegar , bread, cakes,anything fermented and to stay away from that for two weeks. That didn't work for me. Then I was told it was eczema. I took the advice of someone on this board and asked my Dr. for Dermotic Ear Drops. First he sent me for a ear wax cleaning kit But I have no wax in my ears. So I had to be firm with the Dr. and demand the Dermotic drops. It's like pulling teeth to get help. Well it's been a week and it healed up the skin on the inside of my ears. Now I have to get used to Not scratching- hopefully and I'll save on Q-tips!. Thank You to the person(s)  who recommended this medicine. The medicine is for:eczema. For treatment of Chronic Eczematous External Otitis. Good luck to all who suffer.

[Braaap]

Oh and once got a blister on my ear drum my doc was very confused but know it had to so with this problem

[Braaap]

I have the same problem minus the clogging. Its endless and doesnt stop Ive had the problem since the 2nd grade when I tried to give up itching my ears for lend. Needless to sy it disnt work. Im constantly itching I feel gross but I cant stop ten the lovely clear liquid followed by the smell. Sometimes its to the point they bleed from so much itching then i deal with small scabs and ripping them off. What i find helps a bit is moisturizer and especially baby oil. But also when i get my ears candelled it feels better for a bit but its like i need to go every month. Havent tried that but considering it. I produce a lot of wax but not a noticable anout probably because im always itching and digging. Gross but hopefully one of us figures this out!!

[CandidaSux]

Yeah, the scalp thing is related. I have the same issue. Coconut oil (pure from Walmart vitamin section) has been a great help. A little coconut oil on a q-tip for the ears. I put it in using Q-tip before bed and when I awake. You will notice the scabbing and crust go away. Itching will diminish a little too.

Mine is so bad that I get itchy ears immediately (1/2 hour to hour) after eating "high carb" or fast foods. Trying to eat better and drink less too has helped. You may also want to eat 1 clove of garlic a day just before bedtime (or with snack/meal in the evening.)

[mpphoto]

I begin wearing hearing aids and my ears began to itch so much that I could not stand it. I went to the drug store to see if there was something for cleaning the ears, but the only thing on the shelf was ear-wax remover so I tried it.  Whenever my ears itched, I would use the drops and then I began to get ear infections.  It hurt so badly that I could not sleep on the infected side. I first thought it was due a cold and it went away in a couple of days, but when I began to get it regularly so I went to a ENT.  The doc told me that the ear wax drops striped my ears of the protective coating which made the tissues vulnerable to infections. The itching was caused by seborrhea which he said is very common. He prescribed DermOtic Oil (drops) and Betamethasone Dipropionate Cream.  The cream seems to help the most. I don't quite know what the drops are suppose to do, but I don't use them as prescribed anyway. I just use them when my ears itch :-(

He also prescribed some drops to use if I think I feel an infection coming on which I have only used once or twice in over a year. So the prescriptions and education has helped a lot even though my ears still itch, but less intense and less often.

A few times I've had what seems like a wax buildup and it smells like a wet dog (I just wanted to add another colorful description), but it always goes away in a day or two and has never caused any problems.  I still do not know what that is all about.  I may go back to the doctor if it happens again.

There are a lot of posts on this subject and I thought I would add my experience.

[shaz339]

I have had recurring itchy ears for almost 20 years now. When I first got it (most likely from a swimming pool) I think I had non stop itching for like 3 years because I didn't think it was serious enough to see a Dr about. And even when I did see a dr, they tried syringing first because I have waxy ears, then hydrocortisone steroid drops, neither of which worked. Only later on did a dr suggest using antibiotic ear drops, but I was a poor student then and didn't take her seriously and said I'd just put up with it a little longer. Finally I couldn't take the itching any longer and tried the antibiotic ear drops, and that finally stopped the itching, for a spell. But it always comes back every year or so, and ultimately what makes it stop is antifungal/antibacterial ear drops. But other remedies I have tried which help a bit are ear wax removing drops, alcohol + acetic acid mixtures, and olive oil. I like olive oil because its good for the skin and in theory it dissolves ear wax too, and should help with itching due to dry skin/dermatitis. Unless you are absolutely certain there is infection in your ear I would be extra cautious about using drops which only contain steroid in them, eg hydrocortisone, fluocinolone, betamethasone, because that will make the infection worse, steroids suppress the immune system response, and should be used with an antibacterial/antifungal agent in these situations.