What might be causing an itchy ear?
By Steph from Hot Springs, AR
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RE: What might be causing an itchy ear?
i found some great tips on this site! posting to give back. i had an ear itch for about month. i saw an ENT, gave me ciprodex drops didnt help. any itchyness or pain in the ear is a horrible feeling.
ear itch can be caused by bacterial or fungal infection or allergic reactions.
i tried ciprodex drops (antibiotics) didnt help.
i usually have bad allergies so i thought it was alergic. DONT USE QTIPS! took clartin for daily. still itchy both ears.
Finally, i mixed some olive oil and clotrimazole 1% (lotrimin cream) dropped a few drops last night. RELIF! just put the olive oil in a disposable mini cup and mix with a q-tip... then use the q-trip to drop the solution in your ear. DONT STICK THE QTIP IN YOUR EAR (THIS WILL ONLY MAKE THINGS WORSE) hold your ear flap and shake with your head tilted (ENT WILL Show you how to do this) this will make sure the solution goes down your ear canal.
You might just want to try olive oil first.
Summary:
bacterial - ciprodex drops (goto the ENT)
allergic - try a dab of hydrocortisone. outside the ear canal. or olive oil (OLIVE OIL WORKS PRETTY GOOD BY ITSELF)
fungus - vosol drops (acidfying drops) there is also a home remeady of 1part vingar: 1 part water. or my mixture above.
DO NOT GET WATER IN YOUR EAR. USE Ear plugs when you take a shower.
anyways goto to the ENT first! i tried the other solutions cause my 2 ENT Visits and 1 ER Visit didnt provide much relief!
with any home remedy just try a little at first, ears are very sensitive.
Post by sk55
RE: What might be causing an itchy ear?
Hi, Steph! That's what's known as 'swimmer's ear'- and here's the cure: mix white, or preferably cider vinegar, 50/50 with rubbing alcohol. Once or twice a week, pour some of this mixture into each ear, and then drain- put a part of a cotton ball in your outer ear, to catch the excess. This will stop the problem. The alcohol dries out any excess water that may be trapped in your ear canal; the vinegar will restore the PH balance that may be thrown off by any soap products, which allows bacteria to live in your ear, and cause the itching and tickling, as well as the sores.
I used to get swimmer's ear, and had to use the ear drops that the doctor prescribed- until I ran across an article that suggested the 50/50 method. It works, it's cheap, and you don't have to come up with a co-pay to get it! Good luck! :o)
-Heather
Post by leopardstripes
RE: What might be causing an itchy ear?
Hi! I would try looking on earthclinic.com I use it quite a bit. The one remedy I know that should be safe and hopefully effective would be to rinse the ear with hydrogen peroxide. More specific instructions are on earthclinic. Also, garlic oil can be very effective against infections. Good luck!
Post by Gina J.
RE: What might be causing an itchy ear?
I can give you some advice; go to a doctor. You never know what it could be. Not to be rude, I work for a doctor and home remedies aren't always practical, sometimes more harm than help.
Post by damaged05170
RE: What might be causing an itchy ear?
You could possibly have an infection in there. It's not like an inner ear infection where you have to take antibiotics for 10 days. I used to get infections a lot when I was a kid. For me, it was caused by bacteria in the public pool that I went to a lot during the summer. See your doc.
Post by crazyliblady
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