Itchy Ears

Does anyone else have this problem? Any good tips or solutions?

For the past year or so, I've had really itchy ears. I know it's terrible to put q-tips in them, but sometimes it's nearly impossible not to try to scratch them in some way. And even if I do manage to keep away from the q-tips for a while, I tend to scratch them in my sleep, which lead to a bad ear infection a few weeks ago.

My GP suggested that it could be eczema, and said to try putting a little bit of olive oil in them, but that doesn't really seem to help. I'm planning on going back GP when I return to the UK in a few weeks, but thought I would ask in case any on has any suggestions.

A Vaseline soaked cotton bud put in my ears at night used to do the trick for me. Its mailable so it moulds to your ears really well.  It tends to moisturise them a little too.

I suffered terribly with itchy ears and infections years ago...

I also used to put them in my ears when I had a shower / bath to stop any shampoo getting in..I found my ears used to itch or ache more after a shower or bath also swimming.

I have this and my ENT said it was akin to a yeast infection in my ears (yeech!) I have some cream that I use. I put a little on the tip of a qtip and put it in the ear. It's called clotrimazole and betamethasone dipropionate USP- 1%/.05%. I'm pretty sure that's the drug name, not a brand name! It works wonders! I just use it whenever they start to get itchy. Originally it had gotten so bad, I had stuff pouring out of my ears almost and I put up with it for a good 6+ months! It was awful and constant. IIRC the clotrimazole is the main ingredient in yeast infection meds.

Worth a shot to ask your GP about it. I am in the States so I have no idea if this drug is available in the UK or not, but it got so bad (to where I was contemplating inserting sharp objects in my ears to stop the itching!!!) that I know it'd be better to stop it now if you can!

Good luck.

This happened to me when I was in the UK too -- and it was eczema-related, I found.  I used Diprosone ointment (not cream) and I think it had some of the same stuff in it that Gottagetto mentioned...betamethasone dipropionate.  I got it from the GP, but I suggested it to her, as I had used Diprolene in the States years ago and they didn't stock it in the UK.  Try and stay away from the cotton swabs (by the way, are they really cotton?  They feel like they're made of something else -- something aggravating.)  unless you're going to put some kind of ointment on it.  Try it before you go to bed.   At one point for me it got so bad that I couldn't hear much at all -- very disconcerting; apparently the ear drum is like a flap of skin and if it's swollen in there the air can't get around properly to carry sound.  Something like that; don't let it get that far.  At one point, my eyes also bothered me like you wouldn't believe in the UK -- perhaps our flat had a mold problem, don't know.  Good luck.

Thanks for the suggestions all. I've been trying again with the olive oil, and I will definitely be visiting my GP when I return to the UK. I just live in fear of getting another ear infection. Not pleasant! My hearing was still affected for weeks after the infection went away.

At one point, my eyes also bothered me like you wouldn't believe in the UK -- perhaps our flat had a mold problem, don't know.  Good luck.

Interesting that you mention that. We had a damp problem in our last flat, which did affect my allergies. Most of the problems have gone away since we've moved, but this still remains. I've always thought it might be connected to that. I'll mention that to my GP as well.