There are several things that can cause itchy ears. However, most oftenis otitis externa. This condition can be treated with the use of itchy ear medication along with some simple treatment steps that can be done at home.
Otitis externa is an ear disease that occurs when the ear canal or earlobe becomes inflamed.
In addition to causing itchy ears, otitis externa can also cause several other symptoms, such as pain in the ear that gets worse when the ear is pulled or chewing food, ear feels full, and reduced hearing quality.
Why Can Otitis Externa Occur?
Otitis externa is usually caused by a bacterial or fungal infection. There are several factors that can cause a person to be more at risk of developing itchy ears due to this disease, including:
- Ears are often wet, for example from swimming or ears often get water.
- Injury or injury to the ear due to the entry of a foreign object or the wrong way of cleaning the ear.
- Use of earplugs (airbuds) or hearing aids.
- Too little earwax. However, itchy ears can also occur in people who have earwax blockage (cerumen prop).
- The use of jewelry or hair care products, such as shampoo and hair dye, which can accidentally enter the ear and trigger allergies or irritation.
- Skin diseases that occur in the ear canal, such as eczema and psoriasis.
How to treat itchy ears early?
Itchy ears that are felt occasionally and are not too severe usually get better on their own. However, if the itchy ear complaint is severe and bothersome, you should consult an ENT doctor for further ear examination.
If indeed the itchy ear you are experiencing comes from an infection in the ear canal, the initial treatment that the doctor will do is to clean the ear canal from dirt.
If there are sores, inflammation, or signs of infection, the doctor will provide further treatment to address the cause of your itchy ears.
How to Treat Itchy Ears with Ear Medicine?
Treatment of itchy ears caused by otitis externa is usually done by giving ear drops that contain:
- Acetic acid, to balance the acidity of the ear canal, so that germs and fungi are difficult to breed.
- Antibiotics, to treat itchy ears caused by bacterial infections.
- Antifungal, to treat itchy ears caused by fungal infections.
- Corticosteroids, to relieve severe swelling and inflammation.
In addition to the drugs above, doctors can also prescribe painkillers, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, to relieve pain and discomfort in the ear.
Make sure you understand and follow the instructions for using the medicine from your doctor or read the description on the medicine package before using the prescribed medicine. If it's difficult to drip on your own, try asking someone else or your close family to put ear drops on your itchy ear.
Ear drops are usually used for a period of 7-10 days. If within that period of time the condition does not improve, then immediately consult a doctor again.
Itchy Ear Treatment at Home
During treatment, you can also perform treatments independently at home to speed up the healing process. Here are some ways you can do to treat itchy ears:
- Avoid cleaning the ears by inserting cotton bud, fingernails, or ear candles. If you want to clean earwax, simply wipe the ear with a cotton swab gently.
- To keep your ears from getting water while bathing, use shower cap or cover the ear canal with a cotton swab coated in petroleum jelly.
- If your ears get wet or get water on them, try drying them with a hairdryer. Adjust the temperature of the hairdryer so that it is not too hot.
- Avoid swimming until the ear is completely healed.
Without proper treatment, otitis externa can cause ear complications, such as cellulitis and hearing loss.
If the itchy ear does not improve, recurs frequently, or appears with other complaints, such as foul-smelling ears, discharge of pus or blood from the ears, and sudden deafness, immediately consult an ENT doctor for further treatment.
