Don’t Let Itchy Ears Get the Better of You!

There is nothing more irritating and distracting than an itchy ear canal. Anyone who has ever suffered from this common ailment knows how infuriating it can be to experience a constant and intense itch inside the ear. The only feeling of relief comes from scratching or probing with fingers or Q-Tips (also known as cotton buds). Although this brings temporary comfort, it is actually one of the worst things you can do to tackle itching inside the ear. Thankfully there are plenty of safe ways to make your ear canals itch-free zones.

1. Ear drops will contain a minimum of two active ingredients:

• An ingredient such as hydrocortisone that will quickly subdue the itching and any resultant swelling.
• An antibiotic to kill the bacteria which causes the infection.

If you are diagnosed with having a fungal infection, your doctor might also prescribe anti-fungal drops or ointment as well.

2. Home Treatments

One common method involves mixing one part rubbing alcohol with one part white vinegar (a 50:50 split). Use a pipette, dipper or teaspoon and let the solution run into your ear by tilting your head to the side. Keep it inside for a few seconds before letting it drain back out onto a paper towel. The alcohol and acetic acid in the vinegar will go to work on the infection and also help to clean your ear. Don’t overuse this method because it can dry out the ear which will lead to more itching. Simply apply it once or twice a day until the infection has cleared.

Olive oil or coconut oil are also great natural alternatives to ear drops. Olive oil can even be infused with garlic for a natural anti-fungal fighting solution.

Avoid getting shampoo, hairspray, bubble bath, shower gel or other chemical irritants into your ears.

Always remember that the skin inside your ears is delicate and easily irritated. Never put anything hard inside your ears that might damage or antagonize the skin

If you suffer from dust, pollen or other allergies, reduce your exposure to allergens and take antihistamine medication when necessary.