What Causes an Itching Ear Canal?

Itching in ear (itching in ear) is a feeling caused by slight stimulation of the sensory nerves of the external auditory canal skin, and is one of the main symptoms of external auditory canal skin diseases. Most commonly seen in external ear eczema, otomycosis and so on. Paroxysms can also persist and can occur suddenly. The specific manifestations of ear itch are acupuncture, tingling sensation, and ant crawling sensation. Those with severe itching are unbearable. Itchy ears are usually caused by local diseases, and they can also be caused by systemic diseases or coexist with systemic diseases or caused by poor ear picking habits.

Basic Information

Visiting department

ENT

Common locations

External auditory canal

Common causes

External ear eczema, external ear canal inflammation, psoriasis, drug allergy, foreign body, etc .; diabetes, biliary obstruction, uremia and other systemic diseases

Common symptoms

Acupuncture, tingling, ant crawling

Causes of ear itch and common diseases

Local ear lesions

(1) Eczema during breastfeeding in infants and young children often occurs in bilateral ear ears, posterior sulcus and external auditory canal, severe ear itch, local erosion and exudation, erythema, papules, blisters, exudates, crusts, scales, Cracks, etc., can gradually spread to the cheeks and scalp. Children often suffer from itching, irritability, and even affect diet and sleep, often related to allergic constitution and artificial feeding.

(2) Seborrheic dermatitis, chronic external ear eczema, and diffuse external ear canalitis can all cause ear itch.

(3) Otitis media has a long-term pus, irritating the skin, causing dermatitis, eczema-like dermatitis, and scabies causing itchy ears.

(4) Fungal diseases of the external ear canal, such as aspergillus, candidiasis, and hairy mildew, are particularly prone to occur in warm and humid environments, fungal growth, stimulate the surface layer of the skin, can penetrate deep, and cause diffuse inflammation. The ears are hot and itchy. Exudation can block the external ear canal and affect hearing. When dry, a layer of powder can be seen on the dried surface, and fungi can be seen under the microscope.

(5) Psoriasis, senile pruritus, dry ear skin, desquamation, and strange itching.

(6) Drug allergies or drug contact dermatitis, a history of ear drops, more edema, and improved after stopping the drug.

(7) Foreign bodies in the ear, such as crawling worms, or other foreign bodies such as pupae, can cause itchy ears.

(8) Ear skin moss, which occurs simultaneously with skin moss.

(9) Stings or bites by insects can cause ear itch.

(10) Frostbite of ears and ears occurs in cold exposure. The initial numbness is followed by redness and swelling with burning and itching.

2. Systemic disease

Such as diabetic patients, dry skin, causing itching; biliary obstruction, increased bile salts in the body cause itching; uremia, hemodialysis, etc. can cause systemic itching, which also occurs in the ear.

3. habits

It is that the ear does not cause itchy diseases, but it has developed the habit of picking ears; once you are free, you want to use your sticks, hairpins, etc. to dig your ears.

Differential diagnosis of ear itch

Chronic external auditory canalitis

Chronic external ear canalitis has only discomfort or itching, and the ear canal skin is congested or thickened, covered with pustules, but no moldy moss grows. It can be distinguished by bacterial culture or microscopic examination.

2. External auditory canalitis

Acute or chronic inflammation of the external auditory canal skin; fungal infections are called external auditory canal mycosis. Patients with acute external ear canal feel itching and burning sensation in the ear, and they feel pain in the ear only when they exercise in the temporomandibular joint. At first the secretions are thin serous secretions, which gradually become thicker. Fungal people have blue smoke, black or yellow-white mold on the external ear canal, hyphae can be seen, and the contact with the skin is like.

Ear itch check

Check-up

The external ear canal and tympanic membrane are covered with yellow or white powdery or villous moss membranes, and sometimes the secretions or crusts are cylindrical. With bacterial infections, there may be earache and pus. Mild patients can also be asymptomatic, only found during inspection.

2. Ear swab bacteria culture

3. Imaging examination if necessary

Itchy ear treatment

Corresponding treatment measures are adopted for different diseases.

External use

10% methyl salicylate, 1% to 2% thymol alcohol, 1: 5000 phenylmercury acetate or ear drops, medication 2 to 3 times a day for several days, and then every few weeks for several days after treatment To prevent recurrence. Can be applied topically with nystatin ointment, 1% gram myconazole ointment, and amphotericin B ointment; spray a mixture of ammonium sulfonamide and boric acid into the external ear canal wound.

2. Apply antibacterials throughout the body when necessary