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Why Are Getting Itchy Ears When Wearing Earbuds
You may feel a tingling sensation in your ears (known as the pinna), or you may experience a ringing sensation deep within your ear canal. This is still known as the outer ear. Both can be annoying and aggravating.
Mild cases of dermatitis can cause itchy ears. However, it is best to see a doctor. These are the top causes of itching in your ears and treat them.
The Problem Can Be Exacerbated By Hearing Aids
Itching can sometimes be caused by hearing aid. Earmolds and domes can cause skin irritation by rubbing against the skin. They can also block the ear canal which can lead to moisture buildup. Some people may become allergic to the component of the hearing aid.
Talk to your hearing professional if your hearing aids cause your ears itching. Your hearing professional will examine your device to ensure that it is properly seated. MiraCell ProEar can be used to make it easier to insert your hearing aids and makes them more comfortable.
Make sure you clean your hearing aids on a regular basis. If you are unsure how to clean your hearing aids, ask your hearing care provider.
Wax Buildup
The natural wax produced by our ears acts as a self-cleaning mechanism. When too much wax builds up in your ear canal, use ear drops. The ear wax collects any foreign particles or dead skin cells along the way. This can cause damage to your ears.
If you use earbuds for a long time, the wax can’t escape naturally and builds up inside your ear canal. You may feel itchy ears or even painful.
People with narrower or bendier ear canals are more likely to experience this.
Dirty Earbuds
The tips can become very filthy if you don’t clean your earbuds regularly. If your ears are plugged in, your earbuds will get dirty. It might be possible if you share your earbuds regularly with others who have dirty ears. Dirty earbuds can cause a lot of irritation and allergic reactions.
Ears Dry
Earwax can be a problem if it is too thick in your ear canal. However, too much can lead to problems. Earwax is a natural lubricant that clean your ears. It also protects the delicate skin in the ear canal and prevents fungal or bacterial infection.
If you find yourself constantly cleaning your ears with cotton swab or any other object, you are likely doing more damage than good.
Overcleaning can cause your ears to become dry and itchy by removing the protective layer of wax from your ear canal. Earbuds can cause a more severe irritation by removing the natural lubrication provided by earwax.
Seborrheic Skin Disease Of The Ears
Itchy ears are most commonly caused by seborrheic dermatology, a condition that affects the skin’s oil-producing glands. You can find it on the ears, eyebrows, and scalp. Seborrheic Dermatitis can cause the skin to flake (known as dandruff). If severe dermatitis occurs, the skin may become reddened and itchy.
According to Dr. Steve Daveluy (associate professor and program director at Wayne State University School of Dermatology), your risk of developing seborrheic skin disease increases with age.
Ear Infections
Ear infections can often be diagnosed early if the symptoms are severe. There are many reasons that can lead to fungal infection or bacterial ear infection, including too much earwax, dirty ears and constant humidity in the ear canals.
Acute otitis externa (outer ear infection) is the most common type. This happens when water gets stuck in the ear. This condition is often called swimmer’s ear. Swimmers are more likely to suffer from it. It can also occur if you swim or bathe in your waterproof earbuds.
An Allergic Reaction Occurs
Your earbuds could be triggering an allergic reaction. It is possible that your earbuds could cause an allergic reaction if you have never had to experience allergies.
Cerumen Loss
Many people are horrified to think of having wax (cerumen) in their ears. Cerumen can be a good thing. It protects the sensitive skin in the ear canal and provides lubrication.
People try to remove ALL of the cerumen from their ear canals using Q-tips and other cleaning agents. This can lead to removing the protective layer and skin drying out, which can make it itchy and irritated.
Conditions Of The Skin
Itchy skin can occur even in the ear canals for some people with skin conditions. These conditions include eczema and psoriasis. Itchy rash, red patches around the ears and inflamed skin may result. Earbuds can make the skin itchier and can make the problem worse.
Irritation To The Skin
Solution: Give your ears a rest every hour by taking out the earbuds and turning them on the opposite side. Make sure you clean your earbuds after every use. This will help to reduce irritation and buildup of sweat or oils.
How To Stop Earbuds From Itchy Ears
Clean Your Earbuds
To remove any dirt, or other debris wax build up from your earbuds, it is important to clean them regularly. This will prevent your ear canal from becoming itchy. Here are some tips for cleaning your earbuds.
- Remove the silicone and foam tips from your earbuds.
- Use a soft toothbrush to scrape dirt from your earbuds’ wire mesh gently.
- Tap the other end of your ear tip gently to remove as much dirt as possible.
- Use a piece of cloth to wipe your ear tip with isopropyl alcohol. Alternately you can also use cotton bud for cleaning the earbuds.
Continue the process with the second tip.
Use the cotton buds or a soaked cloth to clean the ear tips and then place them back on.
It is also unhygienic to share your earbuds among people. Sharing your earbuds can cause more bacteria and dirt to your ears if the other person’s ears are dirty.
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Every Hour, Take A Break
You should give your ears a rest every hour by taking out the earbuds and turning them on the other side. This will reduce irritation and oil buildup.
It would help if you clean your ears frequently, but not too often.
To reduce irritation and treat an ear infection, your ears must be clean after using Bluetooth earbuds. You should not overdo it as this could cause more irritation.
Wear Them Correctly Or Find A Better-Fitting Pair
To avoid irritation, make sure you get the right size earbuds and that they are properly worn. It can cause discomfort and itching if the earbuds become too loose or tight.
Bluetooth and Other Ear Problems Other Than Itching
You may develop ear problems like tinnitus if you use the earbuds in an inappropriate way or for long periods.
Tinnitus can be a sign of an underlying condition. However, it can also be caused when exposed to loud noises that may cause permanent damage to your ears. It can lead to anxiety and depression if left untreated.
Skin infections can develop from persistent itching. Itching that persists can cause a skin infection. If you experience severe itching in your ears due to Bluetooth earphones, you should seek medical attention.
Your earbuds may also aggravate an existing skin condition. This will make it worse. You should consult your doctor if you experience itchiness in your ears due to Bluetooth earphones.
FAQs
Why Are Your Ears So Sensitive?
Your inner ear environment is unique and presents some “special challenges.”
Dr. Daveluy stated that the ear canal is more susceptible to bacterial infection because of its proximity to moisture and warmth. The specialized oil glands in the ear canal (called ceruminous) secrete earwax. The ear canal, much like the nose and the ears, also produces tiny hairs that help keep debris out of the ears.
The unique feature of inner ear skin, aside from its lack of eccrine glands (the type that the rest of the body uses to sweat when it’s warm or stressed), is that it doesn’t have eccrine. Together with the waxy nature, cerumen helps to prevent moisture from building up in the canal.
When Should You Seek Medical Treatment?
It is essential to get medical attention immediately if you are unsure of the reason for your itching, have tried home remedies that failed, have experienced ear pain and swelling, or if there has been any skin damage.
Talk to your family doctor about your symptoms and examine your skin. They can then determine the best treatment plan. If you have a complex case, you may need to be referred by a dermatologist, ear, nose, and throat physician.
Your doctor might recommend an antibiotic cream to stop microbial growth, steroidal topal ointment for inflammation, baby oil to moisturize the ear canal skin, or ear drops to remove excess ear wax.
How To Soothe Itchy Ears?
First, do not put anything in your ears. It’s tempting to poke something in your ear canal to scratch the itching, but that’s not what you should do. You not only risk damaging your eardrum and scratching delicate inner ear skin, but you can also increase your desire to itch.
Instead, treat the root cause. Switch to a shampoo that treats dandruff if you have it. You can take an antihistamine if your itching flares up with seasonal skin allergies. Apply a few drops olive oil, hydrogen peroxide or baby oil to your ears before going to bed to reduce dryness and earwax blockage.
Conclusion
Many people suffer from itchy ears and want a quick solution. Sometimes, the solution is as easy as keeping your ears clean, cleaning your ear buds, or replacing the earbuds. Unfortunately, suppose you suffer from a genetic disorder or health condition that causes issues such as flaky earwax, the buildup of dead skin cells, or the production of excess ear wax. In that case, you have to look at long-term lifestyle changes and seek medical help.
While the solutions are different for each condition, be sure to talk with your doctor about what you can do to manage it. Rezence hope you found this article helpful. If you did, please share it with your friends and colleagues to learn about the wide range of options available to treat or prevent their specific condition.