Some of these are available over the counter, and some require prescriptions such as triamcinolone cream Kenalog. Steroids have the potential to make infectious causes of itching worsen as they reduce one's defenses to infection, particularly fungus. Overly frequent use i. Some have proposed using steroid nasal sprays to treat allergic ears Bernstein, We don't see any advantage to this over using creams.
Dermotic oil is a steroid containing oil -- having fluocinolone as the active ingrediant. It is typically used as drops in the affected ear, once or twice a day, for one to two weeks. It is not intended for permanent use. If an itchy ear does not respond to this powerful treatment for inflammation, one should be thinking that it might be infectious. Many hand sanitizers contain ethylene alcohol. An old remedy for itching is to apply hand sanitizer to the itchy ear canal with your finger tips or with q-tips.
After few minutes of application of the alcohol the C fibers will be occupied and will not transfer the itching sensation. As alcohol kills most bacteria and fungi, this is also a method of treating some infections. Of course, this remedy should not be used in an ear with a perforation in the ear drum or with an open mastoid cavity. Castellani's paint -- contains a number of antiseptics including alcohol, boric acid, resorcinol, and fuchsin has been reported to be effective for an itchy ear canal Babakurban et al, The "modified" paint does not contain fuchsin which can stain the clothes.
The instructions for use are: Apply to affected areas at night with a cotton-tipped applicator daily at night. Then dry and dust with talc. Sha et al, Castellani's paint is available over the counter, sold as a "first aid antiseptic".
It would seem certain that should this preparation enter the middle ear through a perforation, inner ear damage would result.
It should be safe, however, when applied in the ear doctor's office using a microscope, even if there is a perforation.
A similar preparation to the non-modified Castellani's paint is Gentian violet. This is used specifically for fungal infections in the doctor's office. Gentian violet stains skin, and when used in open wounds, can cause tatooing.
Fungal ear infections are also sometimes treated with preparations approved for athletes foot, such as clotrimazole cream. Abou-Halawa et al, Dry and Itchy Ears Timothy C. Most recent update: July 19, Here we will look at causes and treatment of dry and itchy ears. Causes of itchy ears: Ear canal skin is sensitive. Dry ears A normal ear has a thin layer of natural body oil.
Hearing aids and itching of the ear : Sometimes the plastic of a hearing aid or polish on the surface of the plastic will cause an allergic reaction in the ears of the wearer. Skin problems in the ear: Skin diseases such as allergic dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema, seborrheic dermatitis can cause itching in the ear just as they do elsewhere.
Infectious causes of itchy ears Like the skin in general, the skin of the ear can get an infection. The most common cause is "swimmer's ear", where generally speaking, bacteria start growing in an ear canal causing irritation and drainage. Occasionally ears can be infected with fungus Jia et al, ; Abdelazeem et al, Some people are more likely than others to have earwax problems.
People who tend to collect more earwax in their ears include:. People with learning difficulties often have earwax problems, but the reason for this is unclear. One way to remove excess earwax at home is to wipe around the outside of the ear with a washcloth.
People can also use the following solutions, which are usually also available from a pharmacy, as ear drops:. To use the ear drops, people should tilt their head so that the affected ear faces upward, place one or two drops in it, and wait for 1—2 minutes in this position. They should then tilt their head so that the ear faces down and allow any liquid to drain out. If people do this twice a day, the earwax will usually come out within 2 weeks.
It often tends to do this at night while a person is asleep. People should never use a cotton swab or another item to try to extract earwax. Inserting objects into the ear canal can damage sensitive tissues in the ear and make the impaction worse. If home remedies do not work, people should seek medical advice rather than trying to remove the earwax themselves.
A doctor will use a medical instrument called an auriscope, or otoscope, to examine the ear. They will check for a buildup of earwax and determine whether or not it has become impacted. Earwax usually falls out on its own. Treatment is only necessary if there is an earwax blockage that is causing pain or hearing loss. In these cases, a doctor is likely to remove the earwax.
The doctor will prescribe or recommend ear drops to soften the wax and make it easier to remove. People should use ear drops at room temperature. The doctor will apply a high-pressure flow of water to the ear canal to dislodge and remove the plug. In the past, doctors used a metal syringe to irrigate the ear, which carried a slight risk of damage.
Now, there are electronic ear irrigators that squirt a carefully controlled flow of water into the ear canal at body temperature. Pressure control keeps the initial pressure as low as possible. It may be necessary to hold the ear at different angles to ensure that the liquid reaches every part of the ear canal.
If the person has severely impacted earwax, the doctor may need to look inside the ear with an auriscope several times during the irrigation process. Sometimes a person may report additional symptoms, in which case the doctor may investigate further to check whether there is an infection.
If irrigation does not remove the wax, the individual may need to continue softening the earwax with drops and then repeat the irrigation. The doctor may put water in the ear for around 15 minutes before irrigating.
Ear irrigation is not suitable for everyone in all circumstances. The procedure may be unsuitable if any of the following factors apply:. Anyone who has had any problems, such as severe vertigo or pain, following previous irrigation should not undergo this procedure again. If irrigation is not an option or is unsuccessful, the doctor may recommend either microsuction or manual removal to clear the ear canal. It's possible you have another medical condition involving your ears that may need attention.
Wax removal is most safely done by a doctor. Your ear canal and eardrum are delicate and can be damaged easily by excess earwax. Don't try to remove earwax yourself with any device placed into your ear canal, especially if you have had ear surgery, have a hole perforation in your eardrum, or are having ear pain or drainage.
Children usually have their ears checked as part of any medical examination. If necessary, a doctor can remove excess earwax from your child's ear during an office visit. The wax in your ears is secreted by glands in the skin that lines the outer half of your ear canals. The wax and tiny hairs in these passages trap dust and other foreign particles that could damage deeper structures, such as your eardrum. In most people, a small amount of earwax regularly makes its way to the opening of the ear, where it's washed away or falls out as new wax is secreted to replace it.
If you secrete an excessive amount of wax or if earwax isn't cleared effectively, it may build up and block your ear canal. Earwax blockages commonly occur when people try to clean their ears on their own by placing cotton swabs or other items in their ears.
0コメント