Ear Problems (Including hearing) Archives

Itchy ears

Dr. Stoll,
For a couple of years now, the skin in my ears has been
inflamed, cracked, and extremely itchy.

I have seen three doctors. The first gave me oral
antibiotics, the second gave me antibiotic ear drops
comboned with oral antibiotics, and the third said I did not
have an infection but rather "contact dermatitis." The
latter gave me a cortisone cream, which worked like a dream
to clear the problem. But whenever I stop the cream, the
problem comes back.

I don't want to use cortisone cream forever, but the itching
is so hard to live with. I have tried changing shampoos and
soaps, and this has made no difference. Is there anything
else I can try?

In appreciation,
Irene

Follow Ups:

• Re: Itchy ears (Archive in eczema.) Walt Stoll 09:19:13 4/24/01 (0)
• Re: Itchy ears Dr Pepper 15:18:50 4/22/01 (2)
  • Re: Itchy ears Irene in TX 15:48:10 4/24/01 (1)
    • Re: Itchy ears Dr Pepper 16:23:09 4/24/01 (0)

In Reply to: Itchy ears posted by Irene in Tx on April 22, 2001 at 14:28:35:

I had a problem with itchy ears and the skin was flaking
and I tried a cayenne pepper and salt water solution and
it cleared it up with one treatment. It has come back a
few times and I just treat it again and it goes.

Dr P.

Follow Ups:

• Re: Itchy ears Irene in TX 15:48:10 4/24/01 (1)
  • Re: Itchy ears Dr Pepper 16:23:09 4/24/01 (0)

In Reply to: Itchy ears posted by Irene in Tx on April 22, 2001 at 14:28:35:

Hi, Irene.

The doc who said it was a contact dermatitis was on the right track. Actually, this is eczema of the delicate tissue in the ear canal and is just a harbinger of this eventually happening elsewhere on your skin. That is why the cortisone drops were so effective and did not cure it.

You have to find out what is causing it. IF it really is contact dermatitis eczema, WHAT are you allergic to that gets in your ear??? The most common things are shampoo and bath soap. Next comes stuff like hair spray or cologne.

If, as is most likely, this is coming from inside you, the way to deal with it is as one would do with any case of eczema (see the archives about this and about LGS).

Let us know how you do.

By tha way, even though the drops are so marvelously effective, if this is all you do, the long term effects will eventually destroy the skin in your ear. No problem with using them so long as you also deal with the causes because, then, you will be able to stop the drops before they cause their irreversible effect.

Walt

In Reply to: Re: Itchy ears posted by Dr Pepper on April 22, 2001 at 15:18:50:

Thank you Dr. Stoll and Dr. Pepper.

Dr. Pepper, could you be more specific as to the amounts of
salt and cayenne used, and method of application?

Follow Ups:

• Re: Itchy ears Dr Pepper 16:23:09 4/24/01 (0)

In Reply to: Re: Itchy ears posted by Irene in TX on April 24, 2001 at 15:48:10:

like any good cook I don't measure and since we are talking
about food items it seems to hold true. Since you you will
be using it on your skin the amounts aren't critical as
to how much you might be able to stand. 1/4 teaspoon of
each in about 3 oz of hot water would would be good. Adding
some borax or boric acid would help but don't use that
internally. Cooking the mix till the water turns red will
increase the speed that it would work but not really needed.
Hot tap water should do the job.

Dr P.