My ear is so itchy!!!

[MorgnsGrl]

I don't know what's going on, but my outer ear canal (the part that can be reached with a q-tip) is REALLY itchy. It's making me crazy. What can I put in there? Could I put some hydrocortisone cream? Would tea tree oil help? :confused:

[Christi]

I've seen Mandi suggest tea tree oil on a q-tip. Oh, man, now my ears are getting itchy, just thinking about how good it feels to.... oh, nevermind. :embarass:

[collier]

I don't know what's going on, but my outer ear canal (the part that can be reached with a q-tip) is REALLY itchy. It's making me crazy. What can I put in there? Could I put some hydrocortisone cream? Would tea tree oil help? :confused:

I have eczema in right ear only. It's a chronic condition. The dermatologist told me to put hydrocortizone ointment (rather than cream) in my ear with a q-tip. It really does do the trick. I put it in most days and it lasts about 24-36 hours. You will make it really terrible and raw if you pick at it. I know because I certainly have.

Tea tree oil never helped me with it. I have strange sensitive skin in general. Probably shouldn't eat dairy, but have never tried it.

Best!

[Ali]

I don't know what's going on, but my outer ear canal (the part that can be reached with a q-tip) is REALLY itchy. It's making me crazy. What can I put in there? Could I put some hydrocortisone cream? Would tea tree oil help? :confused:

You didn't happen to read that other thread about somebody self operating and removing a cyst from their ear (Rebbecca!), did you? Cause that's made my ear bothersome all day just thinking about it!

[MorgnsGrl]

You didn't happen to read that other thread about somebody self operating and removing a cyst from their ear (Rebbecca!), did you? Cause that's made my ear bothersome all day just thinking about it!

No, I didn't! I was fine when I went to bed last night, but I woke up this morning with it itching so badly I had to get up and get a q-tip to itch it with!

[Hawthorne]

You didn't happen to read that other thread about somebody self operating and removing a cyst from their ear (Rebbecca!), did you? Cause that's made my ear bothersome all day just thinking about it!

See, I didn't want to disturb anyone, but some people were begging for details! ;)
Amy, tea-tree should help. I've had the itchy ear thing and the TTO solved it.

And Margaret, Solomon has eczema in his ear too. Strangely it didn't start until I cleaned out his ears using peroxide one day. He has eczema on his scalp too, so I'm assuming that's what is going on in his ear. I've never used hydrocortizone cream for anything; it is OTC, isn't it?

[collier]

See, I didn't want to disturb anyone, but some people were begging for details! ;)
Amy, tea-tree should help. I've had the itchy ear thing and the TTO solved it.

And Margaret, Solomon has eczema in his ear too. Strangely it didn't start until I cleaned out his ears using peroxide one day. He has eczema on his scalp too, so I'm assuming that's what is going on in his ear. I've never used hydrocortizone cream for anything; it is OTC, isn't it?

Yes, OTC and get the ointment -- works way better. Poor Solomon. Skin conditions are annoying!

Best!

[Bickery]

My chronically itchy ear has been better since I've used garlic/mullein oil a couple of times. Warmed a bit, it's quite soothing.

[Ali]

See, I didn't want to disturb anyone, but some people were begging for details! ;)

It's all cool :cool: You were just spreadin' the love is all. Yup, spreadin' the love.

[MorgnsGrl]

Just wanted to say thanks for the suggestions! I've been alternating with an OTC hydrocortisone cream (didn't have ointment in the house) and TTO and no more itch! Of course, now I don't know which one actually helped, but maybe it was a combo of the two. :)

[Storymama]

Well . . . it might be worth sorting out, because they work on very different things. Hydrocortisone will exacerbate a yeast infection (which is what you're going after with TTO, and can obviously be a source of itch) because it is a steroid. Steroids treat inflammation based itch (like the eczema that's been mentioned.) TTO will usually make inflammation nastier.

...I mean, I'm really glad your ear is better, and that's all that matters - but if it recurs, it might be worth a closer inspection, so that you're not just prolonging things with an exacerbating treatment.

[MorgnsGrl]

Well . . . it might be worth sorting out, because they work on very different things.

- if it recurs, it might be worth a closer inspection, so that you're not just prolonging things with an exacerbating treatment.

I'm sure you're right! Starting tomorrow I'll switch to just using the hydrocortisone and see what happens. I have another kind of eczema -- dishydrotic, on my hands, in the summertime, and I'm not sure if the two are related at all or not -- so for now I'll go with the theory that it could be eczema since that makes slightly more sense. It runs in my family, and I do find that the insides of my ears are a little 'scaly' on occasion. *Crosses fingers*