Many of the same skin diseases that occur in other areas of the body can also affect the ears. Infection, dermatitis and psoriasis can cause problems with the skin of the outer ear and ear canal, provoking itching. Ear canal itching can be particularly maddening and potentially dangerous, as the desire to relieve the itching may lead to accidental injury of the eardrum.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by an itchy, waxy, scaling rash. The ears are commonly affected in adults with the disorder. Seborrheic dermatitis is caused by an inflammatory immune response to Malassezia yeast, which normally inhabits the skin. The yeast produces substances that trigger a skin reaction in people with seborrheic dermatitis. Antifungal medications and topical steroids typically prove useful in controlling seborrheic dermatitis.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a lifelong skin condition characterized by patchy, dry areas of skin overgrowth capped by silvery-white scales. Itching and pain commonly occur in involved areas. Psoriasis can affect any skin surface, including the ears. In the article "Ear Psoriasis" published in the journal "Cutis," Dr. Eugene Farber reported that approximately 18 percent of patients with psoriasis experience ear involvement, which may include the outer ear and ear canal. Psoriasis scale buildup in the ear canal can cause blockage. Removal of the blockage and topical medications are typically used to control psoriasis scales in the ear.
Swimmer's Ear
Swimmer's ear, also known as otitis externa, occurs when the skin of the ear canal becomes inflamed or infected. An abnormal amount of moisture in the ear increases the likelihood of developing this condition. The most common symptoms of otitis externa are itching and pain of the ear canal. Swelling may cause temporary hearing loss due to partial blockage of the canal. The affected ear often requires cleaning by an ear doctor to remove drainage and skin debris. Eardrops clear the infection and reduce skin irritation.
Earwax Problems
Earwax, or cerumen, protects the skin of the ear canal. It keeps the canal clean and resists bacterial infection. Cerumen normally moves outward to the opening of the ear canal, where it flakes off the skin surface. Overzealous efforts to keep the ears clean by removing cerumen with cotton-tipped swabs can lead to dryness and itching of the ear canal. Ear itching associated with inadequate cerumen typically clears with discontinuation of the use of cotton swabs to clean the ear canal. Cerumen impaction--an overabundance of earwax that blocks the ear canal--can also cause ear itching. In a 2007 review article published in "American Family Physician," Dr. Daniel McCarter and colleagues report that roughly 10 percent of children and 5 percent of adults have cerumen impaction.
References
- EczemaNet: Seborrheic Dermatitis
- DermNet NZ: Seborrhoeic Dermatitis
- PsoriasisNet: What Is Psoriasis?
- "Cutis"; Ear Psoriasis; Eugene M. Farber, M.D.; August 1992
- National Psoriasis Foundation: Treating Psoriasis
