Ear canal dryness can produce a variety of uncomfortable problems, including itchiness and pain. The ear canal naturally lubricates itself with ear wax; pain and itchiness can occur when that substance is lacking, and the sensitive nature of the ear canal only exacerbates those conditions. A number of home remedies are readily available to the sufferer of ear canal dryness, although severe symptoms may require a doctor's examination.
Swabs and Dryness
Ear canal dryness may come about as a result of excessive scratching or cleaning with a cotton swab or similar object. Cotton swabs can remove ear wax that is necessary to keep the canal lubricated, resulting in itchiness and sometimes pain. The fibers from a swab may also remain inside the canal and irritate the skin. In some cases, dryness may lead to tiny cracks that open in the canal, which can attract bacteria and cause severe pain.
Stop using swabs or similar objects to scratch the ear canal to avoid ear canal dryness. A couple of drops of vegetable oil can be dripped into the canal to moisturize and help influence normal rates of wax production, according to the Dizziness and Balance website.
Psoriasis
Ear psoriasis can cause dryness that can result in mild to severe symptoms. The condition is characterized by scales that appear along the ear canal, often producing itchiness. Some 18 percent of psoriasis patients encounter these symptoms, according to the International Eczema-Psoriasis Foundation.
Compounded scaling in the ear canal, when combined with ear wax, can actually block the canal and lead to a decrease in hearing ability. An over-the-counter cleaning kit can be used to carefully clean out the canal by squirting fluid into the canal and allowing it to drain. Warm water followed by a thin application of mineral oil can also be helpful. Ear plugs worn at night may assist in keeping the canal from drying out as a result of psoriasis.
Allergies
A number of skin allergies can cause dryness in the ear canal. Dermatitis, for instance, can cause many of the same itchy conditions in the canal that it produces on other parts of the body. A doctor or allergy specialist can diagnose a condition like this with a simple otoscopy examination, using a scope to peer inside the ear canal. Steroid creams used to treat skin allergies are often effective for treating symptoms in the ear canal and reducing dryness.
