A GP explained that the common complaint could be a sign of a condition that your GP can treat
A GP has urged people not to clean or itch their ears with cotton buds. The expert also explained that the itching could be caused by a common condition and shared advice for people with the problem. The advice comes from Dr Stephanie Ooi, a GP with My Healthcare Clinic.
She regularly shares information videos on Instagram under the username @Drstephanieooi. In a post, the expert said: “Whilst using cotton buds in the ears might be tempting, it’s not a good idea!”
She added: “I’ve seen a few cases recently where wax has got pushed down further into the canal, which is a very sensitive area, making removal quite tricky.” She said that you’re also risking infection, localised trauma and damage to the eardrum.
In her video, the expert shared: “A little bit of wax in the ear is absolutely fine. It’s actually there for a protective reason. Some people will be prone to a buildup of wax.
“If that’s you, the best thing is to use olive oil drops regularly just to try and help soften the wax and encourage that to fall out gradually, or sometimes you might want to look into something called microsuction. Essentially, that’s like a little hoover that helps just suck the wax out of the ears.”
While your GP is best placed to advise you, and you should speak to your GP about any health concerns, the expert explained that microsuction isn’t always available on the NHS. Some GP surgeries might also scrape the wax out using a very small device or flush the wax out with water, which may be referred to as electronic ear irrigation. The treatment is usually painless.
The NHS website says: “If your GP surgery does not treat earwax buildup, a doctor might be able to refer you to another local NHS service for treatment. Or you might have to pay to have the treatment done privately.” However, it’s worth asking your GP.
Dr Stephanie also shared advice for people with itchy ears. She said: “Another thing that patients tell me sometimes is that their ears feel really itchy, so they use that just to scratch the inside.
“If you get itchy ears, if you have flaky skin as well, there is actually a condition of the ear called ear eczema, so it’s just like eczema that you can get on the rest of the body, but you can get it in the ear canal.” Once more, you’ll need to speak to your GP, but there are treatment options available, including medication.
In the UK, eczema, particularly atopic dermatitis, affects an estimated eight million people. The NHS says eczema “cannot be cured, but treatment can help manage the symptoms.”
According to the Cleveland Clinic, “ear eczema is a common skin condition that causes discolouration, dry skin and itchiness in, on and around your ears. It isn’t contagious, but you have a higher risk of developing it if you have a family history of eczema, asthma or allergies.”