To be at my wits end with my damn ears?!

[Toughtips]

I suffer with horrific eczema in my ears. They itch like crazy, shed skin at an insane rate. I go to the docs who prescribe lotions and potions. These work after a while. Once I stop using the spray and cream though it comes back. I don't swim and I only get my ears wet when I wash my hair. I've suffered with my ears now for two years. The ear wax smells rancid. (I don't use cotton buds to clean my ears either) At the moment one ear is blocked and ringing and they're both itchy. I've got a doctors appointment again tomorrow but I'm just so fed up that I seem to go round in circles with this itch cycle. Does anyone have any tips?

Have you tried ear candling? Also Lush do a super balm (for hair) but I find its great on any skin problem.

I've not tried ear candles no. Not sure if that would just irritate the eczema more? I'll look into the lush balm. Thanks :)

I'm guessing you've tried Ear Calm spray?

Having problems myself at the moment (middle ear) so I sympathise!

The only ear stuff I've tried over counter is Otex. Is Ear Clam good?

Hi Toughtips, I suffered for years with exactly the same thing. The only thing that sorted it was a referral to ENT. Once I got treated there, it had all cleared up within 10 days. They thoroughly cleaned out and bathed my ear (used a very tiny Hoover type suction thingy) and prescribed drops and cream (that actually seemed to work!) ENT nurse rolled her eyes and said “Makes you wonder why these GP’s don’t send you to someone who knows what they’re doing in the first place!” At the Drs tomorrow ask for a referral, your condition has been on going for long enough to warrant one x

www.boots.com/toiletries/baby-child-toiletries/childs-farm-nappy-cream-for-happy-bottoms-100ml-10183416

Apparently this cream is working miracles for eczema sufferers, it’s been all over the news. Maybe not for the insides of your ears though, if you’re itching in the ear canal too?

You could be reacting to something in shampoo. Lots of people have skin problems because of shampoo. Try filling your ears with coconut oil before you wash your hair.

But yes, get referred if you can. It may be something fungal.

I have suffered with Eczema in my ears for a lot of years.

I find putting a bit of vaseline in them at bed time helps.

I get eczema in my ears. I use a couple drops of tea tree oil in some fractionated coconut oil. I mix it together in a little cup and then gently put it in my ears with a q-tip.

I suffered for many years with the same and it used to drive me mad.

I tried various things from the chemist and all to no avail.

Eventually on visiting my doctor for another reason I mentioned my ears and he gave me a prescription for Betnovate. It's a liquid and you just put a couple of drops in daily. It cleared the problem within a matter of days and has done so now for about 5 years or more. I probably now just put drops in about once a month as a preventative of it ever coming back.

It's amazing stuff and truely saved my sanity.

Try silicone ear plugs in the shower to rule out allergy to shampoo getting in your ears

My audiologist waxes (pardon the pun) lyrical about Ear Calm, says it's a miracle for itchy ears so maybe worth a go.

I use skinfood from weleda on my eczema

Definitely Ear Calm - I get the same thing and it works. It does take a couple of days, but soothes the inflammation (which is more likely the cause of hearing problems than wax given what you’ve said). I just put quite heavy moisturiser round my ears and night and the combination seems to get it under control when it flares up. I wish I knew the cause though!

Just see an ENT! In the rest of the world if we have a problem, we see the proper doctor. Pay the 100 quid if your GP is that crap.

Thanks for all your comments people. I'm going back to the Docs tomorrow so I will see if I can be referred.

And the wait 3 months? Why not just pay to see a proper doctor?

I can't afford private health care I'm afraid.