On an ordinary weekend afternoon, a middle-aged man was quietly reading a book at home when he suddenly felt some itching in his ears.
He casually picked up the cotton swab next to him, hoping to pull out something to ease the discomfort.
However, after digging it out several times, nothing came out of the cotton swab except for a little earwax.
The itching sensation in the ears did not relieve, but seemed to become more intense. The middle-aged man became anxious, wondering if there was something wrong with his ears.
1. Itching in the ear: It's not just a sensory problem
Behind this seemingly minor problem of itchy ears, there may be a hidden sign of a variety of ear diseases. First of all, we need to understand why itchy ears occur.
The skin inside the ear canal is very fragile and can easily become inflamed when stimulated by physical or chemical irritation.
For example, frequent ear picking with a cotton swab or not cleaning up the ear after water can lead to otitis externa.
This inflammation not only causes itchy ears, but can also be accompanied by mild pain and redness.
In addition, eczema of the external auditory canal is also one of the common problems. This usually occurs in people who are allergic to certain substances, such as certain shampoos, body washes, or the rubber parts of headphones.
Eczema of the external auditory canal can cause redness, swelling, and even blistering in the ear canal, which naturally worsens the itching sensation.
Fungal infections are also a common cause of itchy ears. In a humid environment, the fungus in the ear canal tends to overgrow, leading to fungal otitis externa. In this case, in addition to ear itching, it may also be accompanied by increased ear canal discharge.
Although ear mite infestation is rare in humans, it should not be ignored. This tiny parasite can survive inside the ear canal, causing extreme itching and discomfort.
Finally, diabetes has to be mentioned. Diabetic patients often suffer from dry and itchy skin due to systemic metabolic abnormalities, and the ear canal is no exception. Therefore, if you have diabetes and often experience itchy ears, it is best to get blood sugar control and further tests promptly.
2. Formation and secretion characteristics of earwax
Earwax, medically known as cerumen, is a natural secretion in the ear canal, and its main role is to protect the ear canal from the invasion of dust and microorganisms.
The components of earwax mainly include lipids secreted by the sebaceous and cerumen glands, aging skin cells and external fine dust. Normally, earwax slowly moves to the outer opening of the ear canal with chewing or other maxillofacial movements, and falls off naturally.
However, some people have particularly strong cerumen gland secretion, especially those with hereditary oily ears, and their earwax is usually oily and darker.
Scientific studies have shown that this phenomenon is related to a variant in the ABCC11 gene. This genetic variation not only affects the nature of earwax, but also the intensity of body odor, because the same gene also affects the secretion of sweat glands.
Understanding these properties of earwax can help us better understand the importance and methods of ear cleaning.
Excessive cleaning or improper use of tools, such as cotton swabs digging deep into the ear canal, can damage the skin in the ear canal and cause more problems.
The correct way to do this is to gently wash the outer ear regularly with a special ear cleanser to avoid damage to the inner ear.
3. Balance between ear picking habits and ear health
Picking out your ears, a seemingly simple and common behavior, actually hides a lot of health risks. Medical studies have shown that the skin inside the ear canal is extremely fragile and susceptible to physical damage.
When picking the ears, especially when using hard objects such as cotton swabs, needles, hairpins, etc., it is very easy to scratch the ear canal, destroy the natural barrier in the ear canal, and provide a way for bacterial and fungal infection.
In addition, picking out your ears can cause the earwax to be pushed deeper and form an earwax plug, which can not only cause a feeling of blockage in the ear canal, hearing loss, but also pain and infection in severe cases.
Studies have shown that earwax embolism is a common cause of ear canal infections and requires doctors to clean it up with professional tools.
So, how do you clean your ears properly? Experts suggest that for most people, the ears are self-cleaning. Earwax naturally moves to the opening of the ear canal with chewing movements, etc., and falls off naturally.
Therefore, it is enough to clean the outer ear on a daily basis. If you do experience discomfort in your ears, you should consult a medical professional and take a safe approach to it, avoiding picking your ears with cotton swabs or other tools.
4. Identification and response to abnormal ear signals
The ear is not only an organ of our hearing, but also a reflection of possible problems in the body through some abnormal signals. Ringing in the ears, earache and diagonal creases in the ears can be early warning signs of ear or other conditions.
(1) Tinnitus: Tinnitus is a common ear symptom, which is manifested by continuous buzzing and ringing in the ear. Tinnitus can be caused by ear diseases such as excessive cerumen in the ear, inflammation of the external ear canal, otitis media, etc.
However, tinnitus may also be a manifestation of systemic diseases, such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as hypertension and arteriosclerosis, as well as cervical spondylosis and anemia. Therefore, persistent tinnitus should be paid enough attention to seek medical attention in time.
(2) Earache: Earache may be a direct manifestation of ear diseases such as otitis externa and otitis media. Especially in children, otitis media is a common cause of earache.
Adults with sudden, severe earache accompanied by fever and hearing loss should seek immediate medical attention. Unexplained earache may also be associated with temporomandibular joint disorders, which are often accompanied by symptoms such as difficulty chewing and limited opening.
(3) Diagonal creases in the ear: Ear creases may be a manifestation of poor local blood circulation, and some studies have pointed out that the diagonal creases of the earlobe have a certain correlation with coronary artery disease.
While more research is needed to determine the clinical significance of this finding, this small cosmetic change should not be overlooked in people at risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease.
In our daily lives, we should pay enough attention to our ear health. If you encounter ear discomfort, you should not judge and deal with it yourself, but should seek help from a professional doctor in time.
Correct cognition and timely treatment can effectively avoid the impact of ear diseases on quality of life and protect our precious hearing health.
5. Ear care: precautions in daily life
As one of the five senses of the human body, the ears also need to be carefully cared for in daily life. Proper daily care can prevent ear diseases and reduce unnecessary medical interventions.
When it comes to cleaning, avoid inserting cotton swabs or other sharp objects into the inside of your ear canal. The area targets daily cleaning of the outer ear and pinna, using a mild detergent and running water. However, it is not advisable to allow water to enter the ear canal directly in the home environment to avoid the growth of bacteria and cause otitis externa.
Volume control is another key point. Prolonged exposure to high-decibel noise can cause damage to the hair cells of the inner ear, causing permanent hearing loss or tinnitus. Therefore, when using headphones, control the volume and keep the use time as short as possible.
epilogue
If you have an ear problem, don't take it personally, and consult a medical professional quickly to seek appropriate treatment, which is a sign of self-responsibility.
Be alert to the early signs of ear lesions, cooperate with the doctor's advice, and carry out reasonable maintenance and treatment, every minor problem of the ear should not be ignored.