The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Anti-Yeast Cream
Posted by Alicia ( Crown Point, Indiana) on 09/26/2015
★★★★★
I was going crazy with itchy ears nothing worked except this : I took a q-tip put a small amount of vaginal yeast infection cream on it and put it in my ears I felt instant relief did it for 3 days at night before bed. In the morning would clean around the ear with water and q-tip so the white cream would not show and Magic the itching stopped and has not returned. If I feel it coming back just do the treatment with a q tip and a very small dab of cream and it's gone again.
Anti-Yeast Cream
Posted by Nicole (Orillia, Ontario ) on 11/23/2015
★★★★★
I tried two different types of ear drops as well as antibiotics before making an appointment to see a specialist and nothing worked. Then my doctor recommended the vagisil yeast cream on a qtip. I had nothing to lose and didn't think it would ever work. So I flushed my ear with water using the blue mini turkey baster for ears and tried it. Miraculously, after only a few days my ear was all better. So I cancelled the specialist appointment. Now the anti itch cream is my first go to treatment instead of prescription drops or pills. Super easy and cheap solution to my ridiculously itchy Ears! I highly recommend this solution first before all else.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Kay (Destin, Fl) on 05/01/2014
★★★★★
Lifeguards/water people who always have wet ears are very prome to ear infections both, bacterial & fungal; so to keep our "chronically wet" ears dried out properly, we (lifeguards, swim teams, surfers, etc) use a 50/50 water/alcohol solution between swims to remove excess water from the ear canal by prompting evaporation & drying. BUT this regime is too "drying" for most people, who's ears are not chroniclly wet/damp.
Instead, a cap full of hydrogen peroxide (in each ear) on a weekly/monthly basis is much better; it melts away excess ear wax, and cleans/debrids the ear, without removing the thin protective layer of ear wax.
Colloidal Silver
Posted by Art (California ) on 10/20/2017 2325 posts
★★★★★
My sister has been having chronic itchy ears for a couple of years and she has tried many things to help with the constant itch. She recently mentioned this problem to me and I suggested she give silver nanoparticles a try to see if it would help alleviate the itching. She tried using 20 ppm silver nanoparticles (clear yellow) and applied it with a q-tip to her ears two times per day. She told me that she had forgotten about the itchiness after the first application until it started to itch again about 8 hours later. She reapplied it again before bed and slept through the night without the itchiness that would usually wake her during the night. She applied it again in the morning and again before bed. So far no more itching!
Art
Tea Tree Oil, Olive Oil, Garlic or ACV
Posted by Tana (Australia) on 02/25/2016
WARNING!
PLEASE - never apply neat Tea Tree Essential oil in your ear!!! no essential oil should ever be applied directly to skin, let alone in the ear - MUST be diluted in a carrier oil.
Vinegar and Rubbing Alcohol
Posted by Felirose (Destin, Florida) on 01/13/2010
★★★★★
My grandmother had very itchy ears for the longest time. She spent hundreds of dollars on medication, but nothing helped. Finally, she heard about using a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and rubbing alcohol (so perhaps 1 tsp of vinegar and 1 of rubbing alcohol. She used white vinegar, but I'm sure ACV would work just as well).
Desperate, she filled up an ear with an eyedropper and let it do it's thing for about an hour, while she laid down and watched television. Then, she turned over and let it drain out onto a white towel for another hour.
The white towel was covered in black "stuff" - that were in her ears! She did it on both ears twice, and hasn't had itchy ears since!
I've used this when I have itchy ears - though I've never had black drainage, thank God! It works every time to stop the itching.
White Vinegar and Rubbing Alcohol
Posted by Dana (San Antonio, Tx) on 01/26/2018
★★★★★
A friend to spent over $800 on antibiotics for an ear infection and couldn't get it cured told me a doctor friend from his church pulled him aside and told him quotes "you haven't heard this from me but here is how I used to clear up an infection: 1/2 part white vinegar and 1/2 part rubbing alcohol and put in your ears immediately, you cannot save this mixture."
This killed itchy ears for me and it's also stopped my granddaughter's ear infection when the antibiotics didn't!
Vinegar and Rubbing Alcohol
Posted by Carrie (Denver, Colorado, Usa) on 02/07/2010
★★★★★
I've had itchy ears due to fungal infections for years. I made a mixture of 50% apple cider vinegar and 50% rubbing alcohol and placed in a dropper. I drop this remedy in my ears every morning after showering, and in the evenings before bed. I have had a significant decrease in itchy ears. The alcohol keeps the ear canal dry and the vinegar creates an acetic acid barrier that inhibits the growth of yeasts or fungi. Highly recommended.
Vinegar and Rubbing Alcohol
Posted by Susan (Sarnia, Ontario Canada) on 06/24/2011
★★★★★
CANDIDA
It took me many years to discover this, but after going on a drastic anti-candida diet, which included completely removing sugar from my diet, my itchy ear problem completely resolved. I spent most of my life suffering from itchy and flaking ear canals. Now, if I slip off the wagon and eat sugar for a couple of days, the problem returns.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Timh (Ky) on 10/23/2015 2048 posts
I will need to differ on this recommendation. I have chronic infections and my ears itch daily and I use a cotton swab (q-tip) almost daily to successfully remove the itch. As for the ear wax, these lipids also can become infected with fungal-type pathogens, so removing the wax also removes the infection (which is what appears to be my case). Do not worry about removing wax as some kind of permanent affair, as the natural wax will be replaced. Replace worry or doubt with Coconut Oil & Mixed Natural Vit-E supplement, and this will probably resolve the issue, along with keeping the ears cleaned regularly.
If there are obvious signs of infection like ringing sound, hearing loss, snapping sound, pain, redness, swelling, then seeking professional help would be smart choice, although natural remedies as suggested here on E.C. may prove most beneficial, as opposed to synthetic antibiotic treatment (which can produce nasty side-effects).
Omega 3 and Omega 6 Oils
Posted by a2zRandall (Gainesville, FL) on 12/19/2023
★★★★★
I've had itchy ears for over 12 years now and went to several ENT doctors and dermatologists in the beginning who all said it was dermatitis and prescribed different stuff, none that really worked..
Then a couple of months ago I read that a sign of essential fatty acid deficiency is dermatitis!! I began supplementing twice a day with Alpha-linolenic acid aka 'Omega 6' and linoleic acid aka 'Omega 3' and so far after 3 months have had the closest thing to lasting relief/cure so far!
Some other things that worked for awhile from time to time over the years:
1) Equal parts of water, isopropyl alcohol and vinegar, then filled ear with eye dropper. Don't do it after heavy itching of ear, it'll burn. Was told this will treat both bacterial and fungal issues.
2) Hydrogen Peroxide: often made better for a couple of days, but sometimes made it worse..
Hope this helps.
DMSO
Posted by David (Central, Sc, Usa) on 05/19/2014
★★★★★
I have had an itchy ear for a few months...its one of those deep intense itches where you could find yourself scratching it extremely hard for minutes on end. I had tried h202 and turpentine mixed with castor oil, both with limited, temporary relief. Decided to try some DMSO today. Eureka! The itch appears to have disappeared. I used a 70% blend with 30% distilled h20. Soaked a q-tip and rubbed the inside all the way down the canal. I don't know why I didn't think of this before! So please list DMSO as a viable solution, and thanks Diedre for all you do.
Colloidal Silver
Posted by Luiza (CA) on 10/04/2022
★★★★★
I tried this remedy with Colloidal Silver gel and it has cleared up my dry itchy ears!
Diluted Bleach in Water
Posted by Corieltauvus (Whangarei, Northland New Zealand) on 06/22/2013
★★★★★
Have had itchy ears for a long time and though all the usual natural rememdies seemed to work for a few hours, none was long lasting.
Finally, in frustration I added about 10 drops of bleach (sodium hypochlorate) to a 250 ml wine glass of water and swabbed my ears with a cotton bud moistened with the solution. Eureka! At last I have had no itch for days on end.
Because I have no idea if sodium hypochlorate can have side problems I kept the solution weak and did not insert drops of the liquid into my ear. Maybe you should try 5 drops per 250 ml first, and increase drop by drop until you get an effect. Don't be tempted to use a very high strength until we have an opinion on any side effects. By the way... Don't forget that bleach bleaches! Leaks may bleach your favourite black satin pillow or your shirt. I suggest you plug your ears with cotton balls until the remedy dries.
Vinegar and Rubbing Alcohol
Posted by Anonymous (Ca, San Diego) on 06/26/2012
★★★★★
I took round of antibiotics afterwards I had itching in inner ears I tried 50/50 Apple cider Vinegar with rubbing alcohol I let it sit in my ear for maybe 20 minutes let it drain all the itching stopped. WOW
Vinegar and Rubbing Alcohol
Posted by Elgreg (Accra, Ghana) on 09/21/2015
I want to try the remedy given by Felirose of Destin, Florida, but would like to have one clarification. What strength of white vinegar and robbing alcohol is safe to use? I have white vinegar of 10% strength and rubbing alcohol of 70% strength. Are these safe to use in the ears?
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Gtcharlie (Los Angeles, Ca) on 10/22/2014
★☆☆☆☆
I had even worse experience with Hydrogen Peroxide. I wet a Q-tip with it and inserted it into my ear due to an ear infection, and I ended up with a hole on my ear drum. My ENT doctor said it will heal up but no, it is still there after two years! The only benefit is you won't feel pain and pressure in your ear if you go deep sea diving! Lol :(
Never attempt Hydrogen Peroxide on your ear. BAD!
Solution? Use ACV instead! It works like a miracle, faster than a prescription drug. I have ear infection often because of that little hole..dip a Q-tip into ACV, squeeze the cotton head gently to rid the excessive fluid. It helps with my itches too.
Anti-Yeast Cream
Posted by C.c. Myers (Germantown, Tn) on 02/14/2018
★★★★★
Instant relief! Thanks for the tip.
DMSO
Posted by MFB (Michigan) on 12/25/2023
★★★★★
I followed your 70/30 ('ish) DMSO/water and just like that, quit itching. No pain, uneasiness whatever ever....just quit itching. Will apply again if necessary. I can't imagine it would take only once!
Vinegar and Rubbing Alcohol
Posted by Elly (Topeka, Kansas) on 06/25/2011
Thanks Alain for the clarification and thanks Debbie for reminding me about the colloidal silver and the link. I will research it and pass on to mom.
Baby Oil
Posted by Jamie (Spokane, Wa) on 09/17/2016
★★★★★
For itchy ears, my ENT (Ear Nose And Throat) Doctor recommended baby oil to me once, just a bit on a cotton swab and applied to the ear will do it.
Anti-Yeast Cream
Posted by Cynthia (Sc) on 10/04/2016
This is great to hear. Dr told me last year I had a fungus in my ear so he sprayed some powder in and it was gone for 9 months. I will try this.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Gabbyda (Indiana) on 10/22/2015
★☆☆☆☆
THIS PRODUCT IS NOT TO BE USED FOR ITCHY EARS. Itchy ears is usually a sign for dry ears. Hydrogen Peroxide dries out ears further, which causes the skin to crack and bacteria to get into the skin. If your ears itch, use cortisporin just outside of the ear canal. The cortisporin will make its way into the ear canal and provide that extra bit of moisture the skin needs. DO NOT REMOVE THE EAR WAX!!! It is good for the ear canal. If you feel like you have an ear infection, go to the doctor.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Elizabeth (Los Angeles, Ca) on 05/10/2012
★★★★★
Peroxide works great! For some reason my right ear often itches and the peroxide goes deeper into the ear so it's better than using alcohol and a Q-tip because that will only push the wax further back while the peroxide drains it out.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Rita (Hunstville, AL) on 07/10/2006
★★★★★
Hi, I just wanted to comment that I personally use hydrogen peroxide each and every day to help clean my ears with a Q-tip. This actually helps to combat itchy ears and less wax buildup.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Nancy (New Hope, Pa) on 07/24/2020
What were the results of the ear test?
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Lili (Middle Tn) on 10/24/2015
Yes 1.5% to 3% H2O2 every few days on a Q-tip keeps my ears itch free. It depends on the reason of the itch. Mine wasn't from dry ears so H2O2 worked.
Tea Tree Oil, Olive Oil, Garlic or ACV
Posted by Dv (Israel) on 08/16/2013
Tea tree oil, olive oil, garlic, Apple Cider Vinegar are all great for ear issues. You may drip Tea tree oil in ear, or warm some olive oil with garlic, strain so there are no pieces and it is antiseptic and calming. Diluted ACV may also be helpful in cases since it is antiseptic and with olive oil which soothes it should be a good combination. When the ear is preforated to the best of my knowledge you are not to use peroxide and be careful to not put something not sterile in ear which could cause major infection.
Tea Tree Oil, Olive Oil, Garlic or ACV
Posted by Sara (Palo Alto, Ca ) on 11/23/2014
What is ACV??
EC: ACV - Apple Cider Vinegar
Diluted Bleach in Water
Posted by Marie (Louisiana) on 03/30/2016
Thank you sooooo much. I'm starting this today.
Vinegar and Rubbing Alcohol
Posted by Lp (Houston, Texas) on 06/25/2011
I agree, I stop drinking sweet tea and cut back on soft drinks and my ears cleared up. Also the eczema on my hands started to clear up as well, I thought I was the only person with this problem. I glad to see your post. Thanks for sharing.
Vinegar and Rubbing Alcohol
Posted by Sara (Califonia, US) on 11/23/2014
WHAT IS ACV? Alcohol, vinegar? ?
EC: ACV = Apple Cider Vinegar
Vinegar and Rubbing Alcohol
Posted by Robbee (Yukon Ok) on 09/25/2016
Apple cider vinegar.
Vinegar and Rubbing Alcohol
Posted by Chris (Dighton, Ma) on 07/16/2017
ACT is apple cider vinager.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Midwestmad (Rochester, Minnesota, Usa) on 06/10/2012
Does anyone know if this can be used if your eardrum is perforated? I had a tube in my ear for many years. It was supposed to come out after something like 10 years but it didn't and now it won't close. It isn't so bad, but I would love to treat this itchiness! I'm working on cleaning up my whole system, but it is a slow process.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Anonymouscat (Seattle, Wa) on 09/22/2012
★★★★★
I have itchy ears and use 50/50 distilled water and hydrogen peroxide. When it started up again, I insisted my doctor do a swab and send it to the lab, because I want it to be indentified. Also, if it is in your ears it is most likely in your sinuses.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Tamara (Arizona, US) on 10/21/2014
★☆☆☆☆
Something totally opposite than what you experienced. I have been using peroxide and water to sooth the itching and it actually made it worse. I got this tickling and popping in my ear and it felt so good I got hooked on it. So when I pour it in my ear it temporarily scratches it but in the long run it makes my ears so much worse. Now it is like an addiction and it is the cause of my manic severe ear itching and pain. Does anyone have any suggestions for helping me scratch my ear another way?
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Cathy (Portland, Tn) on 10/08/2015
★★★★☆
I agree the hydrogen peroxide helps. It relieves the itch for a while. But if I don't do it for a few days it seems to be worse than ever.
