What should I do if my ears often feel itchy and I feel the need to clean them frequently?

The symptom of frequently cleaning the ears due to itching when not cleaned may result from physiological or pathological factors. Patients should identify the exact cause and then adopt appropriate measures for improvement or treatment. Common causes include external ear eczema, otitis media, etc.

1. Physiological Factors

Long-term ear-cleaning habits may lead to psychogenic itching in some individuals. Such patients usually do not require specific medical treatment. They can relieve or eliminate localized itching caused by psychological factors by participating more in group activities, outdoor physical exercise, and active communication to divert attention.

2. Pathological Factors

1. External Ear Eczema

This condition can be triggered by various factors such as environment, infection, and genetics, and may cause symptoms including itching, stinging, and rashes on the auricle and surrounding skin. Patients experiencing these symptoms may follow medical advice to use medications such as compound acetic acid dexamethasone cream, promethazine hydrochloride tablets, or Qishenlian eczema ointment for symptomatic relief.

2. Otitis Media

Cleaning the ears may easily introduce pathogens into the middle ear, leading to symptoms such as itching, ear pain, and tinnitus. Patients who are diagnosed can, under a doctor's guidance, use medications such as penicillin V potassium tablets, lomefloxacin hydrochloride ear drops, or ibuprofen capsules, which help suppress the growth and reproduction of harmful microorganisms in the affected area and alleviate the aforementioned symptoms.

However, the possibility of other conditions such as middle ear cancer should not be ruled out. It is recommended that patients seek medical evaluation as early as possible, determine the precise cause, and then undergo appropriate treatment accordingly.