What should you know about dry skin in ear canal?

The delicate canal lining can become dry after repeated cleaning, cotton-swab use, water exposure, earbuds or fragranced products. Itching and scale may also occur with Asteatotic Eczema, Atopic Dermatitis or Psoriasis affecting the ear. Scratching can create tiny breaks that become sore and allow infection to develop. Because the canal is narrow and close to the eardrum, symptoms are difficult to judge accurately without looking inside.

Keep fingers, cotton swabs, hairpins and oils out of the canal. Avoid putting moisturiser or medicated cream inside unless an ear clinician specifically recommends that product and placement. Keep shampoo and water from sitting in the ear, and pause in-ear devices if they worsen itching or soreness. A clinician can identify whether the problem is simple Dry Skin, dermatitis, wax-related irritation or infection and may prescribe appropriate drops. Do not use leftover ear drops without advice.

Arrange an appointment for persistent itch, scaling, blocked sensation or recurring dryness. Seek prompt care for ear pain, discharge, bleeding, swelling, fever, dizziness, ringing or a new reduction in hearing. Urgent assessment is especially important after inserting an object or if symptoms began after an injury. A pharmacist or clinician can advise whether a product is suitable for the canal; the skin inside the ear is not the same as the skin at its entrance.

Is the canal inflamed or infected? Could eczema or psoriasis be affecting the ear? Should I stop using earbuds or a particular shampoo? Is any Emollient Therapy appropriate at the canal opening, and how should it be applied without entering the canal?