How I Relieve an Itchy Ear Canal

Sometimes, any of my two ears would feel itchy for no apparent reason. It just happen any time for weeks apart. The itch I feel inside of the canal tickles me so that I would instinctively poke my small finger to scratch the itch away. However, most of the time it only temporarily relieves me for a moment because the itch are unreachable beyond the depth afforded by the finger.

I have long found a way to quickly remedy the sensation. I would roll a small-enough clean cotton at the tip of a toothpick or a straightened paper clip. The cotton should sufficiently cushion the tip of toothpick or paper clip to fashion like a cotton bud. The cotton need not be too bulky but must be sufficiently able to cushion the tip and allow loose movement inside the canal. Moreover, I would roll a thin covering of cotton to the remaining exposed length (if I'm using toothpick) to protect the ear canal lining from the rough edges of the stick. There will be no need to do that with the smooth-textured paper clip but I make sure that the cotton rolled to tip is strong enough to hold for a few circular movement inside the canal.

With cotton in place I put a small amount of baby oil (about a drop) to distribute at the tip. The oil will serve as lubricant to avoid abrading the sensitive and delicate ear canal. I poke the cotton bud inside gently and as shallow as possible inside the canal. Then, with a controlled movement I move the bud in circular motion against the walls of the itchy ear canal a few times then finally in an outer direction. It feels so good to finally be able to touch the itchy part but I made sure not to overdo it. The sensation oftentimes is too tempting. That small and simple effort offers me great relief afterwards, without fear of injuring my ear or aggravating the situation in the process.

I am actually doing this every time the itch visits me, say, weeks or months apart. I always have a tiny bottle of baby oil within reach for this purpose. It simply works for me.