Ear, Nose & Throat Community

RIchard...having that much otorrhea (ear drainage) is NOT normal. The fluid can only be coming from two possible areas -- the ear canal and the middle ear space (the area on the other side of the eardrum). If it is coming from your middle ear, then you would have a breach in the integrity of your eardrum -- a rupture.

Itching in the ear canal is often a sign of atopic dermatitis, which can "weep", and easily get secondarily infected. This is more of an skin condition than a true ear infection, but some may call it chronic otitis externa. Without the ability to examine you, this is only a guess. Atopic dermatitis often requires some on-going treatment, and the use of Q-tips tend to make it worse. If the ENT is not able to offer a definitive reason for this discharge, a dermatologist may need to be consulted.

Clearly, there is a reason and so far, the treatments have not be successful, so you will need to take your evaluation to a higher level -- either see a different ENT (first) and consult a dermatologist IF the ENT cannot find an "ear reason" for this annoying symptom.

I have suffered with this same problem now for about 3 years. i have used just as many q-tips as you a day or more. I first want to say it is so frustrating not getting answers and having to cope on your own with these issues. drs mean well but seem to put bandaids on many problems. I had been gradually having different problems which led up to the ear problem (though i have been extremely healthy my whole life). I was having stomache problems, side pain, nauseousness, (this was over a period of 15 yrs) (im 41 now) i started getting dizzy, night sweats, extreme fatigue (like an 90 yr old), arthritis symptoms, headaches, insomnia etc. and all along i was told i was healthyand that all my blood tests were normal. It was only when i fell into my bathroom as i got up one morning that got my doctor and couldn't lift a 1 pound weight (this was progressive) i was diagnosed with irritable bowel lactose intolerant, Gird/ acid reflux, psoriasis on arms and told that was my ear problem also. It was my ear dr who told me i had Candadiasis which is overgrown fungus in the body (we all have good/bad flora/fungus) and i went on a diet of PROTEIN and VEGETABLES(eat together) only and NO SUGAR (=no carbohydrates which turn to sugar/no vinagar, or alcohol which is yeasty=fungus) and i took PROBIOTICS (A MUST) after 5 days most symptoms immediately went and others went gradually, i no longer needed traction therapy, my headaches went, weakness went, dizziness went, insomnia went, arthritis symptoms went, pain in my side went, even the itchyness in the ears went as long as i avoid the sugar and try to keep balanced with the probiotics and healthy food. the good flora in our body gets killed and overridden by the bad flora when we 1 are under stress, 2 taking antibiotics and from other types of stress like surgery's 3 our diet is a big factor because most people in the usa live on carbohydrates and sugary drinks. there is sugar in everything=sauces on our meats and vegetables and all drinks have some type of sugar even if its natural. Ive also been told that some people have the condition known as weeping ear which was described to me as when the ear is no longer producing enough wax and it causes the ear to get dry=psoriasis and then weeps fluid to help itself. For me i dont' know if the itchyness and dryness is caused by the fluid or the dryness is causing the fluid but ive noticed if im eating healthy avoiding sugar and i use the oil drops my ears start feeling normal again. I I hope this helps you or others who read this. The oil i've tried for the ears is called DermOtic oil and Culturelle (green/white box=glulten free=dairy free) is a great probiotic. Sincerly, Ann

Not sure if you are over your ear drainage and itching.

I am combatting the same thing...but this is the first time in 25 years my inner ear does not itch.

My issue was Candida....to much yeat in my body...Drains, starch, stress and sugar feed yeast. I have been on priobiotics and yeast killer for a couple months and the itching has stopped and my ears are draining. I am also on a Lymph detox

I'm a homeopathic and hoistic person...so I found all my remedies at a really good health food market.

You might look into the same and consider changing your diet.

How was your Candida (yeast) accurately diagnosed? Did you have a fungal culture?

I am glad your holistic approached helped you, but as you may know, not all itchy ears are the same.

I have been struggling with this for last 15 years, visited lots of doctors and labs, but no explanation.

I do agree with sugar and dairy related post it makes difference in my case, in addition weather changes make condition worse.

I hope to get some ideas here for how to manage it, if we can not cure it.

Thanks to all posters including doctor

Treatment depends on your exact diagnosis -- the underlying reason. Unfortunately, until you can be accurately diagnosed, discussing any type of management would likely be premature. People with similar complaints do not always have identical problems.

Is colloidal silver ever used as ear drops to treat weeping, itchy ears?

I don't use it.....so I have no experience with it.

Interesting on the timing of your question. One month ago I started using colloidal silver. I am 59 and have had intensely itching ears and discharge my entire life. No relief in sight and many doctors later I gave up. I noticed that when I took antibiotics there would be relief and sometimes antifungal drops helped too. I also found that hydrogen peroxide dropped directly in the ear cleaned them well, and that I did not need q tips when I used the peroxide. I let the bubbles clean the ear and drain them onto a cotton ball.
As a result, no I am not cured, but when I clean my ears with the hydrogen peroxide, and I now use mullein garlic oil for ear drops, reclean with peroxide, and follow up with colloidal silver, it takes the edge off better than anything I have ever used. I can now function more normally, and actually sleep at night.

The hydrogen peroxide actually can burn a bit sometimes, but on the whole helps scratch that itch, without actually scratching.

One more thing that helped tremendously is the ear popper. Much of the time my ear canal issue would somehow invade my middle ear and cause me huge pain. The ear popper added to my above regimen completes my plan. Again, it all helps.