Ear Channel Pain

The ear channel, also called “ear canal,” is a narrow opening leading to your ear drum. Your ear canals aid in hearing and help protect more delicate ear structures located beyond your ear drums. Ear channel pain has many causes and should be diagnosed and treated.

Causes

• Ear channels are sensitive to allergies, debris, water, foreign objects and skin conditions. Common causes of ear canal pain include, something in the ear canal, skin irritation in or around the ear canal or sinus irritation.

Infection

• Outer ear channel infections are called swimmer’s ear or otitis externa. According to Cigna.com, ear canal infection can develop if water, dirt, sand or other debris enter your ear channel. Ear infections cause inflammation, pain and smelly discharge.

Skin

• Psoriasis is a common skin condition that affects the outer ear and ear channel. Psoriasis on the ear causes dry, red and flaky skin. Your ear lobes and channel can become itchy and painful. Psoriasis should be evaluated by a dermatologist.

Sinuses

• In the middle ear is a tube connecting your sinus to your ear. Although this area is behind your ear drum, sinus pressure, infections and mucous can cause ear canal pain. Sinus pressure or mucous can stretch the ear drum, causing irritation. Sinus-related pain causes a dull ear ache accompanied by a feeling of pressure or fullness.

Earwax

• Earwax--a natural antibody and insecticide--is produced to protect your ears. Earwax, if left to its own natural process, rarely causes problems. Attempting to clean your ears with cotton swabs can push earwax deeper in the ear channel causing impaction. Earwax impaction causes temporary hearing loss, ear fullness, pressure and pain.

Solution

• According to Cigna.com, gently rinsing your ear channel--using a bulb syringe--with a half-and-half solution of warm water and white vinegar helps infection and inflammation. For ear channel pain, cover your ear with a warm washcloth or heating pad.