Why Does My Ear Tickle?

If you’ve ever had a ticklish sensation in your ear, you know how irritating it can be. A brief, fleeting tickle that disappears quickly and doesn’t come back usually isn’t worrisome.

However, a persistent ticklish feeling that wanders or doesn’t subside may point to an issue that needs home care or medical attention.

Read on to find possible reasons for a tickle in your ear and how to handle them.

Build-up of earwax

Earwax (cerumen) plays a useful role in protecting your ears from debris and microbes. It also cleans and lubricates the ear canal.

Despite its protective function, earwax can sometimes accumulate and form a blockage.

Many people notice a ticklish feeling when earwax builds up. Other signs may include:

• itchiness
• a sensation of fullness in the ear
• tinnitus
• diminished hearing

How to avoid earwax buildup

Earwax impaction can occur when people attempt to clean their ears with cotton swabs. Rather than removing wax, swabs often push it deeper into the canal.

To prevent impaction, allow excess wax to fall out naturally. Clean only the outer ear and avoid inserting objects into the canal.

Removing earwax

Wax removal is best handled by a clinician. They may clear earwax by:

• suctioning it away
• irrigating the ear with warm water using a syringe
• using a curved tool called a curet to extract the wax

If earwax accumulation is recurrent, your clinician might suggest medicated ear drops for regular use.

Why ear candling is riskySome people try ear candling to eliminate wax, but research shows it does not work and can cause burns or ear injuries. It is not recommended.

Eustachian tube problems

The Eustachian tube links the throat with the middle ear. When it works properly, it prevents pressure and fluid from building up in the ear.

Eustachian tube dysfunction happens when this tiny channel becomes blocked. Sinus issues, infections, and allergies can all lead to this dysfunction.

A ticklish feeling can be one symptom. Additional symptoms may include:

• fullness in one or both ears
• popping or clicking sensations
• ear pain
• ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• muffled hearing
• occasionally, balance problems

Reducing the risk of Eustachian tube dysfunction

Infants and young children, smokers, and people with obesity have a higher risk for this condition.

Even if you’re not in a high-risk group, treating colds, sinus infections, and the flu promptly can help prevent an inner ear blockage from developing.

Treating Eustachian tube dysfunction

Relieving nasal congestion can help restore normal Eustachian tube function. Options include:

• saline nasal sprays
• steroid nasal sprays
• using a humidifier, vaporizer, or neti pot
• inhaling steam from a hot shower or bath
• decongestants
• antihistamines

Ways to trigger the swallowing reflex

Anything that encourages swallowing may ease symptoms. Try:

• yawning
• swallowing
• chewing gum
• taking deep breaths through the nose and exhaling through the mouth
• Valsalva maneuver (gently pinch your nostrils shut and blow with your mouth closed)
• sucking on a pacifier

Medical options

Sometimes medical intervention is required to open the Eustachian tube. Your doctor might:

• make a tiny incision in the eardrum and suction fluid from the middle ear
• insert a small tube into the eardrum to allow drainage
• place a balloon-style device into the Eustachian tube via the nose to create a channel for mucus to escape

An insect in the ear

Although rare, an insect can fly or crawl into the ear and remain there, producing a variety of sensations.

If the insect moves, you may sense a tickle. If it latches on, bites, or stings, you might experience itching and pain.

Other possible signs include:

• sensation of fullness in the ear
• bleeding
• discharge
• swelling
• tinnitus

Avoiding insects in the ear

Insects are more likely to enter the ear if you sleep outdoors or have frequent contact with animals.

If you suspect an insect is in your ear, removing it promptly is important. Some insects, like ticks, can transmit disease.

Like any foreign object, an insect can irritate the cranial nerves that send signals to the brain.

Usually the insect will die or exit on its own, but covering your ears is the best prevention if you’re worried about this happening.

How to remove an insect from your ear

Do not try to extract an insect with sharp tools, such as tweezers.

Also avoid inserting objects like Q-tips, which can push the insect deeper toward the eardrum.

Try flushing the ear with warm water using a syringe:

• Tilt your head so the affected ear faces downward
• pull the outer ear upward and backward to straighten the canal
• slowly and gently squirt warm water into the ear with a syringe
• allow the water to drain out
• you can also try warm oil to help kill the insect
• if the insect does not come out, see a doctor

When to consult a doctor about a ticklish ear

Tickling, tingling, itching, and ear pain all merit medical evaluation if they don’t improve with home care.

Children may struggle to describe their symptoms and might have difficulty explaining what they feel.

A clinician can look inside the ear to identify the cause and prescribe treatments or procedures to ease discomfort.

Itch versus tickle in the ear

Itching and tickling are distinct sensations with different causes.

A ticklish sensation is called knismesis. It’s usually triggered by a light tactile stimulus that activates skin nerve endings, such as a feather, a fingertip, or a crawling insect.

Itching is often driven by allergies or medical conditions and is frequently caused by chemical mediators like histamine. It can range from mild to severe and is typically not the result of direct tactile stimulation.

Tingle versus tickle in the ear

Tingling (paresthesia) — the pins-and-needles feeling — is another possible ear sensation.

Unlike tickling, which reflects increased stimulation of nerve endings, tingling can indicate reduced nerve function.

Tingling in the ear may point to a more serious problem, especially if it occurs alongside numbness.

Key points

Tickling, itching, and tingling are common ear sensations.

A ticklish feeling in the ear can be caused by conditions such as Eustachian tube dysfunction, and on rare occasions by an insect inside the ear.

Because children often have trouble describing ear sensations, it’s wise to seek medical care promptly if a child complains of a tickling feeling in their ear.

If a ticklish sensation in your ear does not go away on its own or with simple home remedies, seek medical attention.

For related symptoms you can also read about itchy throat and ears.