Eric L. Slattery, Timothy E. Hullar, and Lawrence R. Lustig

Aural pruritis, or itchy ear, is a chronic, indolent problem for many patients. It rarely is caused by serious pathology, but more commonly is the result of an irritative dermatitis or self-inflicted instrumentation of the canal (eg, use of cotton swabs). Scratching the ear canal in response to the itching will lead to more irritation and continued itching, resulting in a vicious scratch/itch cycle.

Noninfectious Otitis Externa: Eczema, Psoriasis, and Seborrheic Dermatitis