[Captain Calamity]

A quack writes:

You sound like you are describing a condition called otitis externa, which is sometimes called "swimmer's ear". It is caused by bugs getting into the ear canal (often from the water itself) and then getting into the tissues and causing an infection. It happens much more commonly if you do anything that damages the protective layer of the skin (i.e. daft things like using cotton buds or keys to clean your ears). Just like the rest of your skin, you can get eczema in your ear canal, and this can predispose you to recurrent bouts of otitis externa - if this sounds like you, then it may be worth discussing with your GP as steroid drops can settle this down.

I would not recommend using 10% tea tree oil for this. I am sure it will cure most infections known to science, but after it has eaten through your ear drum God only knows what it will do to the inside of your head.

If caught early mild cases can sometimes be treated with acetic acid drops from your pharmacist (EarCalm drops). More severe cases often need antibiotic drops, and usually (9 out of 10 times) locorten vioform will do the job. Occasionally gentisone is needed, usually when you have a bug called Pseudomonas.

I would advise anyone with symptoms of itching and pain in their ear canal to seek advice - either a pharmacist or doctor depending on the severity of the symptoms. This condition can occasionally get quite nasty and need antibiotic tablets or injections, or even the attention of an ENT surgeon - definitely not the sort of thing you should be treating yourself with duct tape, or toilet duck or whatever it is you have lying about the kitchen cupboard.

CC