DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am an 81-year-old female in good health. I have two irritating problems about which I would like your opinion.
First, I have a worn hearing aids for about five years. They are digital with the battery section behind, not in, the ear and a small plastic tube inside the ear. I have had itchy ears for sometime but since wearing the aids my ears flake and peel daily. I have used peroxide to make sure there is no infection and anti-itch creams, lotions and salves but nothing helps. My ears continue to peel. My doctor says it is not psoriasis but could only suggest a different cream.
The other problem I have is a persistent itch in one spot on my back by my right shoulder blade. It occasionally hurts. It seems to have started right around the time I developed shingles eight years ago.
Do you have any suggestions on either of these issues?
DEAR READER:
Itchy ears are very common. Hearing aids are one of the main causes, especially among the elderly. Some individuals may experience an allergic reaction to the plastic the aid is made from or from the polish that many companies use. Another cause may simply be that the aids are rubbing your ears causing irritation.
I suggest you try wiping the hearing aids carefully with alcohol before wearing them. It is also important to keep them clean to so they maintain good working order. Another option would be to try smaller aids that do not wrap around the ear. This will reduce fiction and may eliminate or reduce the peeling.
As for your chronic back itch, I believe you may be correct that shingles was the cause. Shingles causes inflammation and irritation of the nerves of the skin. In some instances this can cause permanent damage called post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). Often this condition results in pain, numbness or tingling but an itchy sensation is not common.
PHN is not harmful in most instances, but if you are truly bothered, I recommend you see a neurologist who can examine and test you. He or she can determine the cause of the problem and recommend appropriate treatment.
To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Ear Infections and Disorders”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.
