DR MARTIN SCURR: Try vitamin D cream to ease your itchy, flaking ears By Martin Scurr for the Daily Mail Published: 00:35 BST, 17 September 2024 | Updated: 00:42 BST, 17 September 2024 e-mail View comments Q: I have had itchy, scaly ears for more than a year. My GP has prescribed lotions, creams and ear drops but nothing has worked. I'm embarrassed by the flaky skin on my clothes and my unsightly ears.
My GP won't refer me to a dermatologist; he said my ear canals are small, which has caused the problem. Helena Vernon, Surrey. A: Itchy, scaly ear canals are not an uncommon problem – typically it's caused by a localised form of eczema.
It will usually clear up with a prescription of a steroid, in the form of drops or an ointment. Doctors also often prescribe an antifungal at the same time, on the basis that this type of eczema can be linked to an overgrowth of Malassezia yeast, which is found naturally on the skin. Itchy, scaly ear canals are not an uncommon problem – typically it's caused by a localised form of eczema.
(Stock photo) If it is psoriasis, this treatment will improve the symptoms within several weeks and it can be continued long term. (Stock photo) In your case, not only are both ears affected, but quite severely, as well as the crease behind your ears and the ear canals. If this was a form of eczema, I would have expected it to resolve with one of the treatments that your doctor is likely to have prescribed – so it seems you've not yet had the correct di.