Ear painting for pruritus

Itchy ear canals, when not associated with pain or discharge, are more often dermatitic than infective. A topical steroid may be more appropriate than anti-infective ear drops. Most steroids come as creams or ointments, which are hard to apply and clog the canal. Dr Frank Zhu from Port Macquarie advises patients to soak a cotton bud in steroid eye drops and ‘paint’ the canal. The liquid dries quickly, avoiding water-logging but leaving a thin layer of active ingredient on the skin. 

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