Why Is My Older Child Still Drooling or Dribbling? A Parent’s Guide Drooling is completely normal in babies and young toddlers. But what if your child is four, five or older and still regularly has saliva on their chin, damp clothes or a wet pillow? Parents may wonder: “Are they producing too much saliva?” “Could their adenoids or tonsils be causing it?” “Is this something they should have grown out of?” Persistent drooling—also called dribbling or sialorrhoea —does not have one single cause. Interestingly, the problem is often not that a child produces an excessive amount of saliva . Instead, the child may be less aware of saliva collecting at the front of the mouth, may swallow less frequently, keep their mouth open because their nose is blocked, or have difficulty coordinating the movements involved in saliva control. A child-specific NHS guide published in January 2026 explains that drooling can be influenced by open-mouth posture, concentration, tiredness, nasal blo...
Why Are My Child’s Ears Itchy, Dry or Flaky? A Parent’s Guide
Children frequently touch or rub their ears.
Sometimes they are tired. Sometimes wax builds up near the entrance. But if your child repeatedly scratches inside or around the ear and you notice dry, flaky or scaly skin, there may be irritation of the ear canal skin itself.
Parents often ask:
“Is this earwax, eczema or an ear infection?”
The answer can be surprisingly difficult to tell at home.
The ear canal is lined by very delicate skin. Conditions that affect skin elsewhere on the body—including eczema—can affect this area too. Moisture, scratching, cotton buds, soap or shampoo can then further damage that skin and sometimes trigger otitis externa, which means inflammation or infection of the outer ear canal.
Current NHS guidance lists itching, irritation and scaly skin amongst possible ear-infection symptoms, while Guy’s and St Thomas’ describes itching and dry flaky skin as characteristic features of otitis externa.
This guide explains what parents should look for, what to avoid and when paediatric ENT assessment may be useful.
Why does the ear canal become itchy?
The ear canal is covered by skin, just like the rest of the body.
That skin can become:
- dry
- irritated
- inflamed
- scratched
- infected.
Possible triggers include:
- eczema
- seborrhoeic dermatitis
- psoriasis
- water exposure
- soap or shampoo
- frequent swimming
- cotton buds
- scratching
- headphones or earplugs
- reactions to some ear preparations.
Rotherham NHS specifically notes that eczema and psoriasis can predispose to recurrent or chronic otitis externa.
Can children get eczema inside their ears?
Yes.
Atopic eczema commonly begins in childhood and causes dry, itchy, inflamed skin.
NICE describes childhood atopic eczema as a chronic inflammatory itchy skin condition that may flare in response to irritants and allergens.
If your child already has eczema behind the knees, inside the elbows, around the face or elsewhere, similar inflammation around the ears may be part of the same skin condition.
A Kingston and Richmond NHS child eczema resource updated on 15 July 2026 similarly describes eczema as causing red, dry, flaky and itchy skin.
However, not every itchy ear is eczema.
Could earwax be making the ear itchy?
Sometimes.
Earwax is normal and protective, but excess wax can occasionally irritate the canal or trap moisture.
Rotherham NHS notes that wax build-up can contribute to irritation and can trap water behind it, increasing the risk of outer-ear infection.
The key point is that itching does not mean you need to scoop out wax at home.
Attempting to remove it with cotton buds often makes the situation worse.
Why are cotton buds a problem?
Cotton buds can:
- push wax deeper
- scratch the skin
- remove protective wax
- trigger inflammation
- introduce infection
- occasionally injure the eardrum.
NHS guidance specifically advises against putting cotton buds or fingers inside the ear to remove wax.
When an ear is itchy, this advice becomes even more important because scratching creates tiny breaks in already inflamed skin.
That can turn a mild skin problem into a painful outer-ear infection.
What is otitis externa?
Otitis externa means inflammation or infection of the outer ear canal.
Symptoms may include:
- itching
- pain
- dry or flaky skin
- watery discharge
- blocked feeling
- reduced hearing
- tenderness when the outer ear is touched.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ notes that significant swelling can narrow the ear canal and reduce hearing.
This differs from a typical middle-ear infection, which occurs behind the eardrum.
How do I know if it has become infected?
Signs suggesting more than simple dry skin include:
- increasing pain
- tenderness when the outer ear is moved
- swelling
- discharge
- unpleasant smell
- blocked hearing
- fever or the child becoming unwell.
South West London Healthier Together describes otitis externa in children as commonly causing itching, ear-canal tenderness, foul-smelling discharge and reduced hearing.
An ear examination is useful because eczema, bacterial infection, fungal infection and wax can sometimes look similar to parents.
Can swimming make itchy ears worse?
Yes.
Prolonged moisture softens the ear-canal skin and can make infection more likely.
This is why otitis externa is sometimes called swimmer’s ear.
However, swimming is not the only cause. Children with chronic eczema may develop itchy ear canals even if they rarely swim.
If your child has an active painful or discharging ear infection, NHS advises avoiding swimming until the infection has settled.
Can shampoo and soap irritate the ears?
They can.
Shampoo, bubble bath and soap can irritate already-sensitive skin.
Chelsea and Westminster NHS recommends avoiding water, soap and shampoo entering an inflamed ear canal and advises against inserting cotton wool deeply into the canal.
After bathing, gently dry the outer ear.
Do not insert tissue, cotton buds, or other material deeply to dry the canal.
Should I put moisturiser inside my child’s ear?
Do not push ordinary creams deeply into the ear canal without clinical advice.
A moisturiser may be appropriate for eczema on the outer visible skin, but treatment of skin deeper within the canal needs more care because:
- the eardrum may not be intact
- infection may be present
- some creams or drops may irritate the canal
- different causes require different treatment.
If the flaky skin is mainly around the outer ear, discuss suitable eczema treatment with your pharmacist, GP or clinician.
What treatments might be prescribed?
Treatment depends on the cause.
For otitis externa, NHS specialist guidance notes that ear drops or sprays may contain:
- antibiotic treatment
- steroid treatment
- antifungal treatment
- combinations of these.
The ear may also need professional cleaning when discharge or debris prevents treatment from reaching the canal skin.
Choose treatment after an examination rather than using leftover drops from a previous infection.
Why does the problem keep returning?
Recurrent itchy ears often mean there is an underlying trigger that has not been addressed.
Possibilities include:
- eczema
- repeated swimming
- scratching
- cotton-bud use
- wax trapping moisture
- earplugs
- hearing aids
- skin sensitivity.
Rotherham NHS specifically notes that chronic otitis externa may persist because the original underlying problem—such as eczema—remains.
Treating each episode as a completely new infection can therefore miss the wider cause.
Could itchy ears affect hearing?
Simple mild eczema usually does not.
But significant canal swelling, debris or wax can temporarily block sound reaching the eardrum.
If your child says the ear feels blocked or begins asking for the television louder, have the ear examined.
Persistent hearing difficulty after the canal is clear may indicate another condition such as glue ear.
NICE explains that glue ear involves fluid behind the eardrum and can cause temporary or fluctuating hearing loss.
So external-ear eczema and glue ear are different problems, although a child could have both.
When should my child see a GP or pharmacist?
Arrange assessment if your child develops:
- increasing pain
- discharge
- swelling of the canal
- reduced hearing
- recurrent episodes
- symptoms not improving
- significant eczema around the ear.
NHS advises pharmacy assessment for suspected ear infection in children aged 1–17 and GP assessment when ear infections repeatedly recur.
When should paediatric ENT assessment be considered?
ENT review may be useful when:
- itching or otitis externa keeps returning
- the canal remains chronically inflamed
- treatment repeatedly fails
- the ear canal becomes very narrowed
- persistent debris prevents the eardrum being seen
- hearing remains reduced
- there is recurrent discharge
- Previous ear surgery or grommets complicate treatment.
Specialist assessment may include microscopic examination and careful cleaning of the ear canal where needed.
The aim is not simply to prescribe another set of drops, but to understand why the ear keeps becoming inflamed.
Red flags: when should parents seek urgent advice?
Seek prompt medical assessment if your child has an ear problem together with:
- significant swelling around or behind the ear
- severe or rapidly worsening pain
- new hearing loss
- persistent discharge
- high temperature and appears very unwell
- significant dizziness or vomiting
- facial weakness.
NHS lists swelling around the ear, discharge and new hearing loss amongst reasons for urgent GP or NHS 111 advice.
A rapidly spreading painful rash or blistering around the ear also deserves prompt assessment.
Call 999 if your child has severe neurological symptoms, becomes unresponsive or has another immediately life-threatening problem.
Paediatric ear assessment in London and Essex
Persistent itchy ears can seem minor, but repeated scratching, infection and blocked canals can become uncomfortable and frustrating for children.
Mr Gaurav Kumar, Consultant ENT Surgeon, assesses children with recurrent ear-canal inflammation, ear discharge, hearing concerns and wider paediatric ENT problems across London, East London, Romford, Ilford, Redbridge, Brentwood, Chelmsford and surrounding areas of Essex.
Where eczema is the main driver, ongoing management may also involve the child’s GP, paediatrician or dermatology team.
The key message for parents
Itchy ears are not always caused by earwax.
Dry or flaky ear-canal skin can be linked to eczema, irritation or early otitis externa.
Avoid scratching and cotton buds, and do not repeatedly experiment with unprescribed ear drops.
If the ear becomes painful, swollen, wet or blocked—or the problem repeatedly returns—have it examined.
Persistent symptoms are often best managed by identifying and treating the underlying skin or ear-canal problem, rather than repeatedly treating presumed infection alone.
Frequently asked questions
Can children get eczema inside their ears?
Yes. Eczema can affect skin around the ear and the ear-canal entrance, causing dryness, itching and flaking.
Can earwax cause itching?
Wax can occasionally contribute to irritation or trap moisture, but visible wax is often normal and should not automatically be removed.
Should I use cotton buds if my child’s ear is itchy?
No. Cotton buds can damage canal skin and push wax further inward. NHS advises against inserting them into the ear.
Can swimming worsen ear eczema?
Repeated water exposure can irritate vulnerable skin and increase the risk of otitis externa.
How do I know if eczema has become an ear infection?
Increasing pain, swelling, tenderness, discharge, smell or blocked hearing make infection more likely and warrant assessment.
Should I put eczema cream inside the ear canal?
Not without clinical advice. Select treatment deeper inside the ear after confirming the condition of the canal and eardrum.
Can itchy ears cause hearing problems?
Inflammation, swelling, debris or wax can temporarily block hearing. Persistent hearing problems deserve further assessment.
When should recurrent itchy ears be seen by ENT?
ENT review can help when inflammation repeatedly recurs, treatment fails, discharge persists or the canal is too swollen or blocked to examine properly.
Disclaimer: This information is intended for general educational and regional SEO purposes only and does not replace personalised clinical advice. For a definitive structural evaluation, a face-to-face consultation with a registered specialist is required.
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