You expect hot flashes. You expect mood swings. But no one tells you that menopause can also make your ears feel different. Suddenly, they’re dry, sensitive, warm or unexpectedly itchy – a small change that speaks volumes about what’s happening beneath the surface.

During menopause, your skin is working overtime to adjust to shifting hormones. Estrogen, progesterone and androgens all play a role in how the skin feels, heals and responds, and the delicate skin around (and inside) your ears isn’t immune to those changes.

3 reasons why menopause can make your ears feel itchy

Declining estrogen = drier, thinner, more sensitive skin

Estrogen helps maintain collagen, elastin and the skin’s natural lipids – all key to hydration and resilience. As levels drop, your skin becomes thinner, drier, and more prone to irritation. This can cause the skin inside the ear to feel rough, flaky, or itchy.

When natural lipids decline, the barrier weakens and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) increases, which means even subtle changes in air, cleansing or temperature can leave your ears feeling parched and reactive.

Fluctuating progesterone = inflammation and sensitivity

Progesterone influences oil balance and inflammation. When levels fluctuate or fall, the skin can become more vulnerable to redness, flushing and irritation – sensations often amplified around the sensitive ear area. This inflammatory response can make ears itch, tingle or flush more easily.

Increased androgens = overactive oil glands

As estrogen drops, androgens (like testosterone) become more dominant. This can increase oil production, especially along the jawline and near the ears. The mix of dryness, barrier disruption and excess oil can cause itching or mild congestion in the skin around the ear.

The at-home solution: auricular massage

To bring calm back to both your skin and senses, try an auricular massage: a simple, gentle technique that supports the nervous system, encourages circulation and soothes menopausal irritation.

Regular auricular massage can help:

• Calm the nervous system and reduce stress
• Improve microcirculation and oxygen flow
• Ease jaw and scalp tension
• Relieve irritation caused by dryness or sensitivity

You don’t need special tools or training, just clean hands, your favorite Bioelements aromatherapy blend or facial oil, and a few minutes of mindful touch.

How to do an auricular massage on yourself

Step 1: ear lobe prep point

Place middle fingers in the soft hollow just in front of each earlobe + index fingers behind the lobes, on the temporal bone. Press and gently massage with 3 circular movements.

Step 2: ear center activation

Place middle fingers just in front of the middle of the ear + index fingers aligned behind the ear. Press and gently massage with 3 circular movements.

Step 3: ear upper relaxer

Place middle fingers just in front of the upper ear + index fingers behind the ear at the same height. Press and gently massage with 3 circular movements.

Step 4: ear outer rim

Gently massage the outer rim of the ear with your thumb + fingers, from the top aspect of the ear toward the earlobes.

Step 5: earlobe massage

Compress the earlobe between thumb + forefinger. Roll gently in small circular motions, then gently stretch with a light downward pull.

Step 6: temporal pressure point

Place index + middle fingers on the soft temporal hollow. Maintain gentle contact + apply slow, circular pressure.

Perform this ritual at the start and end of your day (or anytime stress or irritation strikes). The rhythmic stimulation activates the parasympathetic nervous system (via the vagus nerve), lowering stress and promoting a deep sense of calm.

Every point on the ear connects to a network of reflex zones that mirror the body’s internal balance. For women in menopause, this simple practice does more than soothe itchy ears – it signals the body to slow down, recalibrate and restore harmony.

FAQs: auricular massage + menopause